Research project P4/02 (Research action P4)
The major goal of this IPA is to promote fundamental research in the area of modelling, identification, simulation, and control of complex dynamic systems described by mathematical models such as ordinary and partial differential equations. Such methods have many applications in areas as diverse as industrial processes, materials engineering, robotics, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, telecommunications, and the management of environmental resources. To pursue this objective, collaboration is fostered between the network teams, particularly in those areas where the network has a critical mass of researchers of international stature, scattered among the various teams.
The research is centred on five themes, sub-disciplines of systems and control in which the network has either an established international reputation or the assets required to build such a reputation:
1. Nonlinear dynamics and control
2. System identification
3. Applications of identification and control methods
4. Numerical systems and control methods
5. Linear systems and robust control
This IPA network consists of 5 teams of different sizes, each with a strong reputation in at least one of the above-mentioned sub-disciplines of systems and control.
Yet with the possible exception of the two largest teams (UCL and KUL/ESAT), no single team has a sufficiently broad expertise to make a major contribution in more than one of these sub-disciplines. The network has therefore been designed so that for each research theme at least two teams have top-level experts. The joint efforts of these experts will be brought to bear on specific unsolved problems. Additionally, the existence of the network makes it possible to provide high-level training to our PhD students, notably through our Graduate School, founded in 1992.
Each team belongs to an engineering school and devotes a substantial amount of activity to applied research in collaboration with industry. Even though fundamental research is the main objective of this IPA, the project is bound to produce significant added value in terms of technology transfer.
Furthermore, some application areas are common to several teams and should thus benefit from a significant networking effect. These areas are principally: control of chemical and biochemical processes, control of communications systems, identification and control of mechanical and electromechanical systems and industrial processes.
