Presidential Young Investigators Award: Robust Design of Multivariable Feedback Systems

PI的研究兴趣是发展理论来描述与设计相关的线性反馈系统的那些特性。特别令人感兴趣的是被控制系统的结构如何限制通过反馈设计可实现的性能和鲁棒性。在标量情况下，具有非最小相位零、不稳定极点和时间延迟的电站会给设计带来困难。这些性质也可以出现在多变量系统中。然而，在这种情况下，它们不太容易被理解，并试图开发一个数学框架来探索它们的性质。多变量系统也可以具有在标量情况下没有类似的性质。其中包括由于环相互作用和植物不良调节而产生的方向性特性。他试图理解这些属性以及它们所带来的设计权衡和限制。然后，他计划将这些知识整合到各种现有的设计方法中，并开发新的方法。他的最终研究目标是充分理解反馈系统的特性，从而开发经验法则来帮助设计。这项任务既包括必要理论的发展，也包括将理论转化为实践工程师的语言的大量努力。

PI's research interests are in developing theory to describe those properties of linear feedback systems that are relevant to design. Of particular interest is the way in which the structure of a system to be controlled limits the performance and robustness properties achievable through feedback design. In the scalar case, plants with nonminimum phase zeros, unstable poles, and time delays cause design difficulty. These properties can also appear in multivariable systems. However, in this context they are less well understood, and seek to develop a mathematical framework within which to explore their properties. Multivariable systems can also possess properties having no analogue in the scalar case. Among these are directionality properties due to loop interactions and to plant ill-conditioning. He seeks to understand these properties and the design tradeoffs and limitations that they impose. He then plans to incorporate this knowledge into various existing design methodologies as well as to develop new methodologies. His ultimate research goal is to understand feedback system properties sufficiently well that rules of thumb may be developed to aid in design. This task will involve both development of the necessary theory, as well as a substantial effort to translate that theory into the language of the practicing engineer.