Presidential Young Investigator Award: Feedback Structures for Supervisory Control

本研究的目的是开发设计方法， 评估用于监督决策的感觉反馈回路， 灵活的制造单元中的控制。 在这些应用中， 对在连续空间和时间中演化的过程进行建模， 作为异步离散事件控制。 要自动化的任务 被分解为基本的离散操作， 子任务之间的顺序和优先关系。 分析 替代反馈结构，信息理论的措施， 正在探讨作为一种手段，代表的要求， 系统的信息和决策空间 件. 基于信息的模型将表征传感器 分辨率，致动器精度，以及替代内部 信息处理和决策算法的模型。 技术 从最优随机控制正在研究的潜力 应用于具有实时性的柔性单元中的决策问题 资源配置 作为评估替代反馈的工具 结构和决策算法，离散事件仿真模型 自动化流程将通过明确的 感觉反馈回路的代表。

The objective of this research is to develop methods for design and evaluation of sensory feedback loops for supervisory decision and control in flexible manufacturing cells. In these applications, processes evolving in continuous space and time are modeled and controlled as asynchronous discrete events. The task to be automated is decomposed into basic discrete operations with alternative sequencing and precedence relations among the subtasks. To analyze alternative feedback structures, information-theoretic measures are being explored as a means for representing the requirements of the operations and the information and decision spaces of the system components. Information-based models will characterize sensor resolution, actuator accuracy, and the effects of alternative internal models for information processing and decision algorithms. Techniques from optimal stochastic control are being investigated for potential application to decision problems in flexible cells with real-time resource allocation. As a tool for evaluating alternative feedback structures and decision algorithms, a discrete-event simulation model of the automated processes will be implemented with explicit representation of the sensory feedback loops.