Markov decision process (MDP) models are widely used for modeling sequential decision-making problems that arise in engineering, economics, computer science, and the social sciences. Many real-world problems modeled by MDPs have huge state and/or action spaces, giving an opening to the curse of dimensionality and so making practical solution of the resulting models intractable. In other cases, the system of interest is too complex to allow explicit specification of some of the MDP model parameters, but simulation samples are readily available (e.g., for random transitions and costs). For these settings, various sampling and population-based algorithms have been developed to overcome the difficulties of computing an optimal solution in terms of a policy and/or value function. Specific approaches include adaptive sampling, evolutionary policy iteration, evolutionary random policy search, and model reference adaptive search.
This substantially enlarged new edition reflects the latest developments in novel algorithms and their underpinning theories, and presents an updated account of the topics that have emerged since the publication of the first edition. Includes:
innovative material on MDPs, both in constrained settings and with uncertain transition properties;
game-theoretic method for solving MDPs;
theories for developing roll-out based algorithms; and
details of approximation stochastic annealing, a population-based on-line simulation-based algorithm.
The self-contained approach of this book will appeal not only to researchers in MDPs, stochastic modeling, and control, and simulation but will be a valuable source of tuition and reference for students of control and operations research.

A set of original results in the ?eld of high-level design of logical control devices and systems is presented in this book. These concern different aspects of such important and long-term design problems, including the following, which seem to be the main ones. First, the behavior of a device under design must be described properly, and some adequate formal language should be chosen for that. Second, effective algorithmsshouldbeusedforcheckingtheprepareddescriptionforcorrectness, foritssyntacticandsemanticveri?cationattheinitialbehaviorlevel.Third, the problem of logic circuit implementation must be solved using some concrete technological base; ef?cient methods of logic synthesis, test, and veri?cation should be developed for that. Fourth, the task of the communication between the control device and controlled objects (and maybe between different control devices)waitsforitssolution.Alltheseproblemsarehardenoughandcannotbe successfully solved without ef?cient methods and algorithms oriented toward computer implementation. Some of these are described in this book. The languages used for behavior description have been descended usually from two well-known abstract models which became classic: Petri nets and ?nite state machines (FSMs). Anyhow, more detailed versions are developed and described in the book, which enable to give more complete information concerningspeci?cqualitiesoftheregardedsystems.Forexample, themodelof parallelautomatonispresented, whichunliketheconventional?niteautomaton can be placed simultaneously into several places, calledpartial. As a base for circuit implementation of control algorithms, FPGA is accepted in majority of cas

Intelligent control is a rapidly developing, complex and challenging field with great practical importance and potential. Because of the rapidly developing and interdisciplinary nature of the subject, there are only a few edited volumes consisting of research papers on intelligent control systems but little is known and published about the fundamentals and the general know-how in designing, implementing and operating intelligent control systems.

Intelligent control system emerged from artificial intelligence and computer controlled systems as an interdisciplinary field. Therefore the book summarizes the fundamentals of knowledge representation, reasoning, expert systems and real-time control systems and then discusses the design, implementation verification and operation of real-time expert systems using G2 as an example. Special tools and techniques applied in intelligent control are also described including qualitative modelling, Petri nets and fuzzy controllers. The material is illlustrated with simple examples taken from the field of intelligent process control.

The book presents the modeling and control of hydrogen-air PEM fuel cells, including simultaneous estimation of the parameters and states, fuzzy cluster modeling, SPM-based predictive control and advanced fuzzy control. MATLAB/Simulink-based modeling and control programs are discussed in detail. With simulations and experiments, it is an essential reference for both scientists and industrial engineers.

This book is devoted to the study of fuzzy reasoning as applied to decision making and control processes. It contains a collection of important contributions covering a wide well-selected range of topics within the field. The book contains twenty-one papers, written by thirty-four distinguished contributors and is divided into five parts. Part 1 involves four chapters providing background material together with useful techniques for the validation of fuzzy knowledge bases and the software representation of fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic. Part 2 presents an overview of neuro-fuzzy expert systems along with an important case study, and a neural network model which is suitable for fuzzy reasoning. Part 3 presents the state of art of fuzzy controllers, including design and implementation aspects. This part starts with a chapter on the demystification of fuzzy control and includes critical evaluations of fuzzy controllers, along with new types of fuzzy controllers such as the sliding mode fuzzy controller. Part 4 involves a chapter on fuzzy parameter and state estimation, which is of fundamental importance in a variety of applications, a chapter on fuzzy reasoning as used in rule-based systems, and a chapter on computing the multivariable shape of an n-D pattern class. Finally, Part 5 presents six important applications dealing with industrial robotic systems, mechanical systems, manipulators with artificial rubber muscles, Petri nets, biomedical engineering, and nondestructive fruit collection. The book is suitable for the researcher and practitioner, as well as for the teacher and student in related Master and Doctoral courses.

Modern computer-based control systems are able to collect a large amount of information, display it to operators and store it in databases but the interpretation of the data and the subsequent decision making relies mainly on operators with little computer support. This book introduces developments in automatic analysis and interpretation of process-operational data both in real-time and over the operational history, and describes new concepts and methodologies for developing intelligent, state space-based systems for process monitoring, control and diagnosis. The book brings together new methods and algorithms from process monitoring and control, data mining and knowledge discovery, artificial intelligence, pattern recognition, and causal relationship discovery, as well as signal processing. It also provides a framework for integrating plant operators and supervisors into the design of process monitoring and control systems.

The time delays in controllers and actuators can either deteriorate or improve the dynamic performance of a controlled mechanical system. Thus, it is desirable to gain an insight into the effect of time delays on the dynamics of a practical system in its design phase. This monograph represents the recent advances in system modeling, analysis of stability, robust stability and bifurcation by using some new mathematical tools such as generalized Sturm criterion and Dixon's resultant elimination of polynomials. The theoretical results are demonstrated through a number of examples of active vehicle chassis, structure control, as well as the control of chaos of mechanical systems.

Feedback Control Systems: A Fast Track Guide for Scientists and Engineers is an essential reference tool for: Electrical, mechanical and aerospace engineers who are developing or improving products, with a need to use feedback control systems. Faculty and graduate students in the fields of engineering and experimental science (e.g., physics) who are building their own high-performance measuring/test arrangements. Faculties teaching laboratory courses in engineering and measurement techniques, and the students taking those courses. Practising engineers, scientists, and students who need a quick intuitive education in the issues related to feedback control systems. Key features of Feedback Control Systems: The contents and the layout of the book are structured to ensure satisfactory proficiency for the novice designer. The authors provide the reader with a simple yet powerful method for designing control systems using several sensors or actuators. It offers a comprehensive control system troubleshooting and performance testing guide. From the reviewers: Control systems are ubiquitous and their use would be even more widespread if more people were competent in designing them. This book will play a valuable role in expanding the cadre of competent designers. This is a book that needed to be written, and its presentation is different from any other book on controls intended for a wide community of engineers and scientists. The book breaks the common clichA(c) of style in the control literature that tends toward mathematical formality. Instead, the emphasis is on intuition and practical advice. The book contains a very valuable and novel heuristic treatment of the subject. .. one of the bestexamples of a book that describes the design cycle. The book will help satisfy the demand among practising engineers for a good introduction to control systems.

Neural networks and neural dynamics are powerful approaches for the online solution of mathematical problems arising in many areas of science, engineering, and business. Compared with conventional gradient neural networks that only deal with static problems of constant coefficient matrices and vectors, the authors’ new method called zeroing dynamics solves time-varying problems. Zeroing Dynamics, Gradient Dynamics, and Newton Iterations is the first book that shows how to accurately and efficiently solve time-varying problems in real-time or online using continuous- or discrete-time zeroing dynamics. The book brings together research in the developing fields of neural networks, neural dynamics, computer mathematics, numerical algorithms, time-varying computation and optimization, simulation and modeling, analog and digital hardware, and fractals. The authors provide a comprehensive treatment of the theory of both static and dynamic neural networks. Readers will discover how novel theoretical results have been successfully applied to many practical problems. The authors develop, analyze, model, simulate, and compare zeroing dynamics models for the online solution of numerous time-varying problems, such as root finding, nonlinear equation solving, matrix inversion, matrix square root finding, quadratic optimization, and inequality solving.

This book contains all refereed papers that were accepted to the fifth edition of the " Complex Systems Design & Management " (CSD&M 2014) international conference which took place in Paris (France) on the November 12-14, 2014. These proceedings cover the most recent trends in the emerging field of complex systems sciences & practices from an industrial and academic perspective, including the main industrial domains (aeronautic & aerospace, transportation & systems, defense & security, electronics & robotics, energy & environment, health & welfare services, software & e-services), scientific & technical topics (systems fundamentals, systems architecture & engineering, systems metrics & quality, systemic tools) and system types (transportation systems, embedded systems, software & information systems, systems of systems, artificial ecosystems). The CSD&M 2014 conference is organized under the guidance of the CESAMES non-profit organization, address: CESAMES, 8 rue de Hanovre, 75002 Paris, France.

The first edition of Quantitative Feedback Theory gained enormous popularity by successfully bridging the gap between theory and real-world engineering practice. Avoiding mathematical theorems, lemmas, proofs, and correlaries, it boiled down to the essential elements of quantitative feedback theory (QFT) necessary to readily analyze, develop, and implement robust control systems. Thoroughly updated and expanded, Quantitative Feedback Theory: Fundamentals and Applications, Second Edition continues to provide a platform for intelligent decision making and design based on knowledge of the characteristics and operating scenario of the plant. Beginning with the fundamentals, the authors build a background in analog and discrete-time multiple-input-single-output (MISO) and multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) feedback control systems along with the fundamentals of the QFT technique. The remainder of the book links these concepts to practical applications. Among the many enhancements to this edition are a new section on large wind turbine control system, four new chapters, and five new appendices. The new chapters cover non-diagonal compensator design for MIMO systems, QFT design involving Smith predictors for time delay systems with uncertainty, weighting matrices and control authority, and QFT design techniques applied to real-world industrial systems. Quantitative Feedback Theory: Fundamentals and Applications, Second Edition includes new and revised examples and end-of-chapter problems and offers a companion CD that supplies MIMO QFT computer-aided design (CAD) software. It is the perfect guide to effectively and intuitively implementing QFT control.

There has been significant interest for designing flight controllers for small-scale unmanned helicopters. Such helicopters preserve all the physical attributes of their full-scale counterparts, being at the same time more agile and dexterous. This book presents a comprehensive and well justified analysis for designing flight controllers for small-scale unmanned helicopters guarantying flight stability and tracking accuracy. The design of the flight controller is a critical and integral part for developing an autonomous helicopter platform. Helicopters are underactuated, highly nonlinear systems with significant dynamic coupling that needs to be considered and accounted for during controller design and implementation. Most reliable mathematical tools for analysis of control systems relate to modern control theory. Modern control techniques are model-based since the controller architecture depends on the dynamic representation of the system to be controlled. Therefore, the flight controller design problem is tightly connected with the helicopter modeling.

This book provides a step-by-step methodology for designing, evaluating and implementing efficient flight controllers for small-scale helicopters. Design issues that are analytically covered include:

An illustrative presentation of both linear and nonlinear models of ordinary differential equations representing the helicopter dynamics. A detailed presentation of the helicopter equations of motion is given for the derivation of both model types. In addition, an insightful presentation of the main rotor's mechanism, aerodynamics and dynamics is also provided. Both model types are of low complexity, physically meaningful and capable of encapsulating the dynamic behavior of a large class of small-scale helicopters.

An illustrative and rigorous derivation of mathematical control algorithms based on both the linear and nonlinear representation of the helicopter dynamics. Flight controller designs guarantee that the tracking objectives of the helicopter's inertial position (or velocity) and heading are achieved. Each controller is carefully constructed by considering the small-scale helicopter's physical flight capabilities. Concepts of advanced stability analysis are used to improve the efficiency and reduce the complexity of the flight control system. Controller designs are derived in both continuous time and discrete time covering discretization issues, which emerge from the implementation of the control algorithm using microprocessors.

Presentation of the most powerful, practical and efficient methods for extracting the helicopter model parameters based on input/output responses, collected by the measurement instruments. This topic is of particular importance for real-life implementation of the control algorithms.

This book is suitable for students and researches interested in the development and the mathematical derivation of flight controllers for small-scale helicopters. Background knowledge in modern control is required."

Showcases the state-of-the-art research in the area of AI with specific consideration to engineering, management and safety of civil construction. Offers detailed insights towards applying AI into design, construction and maintenance of infrastructure Leverages the various sub-disciplines of AI to arrive at modern, smart, and safe infrastructure as well as achieve a synergy between users/commuters and such structures. Covers practical case studies of primary interest to students, researchers, engineers, social scientists and government officials.

The lectures that comprise this volume constitute a comprehensive survey of the many and various aspects of integrable dynamical systems. The present edition is a streamlined, revised and updated version of a 1997 set of notes that was published as Lecture Notes in Physics, Volume 495. This volume will be complemented by a companion book - Lecture Notes in Physics, Volume 644 - dedicated to discrete integrable systems. Both volumes address primarily graduate students and nonspecialist researchers but will also benefit lecturers looking for suitable material for advanced courses and researchers interested in specific topics.

Self-contained introduction to control theory that emphasizes on the most modern designs for high performance and robustness.

It assumes no previous coursework and offers three chapters of key topics summarizing classical control.

To provide readers with a deeper understanding of robust control theory than would be otherwise possible, the text incorporates mathematical derivations and proofs.

Includes many elementary examples and advanced case studies using MATLAB Toolboxes.

From grading and preparing harvested vegetables to the tactile probing of a patient 's innermost recesses, mechatronics has become part of our way of life. This cutting-edge volume features the 30 best papers of the 13th International Conference on Mechatronics and Machine Vision in Practice. Although there is no shortage of theoretical and technical detail in these chapters, they have a common theme in that they describe work that has been applied in practice.

The articles in this volume cover power system model reduction, transient and voltage stability, nonlinear control, robust stability, computation and optimization and have been written by some of the leading researchers in these areas. This book should be of interest to power and control engineers, and applied mathematicians.

The complexity and sensitivity of modern industrial processes and systems increasingly require adaptable advanced control protocols. These controllers have to be able to deal with circumstances demanding "judgement" rather than simple "yes/no," "on/off" responses, circumstances where an imprecise linguistic description is often more relevant than a cut-and-dried numerical one. The ability of fuzzy systems to handle numeric and linguistic information within a single framework renders them efficacious in this form of expert control system.

Divided into two parts, Fuzzy Logic, Identification and Predictive Control first shows you how to construct static and dynamic fuzzy models using the numerical data from a variety of real-world industrial systems and simulations. The second part demonstrates the exploitation of such models to design control systems employing techniques like data mining.

Fuzzy Logic, Identification and Predictive Control is a comprehensive introduction to the use of fuzzy methods in many different control paradigms encompassing robust, model-based, PID-like and predictive control. This combination of fuzzy control theory and industrial serviceability will make a telling contribution to your research whether in the academic or industrial sphere and also serves as a fine roundup of the fuzzy control area for the graduate student.

Advances in Industrial Control aims to report and encourage the transfer of technology in control engineering. The rapid development of control technology has an impact on all areas of the control discipline. The series offers an opportunity for researchers to present an extended exposition of new work in all aspects of industrialcontrol.

The two first CEAS (Council of European Aerospace Societies) Specialist Conferences on Guidance, Navigation and Control (CEAS EuroGNC) were held in Munich, Germany in 2011 and in Delft, The Netherlands in 2013. ONERA The French Aerospace Lab, ISAE (Institut Superieur de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace) and ENAC (Ecole Nationale de l'Aviation Civile) accepted the challenge of jointly organizing the 3rd edition. The conference aims at promoting new advances in aerospace GNC theory and technologies for enhancing safety, survivability, efficiency, performance, autonomy and intelligence of aerospace systems. It represents a unique forum for communication and information exchange between specialists in the fields of GNC systems design and operation, including air traffic management. This book contains the forty best papers and gives an interesting snapshot of the latest advances over the following topics: l Control theory, analysis, and design l Novel navigation, estimation, and tracking methods l Aircraft, spacecraft, missile and UAV guidance, navigation, and control l Flight testing and experimental results l Intelligent control in aerospace applications l Aerospace robotics and unmanned/autonomous systems l Sensor systems for guidance, navigation and control l Guidance, navigation, and control concepts in air traffic control systems For the 3rd CEAS Specialist Conference on Guidance, Navigation and Control the International Program Committee conducted a formal review process. Each paper was reviewed in compliance with standard journal practice by at least two independent and anonymous reviewers. The papers published in this book were selected from the conference proceedings based on the results and recommendations from the reviewers.

Air traffic controllers need advanced information and automated systems to provide a safe environment for everyone traveling by plane. One of the primary challenges in developing training for automated systems is to determine how much a trainee will need to know about the underlying technologies to use automation safely and efficiently. To ensure safety and success, task analysis techniques should be used as the basis of the design for training in automated systems in the aviation and aerospace industries. Automated Systems in the Aviation and Aerospace Industries is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on the application of underlying technologies used to enforce automation safety and efficiency. While highlighting topics such as expert systems, text mining, and human-machine interface, this publication explores the concept of constructing navigation algorithms, based on the use of video information and the methods of the estimation of the availability and accuracy parameters of satellite navigation. This book is ideal for aviation professionals, researchers, and managers seeking current research on information technology used to reduce the risk involved in aviation.

This book is of interest to researchers inquiring about modern topics and methods in the kinematics, control and design of robotic manipulators. It considers the full range of robotic systems, including serial, parallel and cable driven manipulators, both planar and spatial. The systems range from being less than fully mobile to kinematically redundant to overconstrained. In addition to recognized areas, this book also presents recent advances in emerging areas such as the design and control of humanoids and humanoid subsystems, and the analysis, modeling and simulation of human body motions, as well as the mobility analysis of protein molecules and the development of machines which incorporate man.

Ontologically Controlled Autonomous Systems: Principles, Operations and Architecture presents the main principles, operations and architecture involved in the design of a novel type of supervisory controller called an ontological controller. An ontological controller can be used to supervise any type of controller; however its intended applications are industrial-strength complex autonomous control systems using advanced programmable controllers. An ontological controller supervises a programmable controller in order to: Detect dynamically when the programmable controller is in a problematic control situation due to a violation of ontological assumptions and thus unable to achieve a pre-specified control goal (i.e. the identification operation), and When possible, move the programmable controller into such a state from which it can regain its control and eventually achieve the pre-specified control goal in spite of the previous violation of ontological assumptions (i.e. the recovery operation). Ontologically Controlled Autonomous Systems: Principles, Operations and Architecture presents for the first time a complete formal framework and results for ontological control. All results presented in the book originate from the practical industrial experience of the author. The intended readers for Ontologically Controlled Autonomous Systems: Principles, Operations and Architecture are professionals and students working in industrial control, discrete control, discrete-event systems, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, programmable (logic) control design, robotics, real-time planning, safety-critical systems, Petri nets and PLC standards such as IEC1131.

This book presents technologies and solutions related to the test and launch control of rockets and other vehicles, and offers the first comprehensive and systematic introduction to the contributions of the Chinese Long March (Chang Zheng in Chinese, or abbreviated as CZ) rockets in this field. Moreover, it discusses the role of this technology in responsive, reliable, and economical access to space, which is essential for the competitiveness of rockets. The need for rapid development of the aerospace industry for both governmental and commercial projects is addressed. This book is a valuable reference resource for practitioners, and many examples and resources are included, not only from Chinese rockets but also from many other vehicles. It covers guidelines, technologies, and solutions on testing and launch control before rocket takeoff, covering equipment-level testing, system-level testing, simulation tests, etc.