A system for handling integrated circuit devices, comprising: a block comprising a plurality of thermally-coupled zones ; a plurality of heaters , each of the plurality of heaters controllable to provide heat to one of the plurality of thermally-coupled zones ; a plurality of temperature sensors , each of the plurality of temperature sensors configured to measure temperature of one of the plurality of thermally-coupled zones ; characterized in that the system further comprises a control circuit configured to: receive, from the plurality of temperature sensors , a temperature measurement for each of the plurality of thermally-coupled zones ; collect the temperature measurements in a temperature vector in a real coordinate system; transform the temperature vector to a normal coordinate system, the normal coordinate system providing a plurality of uncoupled equations; determine, based on the plurality of uncoupled equations and a desired temperature gradient across the plurality of thermally-coupled zones, a desired power vector in the normal coordinate system; transform the desired power vector in the normal coordinate system to the real coordinate system to generate a power vector; and control the plurality of heaters in accordance with the power vector to achieve the desired temperature gradient across the plurality of thermally-coupled zones . a block comprising a plurality of thermally-coupled zones ; a plurality of heaters , each of the plurality of heaters controllable to provide heat to one of the plurality of thermally-coupled zones ; a plurality of temperature sensors , each of the plurality of temperature sensors configured to measure temperature of one of the plurality of thermally-coupled zones ; characterized in that the system further comprises a control circuit configured to: receive, from the plurality of temperature sensors , a temperature measurement for each of the plurality of thermally-coupled zones ; collect the temperature measurements in a temperature vector in a real coordinate system; transform the temperature vector to a normal coordinate system, the normal coordinate system providing a plurality of uncoupled equations; determine, based on the plurality of uncoupled equations and a desired temperature gradient across the plurality of thermally-coupled zones, a desired power vector in the normal coordinate system; transform the desired power vector in the normal coordinate system to the real coordinate system to generate a power vector; and control the plurality of heaters in accordance with the power vector to achieve the desired temperature gradient across the plurality of thermally-coupled zones . receive, from the plurality of temperature sensors , a temperature measurement for each of the plurality of thermally-coupled zones ; collect the temperature measurements in a temperature vector in a real coordinate system; transform the temperature vector to a normal coordinate system, the normal coordinate system providing a plurality of uncoupled equations; determine, based on the plurality of uncoupled equations and a desired temperature gradient across the plurality of thermally-coupled zones, a desired power vector in the normal coordinate system; transform the desired power vector in the normal coordinate system to the real coordinate system to generate a power vector; and control the plurality of heaters in accordance with the power vector to achieve the desired temperature gradient across the plurality of thermally-coupled zones . <EOS>