Analysis and synthesis of embedded systems with discrete and continuous control (EES.5173)
Project nummer:
ees5173
Omschrijving van het onderzoek
Embedded systems are frequently used to control processes and devices, as elucidated in Fig. 1. With embedded controllers these products can be made with a large complexity and flexibility with acceptable production costs. These processes or devices consist of physical (e.g. mechanical, electrical) components and exhibit time-continuous behaviour. The controller, implemented in software, is generally some form of finite-state machine on a digital processor and is, therefore, asynchronous and time-discrete. The controller takes care of functions such as start-up, mode switching, constraint handling, safety and, using a synchronous, time-discrete basic feedback controller, stability and performance. The controller, excluding the basic feedback controller, can be described and analysed with process algebra of computer science. System and control theory allows the analysis of the basic feedback controller and the physical process. Due to a lack of common models and theories between computer science and system theory [3] the design of the controller software for a dedicated application is still an heuristic, time-consuming and error-prone activity, which generates only limited transferable knowledge. Until now, the control theories of time-continuous systems and time-discrete systems have been studied as two separate fields. On the one hand, systems and control theory finds its roots in physics and engineering sciences. On the other hand, process theory (process algebra) is based on computer science. The models and methods used in both fields are almost completely disjointed.
Figure 1: Embedded controller: Asynchronous discrete events + synchronous basic controller
The challenge of this project is to integrate knowledge of controllers from computer science and system theory for the analysis and synthesis of embedded systems. The proposal is aimed at describing and generalising this design knowledge, leading to a better understanding of these systems. It is expected to lead to an increased throughput of the process, a substantial decrease of development time and more predictable and reliable results. Focussing on the type of applications suggested by industry, this research project brings closer continuous and discrete control systems by comparing and, possibly, combining their techniques. The expectation is that this will lead to an improved mutual understanding, cross-fertilisation and to generic results for analysing and synthesising the dynamic behaviour of industrial embedded systems. Its applicants are experts from both the engineering and the computer science disciplines in control theory, with strong connections to industry.
Resultaten van het onderzoek
For results, see http://www.cs.ele.tue.nl/pages/projects/stw.html.
Gebruikers
Two companies and three other universities are involved in this project.
Projectleider
Status van het project
| Gestart | : 01-09-2000
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| Einddatum | : 01-11-2004
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Trefwoorden
Embedded Systemen, Proces-algebra, Systeemtheorie.