Control system design using artificial intelligence

Tebbutt, Colin Dean

Control system design using artificial intelligence

Doctoral Thesis

1991

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Electrical Engineering

Faculty

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment

Abstract

Successful multivariable control system design demands knowledge, skill and creativity of the designer. The goal of the research described in this dissertation was to investigate, implement, and evaluate methods by which artificial intelligence techniques, in a broad sense, may be used in a design system to assist the user. An intelligent, interactive, control system design tool has been developed to fulfil this aim. The design tool comprises two main components; an expert system on the upper level, and a powerful CACSD package on the lower level. The expert system has been constructed to assist and guide the designer in using the facilities provided by the underlying CACSD package. Unlike other expert systems, the user is also aided in formulating and refining a comprehensive and achievable design specification, and in dealing with conflicts which may arise within this specification. The assistance is aimed at both novice and experienced designers. The CACSD package includes a synthesis program which attempts to find a controller that satisfies the design specification. The synthesis program is based upon a recent factorization theory approach, where the linear multivariable control system design problem is translated into, and techniques efficiency solved as, a quadratic programming problem, which significantly improve the time and space of this method have been developed, making it practical to solve substantial multivariable design problems using only a microcomputer. The design system has been used by students at the University of Cape Town. Designs produced using the expert system tool are compared against those produced using classical design methods.