During the past decade model predictive control (MPC), also referred to as receding horizon control or moving horizon control, has become the preferred control strategy for quite a number of industrial processes. There have been many significant advances in this area over the past years, one of the most important ones being its extension to nonlinear systems. This book gives an up-to-date assessment of the current state of the art in the new field of nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC). The main topic areas that appear to be of central importance for NMPC are covered, namely receding horizon control theory, modeling for NMPC, computational aspects of on-line optimization and application issues. The book consists of selected papers presented at the International Symposium on Nonlinear Model Predictive Control Assessment and Future Directions, which took place from June 3 to 5, 1998, in Ascona, Switzerland.
The book is geared towards researchers and practitioners in the area of control engineering and control theory. It is also suited for postgraduate students as the book contains several overview articles that give a tutorial introduction into the various aspects of nonlinear model predictive control, including systems theory, computations, modeling and applications."

There is a growing interest in applying model predictive control techniques to automotive systems, often for different reasons: the simple handling of constraints, the easy use of preview information or the flexibility of the method. Some long-standing problems with this approach, like the high computational burden, have been solved or at least substantially mitigated.

Even so, many issues remain to be elucidated, and, at the same time, papers and results in the increasingly rich literature are not always comparable.

Against this background, the proceedings of the Automotive Model Predictive Control: Models, Methods and Applications workshop investigates whether constrained predictive control is reasonable in automotive control and what is necessary for its application. The workshop, held at the University of Linz on 9th 10th February 2009 brought together workers from academia and industry from three key automotive branches: modeling, control and the application. The workshop included three keynote presentations, each of them contributing to the solution of an essential question.

Which problems in automotive applications need constrained optimal control?

Models of emissions for modern engines for model based control?

Industrial methods and requirements for control schemes?

The results of testing control strategies on a dynamical engine test bench give a feeling for the necessary computing power, the model plant mismatch, etc. and thus for the real application of control laws in production cars."

Over the past few years significant progress has been achieved in the field of nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC), also referred to as receding horizon control or moving horizon control. More than 250 papers have been published in 2006 in ISI Journals. With this book we want to bring together the contributions of a diverse group of internationally well recognized researchers and industrial practitioners, to critically assess the current status of the NMPC field and to discuss future directions and needs. The book consists of selected papers presented at the International Workshop on Assessment an Future Directions of Nonlinear Model Predictive Control that took place from September 5 to 9, 2008, in Pavia, Italy.

Thepastthree decadeshaveseenrapiddevelopmentin the areaofmodelpred- tive control with respect to both theoretical and application aspects. Over these 30 years, model predictive control for linear systems has been widely applied, especially in the area of process control. However, today's applications often require driving the process over a wide region and close to the boundaries of - erability, while satisfying constraints and achieving near-optimal performance. Consequently, the application of linear control methods does not always lead to satisfactory performance, and here nonlinear methods must be employed. This is one of the reasons why nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) has - joyed signi?cant attention over the past years,with a number of recent advances on both the theoretical and application frontier. Additionally, the widespread availability and steadily increasing power of today's computers, as well as the development of specially tailored numerical solution methods for NMPC, bring thepracticalapplicabilityofNMPCwithinreachevenforveryfastsystems.This has led to a series of new, exciting developments, along with new challenges in the area of NMPC.

During the past decade model predictive control (MPC), also referred to as receding horizon control or moving horizon control, has become the preferred control strategy for quite a number of industrial processes. There have been many significant advances in this area over the past years, one of the most important ones being its extension to nonlinear systems. This book gives an up-to-date assessment of the current state of the art in the new field of nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC). The main topic areas that appear to be of central importance for NMPC are covered, namely receding horizon control theory, modeling for NMPC, computational aspects of on-line optimization and application issues. The book consists of selected papers presented at the International Symposium on Nonlinear Model Predictive Control - Assessment and Future Directions, which took place from June 3 to 5, 1998, in Ascona, Switzerland.
The book is geared towards researchers and practitioners in the area of control engineering and control theory. It is also suited for postgraduate students as the book contains several overview articles that give a tutorial introduction into the various aspects of nonlinear model predictive control, including systems theory, computations, modeling and applications.