CAREER: Robust Controllers for Large-Scale Interconnected Systems: Applications to Web Handling Systems

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater OK

Investigators

Abstract

Prabhakar R. Pagilla, Oklahoma State University 9982071 CAREER: Robust Controllers for Large-Scale Interconnected Systems: Applications to Web Handling Systems Large-scale interconnected systems appear in a variety of engineering applications such as large structures, power systems and manufacturing processes. Web handling systems for web processing lines are true examples of large-scale interconnected dynamic systems with a large number of control and measurement variables. A web is any material in continuous flexible strip form which is very long compared to its width and very wide compared to its thickness. Examples include paper, fabrics, adhesive tape, photographic film and strip metals. Modeling and robust control of large-scale interconnected systems with applications to web handling systems is the focus of this research. Accurate dynamic models for the web and the basic elements of web handling systems, such as accumulators and dancers, will be developed. Based on these models robust decentralized controllers will be developed. Significant practical problems in web processes such as disturbances due to misalignment of rollers and improperly wound rolls will be studied, and robust control schemes to reject these type of disturbances will be designed. Research activities are integrated closely with education plans through common usage of equipment and bringing research problems into undergraduate and graduate curriculum. The education plan includes distance learning activities such as teaching courses via two-way-compressed-video and developing short courses for practicing engineers. The proposed work has significant impact on improving the performance of continuous web process lines. The theory development focuses on fundamental issues and general control structures for large-scale systems and hence it will be relevant to other applications. The proposed distance learning activities and short course preparation will provide practicing engineers to get easy access to university courses.