Christian Kirches develops a fast numerical algorithm of wide applicability that efficiently solves mixed-integer nonlinear optimal control problems. He uses convexification and relaxation techniques to obtain computationally tractable reformulations for which feasibility and optimality certificates can be given even after discretization and rounding.

Many engineering, operations, and scientific applications include a mixture of discrete and continuous decision variables and nonlinear relationships involving the decision variables that have a pronounced effect on the set of feasible and optimal solutions. Mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problems combine the numerical difficulties of handling nonlinear functions with the challenge of optimizing in the context of nonconvex functions and discrete variables. MINLP is one of the most flexible modeling paradigms available for optimization; but because its scope is so broad, in the most general cases it is hopelessly intractable. Nonetheless, an expanding body of researchers and practitioners — including chemical engineers, operations researchers, industrial engineers, mechanical engineers, economists, statisticians, computer scientists, operations managers, and mathematical programmers — are interested in solving large-scale MINLP instances.

With a simple approach that includes real-time applications and algorithms, this book covers the theory of model predictive control (MPC).

In this thesis, several algorithms for distributed model predictive control over digital communication networks with parallel computation are developed and analyzed. Distributed control aims at efficiently controlling large scale dynamical systems which consist of interconnected dynamical systems by means of communicating local controllers. Such distributed control problems arise in applications such as chemical processes, formation control, and control of power grids. In distributed model predictive control the underlying idea is to solve a large scale model predictive control problem in a distributed fashion in order to achieve faster computation and better robustness against local failures. Distributed model predictive control often heavily relies on frequent communication between the local model predictive controllers. However, a digital communication network may induce uncertainties such as a communication delays, especially if the load on the communication network is high. One topic of this thesis is to develop a distributed model predictive control algorithm for subsystems interconnected by constraints and common control goals which is robust with respect to time-varying communication delays.

This book is a collection of thoroughly refereed papers presented at the 27th IFIP TC 7 Conference on System Modeling and Optimization, held in Sophia Antipolis, France, in June/July 2015. The 48 revised papers were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. They cover the latest progress in their respective areas and encompass broad aspects of system modeling and optimiza-tion, such as modeling and analysis of systems governed by Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) or Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs), control of PDEs/ODEs, nonlinear optimization, stochastic optimization, multi-objective optimization, combinatorial optimization, industrial applications, and numericsof PDEs.

Recent developments in model-predictive control promise remarkable opportunities for designing multi-input, multi-output control systems and improving the control of single-input, single-output systems. This volume provides a definitive survey of the latest model-predictive control methods available to engineers and scientists today. The initial set of chapters present various methods for managing uncertainty in systems, including stochastic model-predictive control. With the advent of affordable and fast computation, control engineers now need to think about using “computationally intensive controls,” so the second part of this book addresses the solution of optimization problems in “real” time for model-predictive control. The theory and applications of control theory often influence each other, so the last section of Handbook of Model Predictive Control rounds out the book with representative applications to automobiles, healthcare, robotics, and finance. The chapters in this volume will be useful to working engineers, scientists, and mathematicians, as well as students and faculty interested in the progression of control theory. Future developments in MPC will no doubt build from concepts demonstrated in this book and anyone with an interest in MPC will find fruitful information and suggestions for additional reading.

This work describes a method for weighted least squares approximation of an unbounded number of data points using a B-spline function. The method can shift the bounded B-spline function definition range during run-time. The approximation method is used for optimizing velocity trajectories for an electric vehicle with respect to travel time, comfort and energy consumption. The trajectory optimization method is extended to a driver assistance system for automated vehicle longitudinal control.

The goal of this book is to familiarize readers with the latest research on, and recent advances in, the field of Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics. It gathers a selection of papers highlighting the state-of-the-art in Intelligent Control Systems, Optimization, Robotics and Automation, Signal Processing, Sensors, Systems Modelling and Control. Combining theoretical aspects with practical applications, the book offers a well-balanced overview of the latest achievements, and will provide researchers, engineers and PhD students with both a vital update and new inspirations for their own research.

Numerical Control: Part B, Volume 24 in the Handbook of Numerical Analysis series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters written by an international board of authors. Chapters in this volume include Control problems in the coefficients and the domain for linear elliptic equations, Computational approaches for extremal geometric eigenvalue problems, Non-overlapping domain decomposition in space and time for PDE-constrained optimal control problems on networks, Feedback Control of Time-dependent Nonlinear PDEs with Applications in Fluid Dynamics, Stabilization of the Navier-Stokes equations - Theoretical and numerical aspects, Reconstruction algorithms based on Carleman estimates, and more. Other sections cover Discrete time formulations as time discretization strategies in data assimilation, Back and forth iterations/Time reversal methods, Unbalanced Optimal Transport: from Theory to Numerics, An ADMM Approach to the Exact and Approximate Controllability of Parabolic Equations, Nonlocal balance laws -- an overview over recent results, Numerics and control of conservation laws, Numerical approaches for simulation and control of superconducting quantum circuits, and much more. - Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors - Presents the latest release in the Handbook of Numerical Analysis series - Updated release includes the latest information on Numerical Control