Advanced Control

The area of Advanced Control of CER CS2AC-UPC includes the design and the digital implementation of control systems of complex processes  (generally non linear and distributed), subjected to restrictions of operation, and that require the accomplishment of certain functioning benefits. Advanced Control benefits from the advances in computing and communications to be able to approach the control of complex processes. However, the communication networks can introduce new transitories, interferences, inaccuracies in the measures that put at risk the stability or the benefits of the controlled dynamic systems. 

The decisions of engineering for the control of complex systems are usually taken without having the complete advice of the more recent theoretical and analytical tools, that should be the key for the application of new techniques for the decision making. Another problem turns up when theory is not capable of giving solutions to practical problems. This difficulty is usually covered through the realization of extensive simulations and/or experimental tests, which implies time and resourses (the aerospace applications are an example). There are few, or almost any application, where the theory couples perfectly to the real application, without the need for modifications or finishing touches. Likewise, the more critical the application, the bigger the difficulty, which can derive in situations of danger or of extraordinary costs (case of the nuclear power plants). On the other hand, these difficulties are the ones that stimulate the originality of the applied research that keep busy both theoretics and practical professionals coming from diverse areas of Engineering. 

Specifically, we are working to give answer to the control of the real processes:  

• Active control of acoustic noise (CAR)
• Unmanned air vehicles (UAVs)
• Wind Turbines