Formal synthesis of analytic controllers: An evolutionary approach

Control design for modern safety-critical cyber-physical systems still requires significant expert-knowledge, since for general hybrid systems with temporal logic specifications there are no constructive methods. Nevertheless, in recent years multiple approaches have been proposed to automatically synthesize correct-by-construction controllers....

A Computational Framework for Procedural Abduction Done by Smart Cyber-Physical Systems

To be able to provide appropriate services in social and human application contexts, smart cyber-physical systems (S-CPSs) need ampliative reasoning and decision-making (ARDM) mechanisms. As one option, procedural abduction (PA) is suggested for self-managing S-CPSs. PA is a knowledge-based computation and learning mechanism. The objective of...

Stable force control and contact transition of a single link flexible robot using a fractional-order controller

The control of robots that interact with the environment is an open area of research. Two applications that benefit from this study are: the control of the force exerted by a robot on an object, which allows the robot to perform complex tasks like assembly operations, and the control of collisions, which allows the robot safely collaborate...

Optimal model distributions in supervisory adaptive control

Several classes of multi-model adaptive control schemes have been proposed in literature: instead of one single parameter-varying controller, in this adaptive methodology multiple fixed-parameter controllers for different operating regimes (i.e. different models) are utilised. Despite advances in multi-model adaptive control theory, the question...

Towards teleoperation with human-like dynamics: Human use of elastic tools

Variable stiffness actuators undergo lower peak force in contacts compared to their rigid counterparts, and are thus safer for human-robot interaction. Furthermore, they can store energy in their elastic element and can release it later to achieve human-like dynamic movements. However, it is not clear how to integrate them in teleoperator...

Fast optimization-based control and estimation using operator splitting methods

The size of modern technological systems has grown significantly and the need for fast, online optimization-based control is a necessity. The complexity of these systems along with the need for increased accuracy in the computed outcome dictate the usage of optimization methods for the computation of the solution. Besides this, new data arrive...

Cooperative adaptive cruise control: Using information from multiple predecessors in combination with MPC

Cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) makes the vehicle follow its predecessor at a close but safe distance, and uses information received from other vehicles to accomplish this task. In literature and in practice, the control method mostly applied for CACC is proportional integral derivative (PID) control, possibly with some refinement for...

Receding Horizon Control of Perturbed Railway Network Operation

Railway networks, such as the one in the Netherlands, form an important means of transportation, both for passengers, as well as for transporting goods. Train services carrying passengers often run according to a predefined schedule or timetable. When those train services are delayed, for example due to accidents or malfunctioning rolling stock,...

Switched LQR control: Design of a general framework

This thesis studies the Switched Linear Quadratic Regulator (SLQR) problem, over a hybrid (continuous and discrete) dynamical model known as "switched system". The problem is defined as computing the optimal continuous and discrete switching control to minimise a quadratic cost function that weights the states and the continuous controls. The...

Soft Sensors Development for Model Based Control of Groundwater Treatment Plants

The drinking water in the Netherlands has been aimed to achieve high quality of water along with a low production cost. In-order to produce such high quality of treated water, constant monitoring of the process variables at the end of each treatment step is recommended. These processes are monitored and operated by motivated and skilled...

Modeling and control principles for a tentacle-like surgical instrument

In this project a challenge in the field of minimally invasive surgery is addressed. Contemporary minimally invasive instruments usually consist of a rigid beam with an end effector on one side and a controlling mechanism on the other. These instruments work well for cases when the body can be entered in such a way that the target, on which to...

Least-cost model predictive control of residential energy resources when applying ?mCHP

With an increasing use of distributed energy resources and intelligence in the electricity infrastructure, the possibilities for minimizing costs of household energy consumption increase. Technology is moving toward a situation in which households manage their own energy generation and consumption, possibly in cooperation with each other. As a...

Robust flight control: Several aeronautical applications