System Identification I

by J. Biggs and C. Tang, Maidenhead, England,
Open University Press, 2007, 360 pp., £29.99, ISBN-13: 978-0-335-22126-4

Teaching for quality learning at university

Computer Controlled Systems: Theory and Design

Remote laboratories have been introduced during the last few decades into engineering education processes as well as integrated within e-learning frameworks offered to engineering and science students. Remote laboratories are also being used to support life-long learning and student's autonomous learning activities. In this paper, after a brief overview of state-of-the-art technologies in the development of remote laboratories and presentation of recent and interesting examples of remote laboratories in several areas related with industrial electronics education, some current trends and challenges are also identified and discussed.

Current Trends in Remote Laboratories

Recursive algorithms where random observations enter are studied in a fairly general framework. An important feature is that the observations may depend on previous ?outputs? of the algorithm. The considered class of algorithms contains, e.g., stochastic approximation algorithms, recursive identification algorithms, and algorithms for adaptive control of linear systems. It is shown how a deterministic differential equation can be associated with the algorithm. Problems like convergence with probality one, possible convergence points and asymptotic behavior of the algorithm can all be studied in terms of this differential equation. Theorems stating the precise relationships between the differential equation and the algorithm are given as well as examples of applications of the results to problems in identification and adaptive control.

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Analysis of Recursive Stochastic Algorithms

This paper deals with temperature control in an industrial-scale distributed collector solar field. The need for adaptive control arises from the highly time-varying behaviour of both the plant dynamics and the solar radiation effects in the collector field due to atmospheric changes. The control problem consists of keeping constant the field outlet oil temperature by acting on the oil flow. The manipulated variable is chosen so as to minimize a receding horizon quadratic cost. The underlying control law is of model-based predictive control type, adaptively implemented by a MUSMAR algorithm, modified so as to exploit the information conveyed by the accessible disturbances. Experimental results are reported showing the significance on the achievable performance of the feedforward term depending on the accessible disturbances. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Adaptive control of a solar energy plant : Exploiting accessible disturbances

Design of Analog Circuits through Symbolic Analysis

Discrete-time differential systems

Cascade control of a distributed collector solar field

The sea as a very extensive area, renders difficult a pre-emptive and long-lasting search for shipwreck survivors. The operational cost for deploying manned teams with such proactive strategy is high and, thus, these teams are only reactively deployed when a disaster like a shipwreck has been communicated. To reduce the involved financial costs, unmanned robotic systems could be used instead as background surveillance teams patrolling the seas. In this sense, a robotic team for search and rescue (SAR) operations at sea is presented in this work. Composed of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) piggybacking a watertight Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with vertical take-off and landing capabilities, the proposed cooperative system is capable of search, track and provide basic life support while reporting the position of human survivors to better prepared manned rescue teams. The USV provides long-range transportation of the UAV and basic survival kits for victims. The UAV assures an augmented perception of the environment due to its high vantage point.

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Fernando Coito

Papers

Adaptive control of a solar energy plant : Exploiting accessible disturbances

Design of Analog Circuits through Symbolic Analysis

Discrete-time differential systems

Cascade control of a distributed collector solar field

A cooperative multi-robot team for the surveillance of shipwreck survivors at sea