From eletter@win.tue.nl Sun Jan 1 19:14:01 1995 To: eletter@win.tue.nl Subject: E-letter 77 From: eletter Reply-To: esend@win.tue.nl E-LETTER on Systems, Control, and Signal Processing ISSUE No. 77, January 1, 1995 Happy New Year Feliz ano nuevo E-mail: eletter-request@win.tue.nl Editors: Anton A. Stoorvogel Dept. of Mathematics & Computing Science Eindhoven University of Technology P.O. Box 513 5600 MB Eindhoven the Netherlands Fax +31-40-465995 Siep Weiland Dept. of Electrical Engineering Eindhoven University of Technology P.O. Box 513 5600 MB Eindhoven the Netherlands Fax +31-40-434582 Contents 1. Editorial 2. Personals 3. General announcements 3.1 Fuzzy Controller Design Software 3.2 SCAD update 4. Positions 4.1 Faculty position, University of Michigan-Dearborn 4.2 Ph.D. and Postdoc positions, Simon Fraser University 4.3 Senior Engineer, Research Centre, Australia 4.4 Faculty Position, University of Waterloo 4.5 Postdoc position, University of New Brunswick 4.6 Postdoc position, Dutch Institute of Systems and Control 4.7 Faculty Position, University of Bath, UK 4.8 Postdoc position, University of British Columbia 4.9 Faculty Position, Univ. Texas, San Antonio 4.10 Faculty Position, Univ. of Michigan 5. Books 5.1 Hierarchical Decision Making in Stochastic Manufacturing Systems 5.2 Dynamic Noncooperative Game Theory 6. Journals 6.1 TOC Math of Control, Signals, and Systems 6.2 TOC SIAM J. of Optimization 6.3 TOC IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control 6.4 TOC J. of Mathematical Systems, Estimation, and Control 7. Conferences 7.1 Allerton Conf. on communication, control, and computing 7.2 IEEE Int. Conf. on systems, man and cybernetics 7.3 3rd IEEE Mediterranean Symposium Control and Automation. 7.4 SIAM Travel Grants for ICIAM 95 7.5 IEEE Conference on Control Applications 7.6 Workshop Event-driven Operations in Process Systems 7.7 IFAC Workshop on Distributed Computer Control Systems ****************************************** * * * Editorial * * * ****************************************** Welcome to E-letter number 77 !!! We plan to send out the E-letter monthly. The next issue of E-letter will appear February 1. Please send contributions before this date. Contributions tend to get increasingly long while part of the provided information is not always relevant to include in the E-letter. In order to keep the E-letter a reasonably sized medium we encourage contributors for this column to provide essential information only. We reserve the right to require contributors to cut certain parts of their contribution. 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If you can not use your old E-mail address any longer then send an E-mail to "eletter-request@win.tue.nl" and your old address will be removed manually. In case of any problems please send an E-mail to "eletter-request@win.tue.nl" and we will try to resolve the problem. -4- Further information about the E-letter can be obtained by sending an (empty) e-mail message to "eletter@win.tue.nl" carrying the subject 'info' or via the finger command: "finger eletter@wsbs08.bs.win.tue.nl" -5- If you are using an editor to read this mailing and if at any point you wish to skip to the next article, you can accomplish this by searching for the string: *.** ****************************************** * * * Personals * * * ****************************************** *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: M. Vidyasagar FlexControl --- A platform for real-time fuzzy control system design and rapid prototyping We have developed a fuzzy controller design software, called FlexControl, for REAL-TIME fuzzy control applications. The demo version of the software is available via anonymous ftp (described at the end of this message). If you are interested, please ftp a copy for yourself and play with it. Below is a more detailed description of the software. Why FlexControl? ================ >From engineering viewpoint, a complete design process of a real-time fuzzy control system is seen as a cycle consisting of four phases: Controller Design, Simulation, Prototyping, and Field Test. For a real-world control problem, the cycle often needs to be repeated many times to generate an effective fuzzy controller. The current fuzzy control software systems available in the market appear to have only addressed the issue of controller design. Neither simulation nor prototyping and field test are considered, not to mention to carry them out directly on the same platform. This results in difficulties in evaluating the controller performance, thus lengthen the time for the controller design and prototyping. In addition, going through the design phases separately places a strong demand on the part of the control system designer in terms of the skill and knowledge. This is often compromised at the expense of more people and additional cost for the equipment. FlexControl, which consists of a PC-Windows based CAE (Computer-Aided-Engineering, to be distinguished with Computer-Aided Design) system and an (optional) FlexUC universal controller card for fuzzy control system design and rapid prototyping, is introduced to address these difficulties, and to bring the fuzzy control technology even closer to field engineers. Features of FlexControl ======================= Rather than aiming at the general fuzzy application, FlexControl is particularly designed to cater to Real-time Fuzzy Control applications. It has the following distinct features: 1. As a CAE system for control system design, it offers a platform so that all the phases of the design process can be carried out on the same software platform. More importantly, it is such that the real-time part of the system is as easy as clicking a mouse button. FlexControl is therefore ideal for those who would like to perform real-time testing and Prototypying of their fuzzy control, but do not have necessary knowledge and tools. 2. The fuzzy controller design is made easier by a simple Windows based user interface complete with the editing, debugging, and visualization facilities. The design can also start with a meta-rule set with standard choice of membership functions to facilitate the design by novice fuzzy control system designers. 3. The designed fuzzy controller can be simulated directly with a process model to evaluate the control performance. This simulation is not the simple visualization of the control surface, which is not very meaningful for actually control design (because you never know what is the desired control surface beforehand). This is simulating the whole control system with the process model and the fuzzy controller you just designed. The simulation results allow you to evaluate your fuzzy controller, and make appropriate changes. FlexControl allows you to acquire a process model by one of the following three ways: you can choose a benchmark model supplied by FlexControl; you can enter a model using the model entry facility in case you know the transfer function of the model; and you can perform Real-time identification to acquire a model. 4. There are two ways in which you can work Real-time with FlexControl. One is by using the optional FlexUC Universal controller card. In this mode, FlexControl lets you generate the fuzzy control code directly in ANSI C, and then translates the code into the code for the FlexUC card. The translated code can be downloaded to the FlexUC for field test. All the translation and downloading are done directly on FlexControl by simple click of mouse buttons. Another is by using an AD/DA card. In this mode, you simply choose your card as if you choose a printer driver. FlexControl will take care of the rest. 5. The control operation on FlexUC can be monitored directly on the software platform, and some critical parameters of the fuzzy controller can be modified on-line to improve further the controller performance. 6. For the purpose of comparison, a PID controller with autotuning feature is also included in the system. Who should use FlexControl ========================== The intended users of FlexControl are those who intend to design fuzzy control for Real-time applications. They may have relevant control background and are able to design controllers for their process control applications. However, they may not have experience in fuzzy control, nor in the implementation (or real-time) aspects of a control system. They will find FlexControl a convenient productivity tool for designing a new fuzzy control system or modifying an existing one. The university teaching staff may also find this an interesting system for their research projects, and for their students to gain better exposure to and develop valuable experiences in fuzzy control design and prototyping. They can quickly customize their fuzzy control related laboratory assignments using the system. Where to get the Software? ========================== The Demo version of the software can be obtained by anonymous ftp at the following site ftp.ee.nus.sg:/pub/control/fuzzy/flexctrol.zip if you are in North America and Europe, you can also get it at ftp.tamu.edu:/pub/Dos/flexctrol.zip Please contact me if you would like to know more about the software. I can be reached at eletansh@leonis.nus.sg Cheers, Shaohua Tan *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by Raimund J. Ober Xu Huang UPDATE ON SCAD DATABASE -- December 1994 ******************************************************************************* #### #### ## ##### # # # # # # # #### # # # # # # # ###### # # # # # # # # # # #### #### # # ##### Systems and Control Archive at Dallas gopher: gopher.utdallas.edu ftp address: ftp.utdallas.edu IP number: 129.110.10.14 queries: scad@utdallas.edu ****************************************************************************** New contents: ============= eletters: ========= Number 76 parts 1,2. New activities!!!!!!!!!!!!: Gophers to be linked to SCAD =============== We have started to set up an `Other related gopher servers' choice on our gopher menu. Anyone who would like their gopher site linked to SCAD should send an email to scad@utdallas.edu with their gopher address. ************ Remember to send your tech reports and other material! ********* How to access scad: =================== Using gopher: gopher gopher.utdallas.edu Select `UT-Dallas Research' and then `Systems and Control Archive at Dallas' Using ftp: ftp ftp.utdallas.edu Then cd /pub/scad More detailed instructions can be obtained by sending an email to scad@utdallas.edu After accessing SCAD you can find a README file which contains more information about SCAD. ****************************************** * * * Positions * * * ****************************************** *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: Sridhar Lakshmanan FACULTY POSITION IN AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS AND SYSTEMS The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Michigan-Dearborn has an opening for a faculty position at the Assistant/Associate Professor level starting Fall 1995. the selected candidate will have an earned Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering or closely related field and is expected to be active in research, and teach graduate/undergraduate courses in analog/digital electronics, power electronics, micro-processors and VLSI circuits. The selected candidate will also be required to actively participate in the research efforts of the newly established Vehicular Electronics Design Laboratory. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Send resumes to: Chairman, ECE Dept., University of Michigan-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Rd., Dearborn, MI 48128, U of M is an equal opportunity educator and employer and specifically invites and encourages applications from women and minorities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE FROM THE CONTRIBUTOR: A strong research interest in automotive electronics and systems is key for serious consideration. *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: William A. Gruver RESEARCH POSITIONS IN ROBOTICS AND MANUFACTURING AUTOMATION AT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Qualified individual wanted to conduct postdoctoral research in the development of flexible tooling for agile manufacturing. Requires PhD in mechanical engineering and experience in assembly automation, robotics, design for assembly, mechanism design, kinematics and dynamics. Strong publication record required. Two MASc/PhD assistantships are also available on this project. Application deadline March 1, 1995. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, this advertisement is directed to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Send resume, publication list, and list of three references to Prof. W. A. Gruver, School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6. Qualified individual wanted for laboratory staff position of Mechanical Design Engineer. Duties include design, specification, and integration of robotic systems and manufacturing processes; coordination with industrial sponsors; preparation of proposals, reports, and publications. Requires BS/MS in mechanical engineering and 5 years experience involving the design and integration of automation systems. Application deadline March 1, 1995. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, this advertisement is directed to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Send resume and list of three references to Prof. W. A. Gruver, School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A1S6. *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: Manfred Claasz Advertisment for Senior Engineer The Cooperative Research Centre for Robust and Adaptive Systems is a joint venture between the Australian National University (ANU), the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), CSIRO Division of Radiophysics and BHP Research Melbourne Laboratories. The Centre's aim is to establish world standard research in Control Systems and Signal Processing with the emphasis on postgraduate education and end-user interactions. A Senior Research Engineer is required to work in the Centre's Robust Control Project. One of the aims of this project is to develop advanced feedback control and estimation techniques to apply these to industrial problems. The successful applicant will be a leader in their field and be able to design, develop, and implement solution strategies. Highly developed communication and presentation skills are mandatory requirements. The position will be based at the ANU in Canberra, but travel to other Centre sites and relevant industry sites will be required.Applicants should have a PhD in engineering or other equivalent qualification. Applicants with a strong Honours degree combined with several years of relevant experience may also be suitable. Additional computing experience or qualifications would be an advantage. It is also highly desirable to have knowledge of Control Systems and Signal Processing theory and the ability to program at an advanced level. A salary package will be negotiated commensurate with the appointee's qualifications and experience.Further information is available from Mr Manfred Claasz on Ph. (06) 249 5149, Fax (06) 249 2698 or E-mail manfred.claasz@syseng.anu.edu.au. Technical contact: Dr Michael Green, phone (06) 249 2739 or E-mail michael.green@anu.edu.au. Written applications including a Curriculum Vitae should be addressed to Secretary,ANUTECH Pty Ltd, Canberra ACT 0200 or fax to (06)257 1433 by Friday 2 December 1994 *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: E.R. Vrscay (Acting Chairman) TENURE-TRACK FACULTY POSITION - CONTROL THEORY DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS, UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO Applications are invited for a tenure-track faculty position in the Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, in the area of Control Theory, to begin on or after 1 September 1995. Applicants will normally have at least two years' post-doctoral experience by the time of the appointment. Experience with applications of Control Theory in Engineering or Science would be an advantage. Salary and rank, at the Assistant or Associate Professor level, will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. A curriculum vitae and three letters of recommendation should be sent to F.O. Goodman, Chairman, Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1. The closing date for applications is 31 January 1995. The Department of Applied Mathematics is one of five Departments in the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. The Department members have interests in a wide variety of areas, including Control Theory, Dynamical Systems, Electroacoustics, Fluid Mechanics, Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations, Quantum Theory, Relativity and Scientific Computation. There are also close collaborations with the Faculties of Engineering and Science in the University. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, this advertisement is directed to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. The University of Waterloo encourages applications from qualified women and men, members of visible minorities, native peoples and persons with disabilities. This appointment is subject to the availability of funds. *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: Jim Taylor Post Doctoral Fellowship in Intelligent Control The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has approved funding for a Post Doctoral Fellow to work with the Senior Industrial Research Chair in Advanced Instrumentation and Control at the University of New Brunswick. The specific focus will be on combining control technology, optimization methods and applied artificial intel- ligence to conceive, develop and demonstrate self-optimizing model-based control systems. Likely target application areas include but are not limited to power systems, processes (e.g., pulp & paper, refining) and electro-mechanical systems. The duration of this position is from two to four years, to be determined as part of the selection process de- pending on mutual interests and constraints; the starting date is also negotiable (summer 1995 preferred). Candidates must have a recent PhD with a strong research background in systems and control. Interest and expertise in optimization, applied AI and/or sensing will be advantageous, as will experience in a suitable application domain. Willingness to collaborate with industry and to be involved in transfer of technology to industry are also important. Candidates from Chemical, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering are all equally encouraged to apply. The University of New Brunswick is committed to the principle of employ- ment equity. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The closing date for nominations and applications is 28 February 1995 or until the position is filled. Nominations, applications and requests for information should be forwarded to: Dr. James H. Taylor NSERC/Monenco AGRA Professor Department of Electrical Engineering University of New Brunswick PO Box 4400 Fredericton, NB CANADA E3B 5A3 (506) 453-5101; jtaylor@unb.ca *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: Huibert Kwakernaak FOUR POSTDOC POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN THE NETHERLANDS The Dutch Institute of Systems and Control DISC announces four one-year postdoc positions on the following research projects: --Representations of open dynamical systems --Mathematical modelling of open physical systems --Integration of systems identification and robust control design --Identification of nonlinear system behavior The salary is according to the Dutch academic scales. The starting date for the positions is not later than September 1, 1995. The Dutch Institute of Systems and Control is an interuniversity graduate school and research institute founded by the universities of Delft, Eindhoven and Twente in association and cooperation with the universities of Groningen, Wageningen, Limburg, Rotterdam and Tilburg, the Free University of Amsterdam and the Center of Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI) in Amsterdam. The Institute continues and expands the activities of the Dutch Network on Systems and Control. Its participants include practically all the academic systems and control groups in The Netherlands. Each postdoc will be assigned to the group best suited to act as host. Enquiries and applications should be addressed to the Scientific Director, Prof. Huibert Kwakernaak, University of Twente, P. O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands (e-mail address h.kwakernaak@math.utwente.nl), before February 15. *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: Hartmut Logemann UNIVERSITY OF BATH, UK --- TWO POSTS IN MATHEMATICS >From September 1 1995 there will be two vacancies in the Mathematics Group and appropriately qualified candidates may be appointed to Readerships. It is hoped that one appointment will be made in each of Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics. Appointments will be made of candidates with excellent research records or excellent potential for research in areas related to the following: Analysis, Geometry, Differential Equations, the Calculus of Variations, Solid Mechanics, Mathematical Biology, Control Theory, Numerical Analysis, Mathematical Modelling and Dynamical Systems. The person appointed will be expected to teach at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the School as well as possibly doing some service teaching. At the beginning, the teaching load will be commensurate with age and experience. The new lecturer will be expected to develop independent research and to play an active role in the research activities of the School. Candidates seeking further information may contact Alastair Spence (Telephone: (+44 1225) 826011, fax: (+44 1225) 826492, email: as@maths.bath.ac.uk or na.spence@na-net.ornl.gov ). Those who wish their names to be considered for the post should send to Peter J Hill, Director of Personnel, University of Bath, Claverton Down, BATH, Avon, BA2 7AY, an application which contains a statement of the candidate's experience, qualifications, and published work, and the names and addresses of three persons to whom reference may be made. The closing date for applications is 23 January 1995. *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: Michael Davies POST DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP Pulp and Paper Centre University of British Columbia Vancouvfer, B.C., Canada Applications are invited for a one year position as Post Doctoral Fellow in the area of process control systems. The position is funded as part of the Process Control component of Phase II of the NCE Mechanical and Chemimechanical Pulps Network. The successful applicant will be expected to take up this position in early 1995. Applicants should have recently completed their doctoral degree. The position requires familiarity with current techniques in a broad area of process modelling, estimation and control, as well as research experience in a specialized field. Knowledge of process control methods, and familiarity with pulp and paper processes would be a definite advantage. This PDF will be expected to contribute immediately to research in Papermaking Control. Areas of interest include: wet end chemistry, pH monitoring and control, multivariable control of sheet properties including coating and filler application. The position will be in the process control group of graduate students, engineers and faculty, led by Professors Guy Dumont and Michael Davies, and located in the UBC Pulp and Paper Centre. The Centre is housed in a modern building adjacent to the Engineering Departments on the UBC campus. Excellent hardware and software facilities are available as well as access to industrial collaborators for mill trials. Applications should include a covering letter, curriculum vita and the names and addresses of three referees. Further information can be obtained by contacting Michael Davies by e-mail at "miked@unixg.ubc.ca". Applications should be submitted as soon as possible, but before January 31, 1995, and should be sent to: Michael Davies Department of Electrical Engineering The University of British Columbia 2356 Main Mall Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 Canada *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: Sumit Roy FACULTY POSITIONS at U. TEXAS, SAN ANTONIO The University of Texas at San Antonio has two tenured/tenure-track positions available in Electrical Engineering (one at Asst. Prof. and the other at Assoc. Prof. level), pending budget approval. Successful applicants must have a Ph.D. in Electrical/Computer Engineering by Sep. 1, 1995 with an interest in teaching in undergraduate and graduate levels. The Asst. Prof. level applicants must have a dedication to developing a strong program of funded research while the Assoc. Prof. level aplicants must have a demonstrated ability for funded research and leadership qualities in guiding a new Ph.D. program. Applications are invited in the areas of digital systems, communications and controls - of particular interest are candidates at the interface of two areas as applied to computer/communication networks - e.g. multiple access protocols and performance analysis, multiprocessing architectures,parallel processing, scientific computing, wireless networks. Please send resume, names, postal and e-mail addresses of three references and a description of teaching and research interests to: Chair, Search Committee Electrical Engineering University of Texas 6900 North Loop 1604 West San Antonio, TX 78249-0665. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must state their current visa status. Please indicate the position you are applying for in your cover letter. UTSA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Women and minorities are particularly encouraged to apply. *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: Alfred Hero FACULTY POSITION IN THE AREA OF SIGNAL PROCESSING DEPT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ANN ARBOR The Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, is soliciting applications at all ranks for a tenure track or tenured faculty position in the area of signal processing. Junior candidates should have an outstanding academic record and a strong commitment to teaching and research in signal processing. To be considered for a tenured position candidates should have demonstrated that they are leaders in the field and have a first class record of research and teaching. We are particularly interested in candidates with strong and broad theoretical backgrounds who also have interests in inter-disciplinary applications. Interested candidates should send a resume and names of five references to: Professor George I. Haddad, Chair Dept. of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science 1301 Beal Avenue, Room 3303 The University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2122 An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer ****************************************** * * * Books * * * ****************************************** *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: Q. Zhang NEW BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT TITLE: Hierarchical Decision Making in Stochastic Manufacturing Systems SERIES: Systems and Control: Foundations and Applications AUTHORS: Suresh P. Sethi and Qing Zhang ISBN: 0-8176-3735-4 ISBN: 3-7643-3735-4 PUBLISHER: Birkhauser Boston 675 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA SUMMARY OF THE BOOK: Most manufacturing systems are large, complex, and subject to uncertainty. The problem of the efficient management of such systems is of critical importance to a nation's economic competitiveness. But obtaining optimal feedback policies to run these systems is usually impossible. Hierarchical feedback control policies, on the other hand, offer the promise of being able to handle realistically complex manufacturing systems in a tractable fashion to make their management more efficient. This book articulates a profound new theory that shows that hierarchical decision making in the context of a goal-seeking manufacturing system can lead to near optimization of its objective. The approach in the book considers manufacturing systems in which events occur at different time scales. For example, changes in demand may occur far more slowly than breakdowns and repairs of production machines. This suggests that capital expansion decisions that respond to demand are relatively longer term decisions than decisions regarding production. Thus, longer term decisions such as those dealing with capital expansion can be based on the average existing production capacity, and can be expected to be nearly optimal even though the short term capacity fluctuations are ignored. Having the longer term decisions in hand, one can then solve the simpler problem of obtaining production rates. Multilevel decisions constructed in this manner are shown to be asymptotically optimal as the average time between successive short term events becomes much smaller than that between successive long term events. Much attention is given to establish that the order of deviation of the cost of the hierarchical solution from the optimal cost is small. The striking novelty of the approach is that this is done without solving for the optimal solution. The approach represents a new paradigm in convex production planning and a new research direction in control theory. The research presented cuts across the disciplines of Operations Management, Operations Research, Economics, System and Control Theory, Industrial Engineering, Probability and Statistics, and Applied Mathematics. It is anticipated that the book would encourage development of new models and techniques in these disciplines. Table of Contents ------------------- Chapter 1. Concepts of hierarchical decision making Chapter 2. Models of manufacturing systems Chapter 3. Optimal control of parallel machine systems Chapter 4. Optimal control of dynamic flowshops Chapter 5. Hierarchical controls in systems with parallel machines Chapter 6. Hierarchical controls in dynamic flowshops Chapter 7. Hierarchical controls in dynamic jobshops Chapter 8. Hierarchical production and setup scheduling Chapter 9. Hierarchical feedback controls in two-machine flowshops Chapter 10. A production and capacity expansion model Chapter 11. Production-marketing systems Chapter 12. Computations and evaluation of hierarchical controls Chapter 13. Further extensions and open research problems Chapter 14. Appendices *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: Tamer Basar Title: Dynamic Noncooperative Game Theory (Second Edition -- Paperback) Authors: Tamer Basar and Geert Jan Olsder Date: 1995 (available now) Publisher: Academic Press (ISBN 0-12-080221-X) - From the Back Cover - This is the second edition of "Dynamic Noncooperative Game Theory," which was first published in 1982, and presents an extensive and updated treatment of static and dynamic noncooperative game theory, with emphasis placed again (as in the first edition) on the interplay between dynamic information patterns and the structural properties of several different types of equilibria. There are three main reasons for this new edition: the favourable reception accorded to the first edition; the need to include new theoretical developments; and the fact that the topic of dynamic games has found its way into the curricula of many universities. This new edition contains some substantial changes and additions, but the flavour and the theme of the original text remain intact. Part I of the book covers the material that is generally taught in an advanced undergraduate or first-year graduate course on noncooperative game theory. The coverage includes static finite and infinite games of both the zero-sum and nonzero-sum type, and in the latter case both Nash and Stackelberg solution concepts are discussed. Part II extends the theory of the first part to infinite dynamic games in both discrete and continuous time, with the emphasis again being on the close interrelation between information patterns and noncooperative equilibria of such multi-person dynamic decision problems. This part of the book will be extremely useful in providing researchers in the field with the state-of-art in infinite dynamic game theory; selected topics could also be used as a part of a graduate course on dynamic optimisation, optimal control theory or mathematical economics. The book contains several illustrative examples and exercises, and has an extensive list of references. ****************************************** * * * Journals * * * ****************************************** *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: Eduardo Sontag TABLE OF CONTENTS, Math of Control, Signals, and Systems Volume 7, Number 1 B. d'Andrea Novel, F. Boustany, F. Conrad, and B.P. Rao, Feedback stabilization of a hybrid PDE-ODE system: Application to an overhead crane, pp. 1-22. George Weiss, Regular linear systems with feedback, pp. 23-57. Richard M. Murray, Nilpotent bases for a class of non-integrable distributions with applications to trajectory generation for nonholonomic systems pp. 58-75. Takao Nambu, Approximation algorithm for the infinite-dimensional Lyapunov equation, pp. 76-93. *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: nelson@siam.org SIAM J. OF OPTIMIZATION, NO. 5, VOL. 1 FEBRUARY 1995 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Why a Pure Primal Newton Barrier Step may be Infeasible Margaret H. Wright 13 Interior Point Methods in Semidefinite Programming with Applications to Combinatorial Optimization Farid Alizadeh 52 Infeasible-Interior-Point Primal-Dual Potential-Reduction Algorithms for Linear Programming Shinji Mizuno, Masakazu Kojima, and Michael J. Todd 68 A Fast Heuristic Method for Polynomial Moment Problems with Boltzmann-Shannon Entrophy J. M. Borwein and W. Z. Huang 100 Symmetric Quasidefinite Matrices Robert J. Vanderbei 114 On the Primal-Dual Steepest Descent Algorithm for Extended Linear-Quadratic Programming Ciyou Zhu 129 A Positive Algorithm for the Nonlinear Complementarity Problem Renato D. C. Monteiro, Jong-Shi Pang, and Tao Wang 149 Practical Interior-Point Method for Convex Programming Florian Jarre and Michael A. Saunders 172 An All-Inclusive Efficient Region of Updates for Least Change Secant Methods Henry Wolkowicz and Qing Zhao 192 An Optimal Positive Definite Update for Sparse Hessian Matrices R. Fletcher 218 Trust Region Algorithms for Solving Nonsmooth Equations Liqun Qi *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: John Baillieul, Editor-in-Chief IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AUTOMATIC CONTROL Table of Contents - Volume 40, Number 1 - January, 1995 ___________________________________________________________________________ PAPERS Percentile Performance Criteria for Limiting Average Markov Decision Processes .................. J. A. Filar, D. Krass, and K. W. Ross Design and Analysis of Fuzzy Identifiers of Nonlinear Dynamic Systems ........................................................ L.-X. Wang Stochastic Approximation with Averaging and Feedback: Rapidly Convergent "On Line" Algorithms ................. H. J. Kushner and J. Yang Exponential Stabilization of Nonholonomic Chained Systems ..................................... O. J. Sordalen and O. Egeland Global Total Least Squares Modeling of Multivariable Time Series ............................................. B. Roorda and C. Heij Control of Chained Systems. Application to Path Following and Time-Varying Point-Stabilization of Mobile Robots ............... C. Samson ____________________________________________________________________________ TECHNICAL NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE Input-Output Robust Tracking Control Design for Flexible Joint Robots ............................................................. Z. Qu The Use of Symbolic Computation in Nonlinear Control: Is It Viable? ....................................................... B. de Jager Note on Decentralized Adaptive Controller Design ........................................................... L. Lyou Characterization of Zeros in Two-Frequency-Scale Systems ...................................... H. M. Oloomi and M. E. Sawan Semi-Global Stabilizability of Linear Null Controllable Systems with Input Nonlinearities ...................................... A. R. Teel Stability and Exponential Stability of An Adaptive Control Scheme for Plants of any Relative Degree .. G. Bartolini, A. Ferrara, and A. A. Stotsky Preservation of Reachability and Observability under Sampling with First-Order Hold .............................................. T. Hagiwara On Robust Asymptotic Tracking: Perturbations on Coprime Factors and Parameterization of All Solutions ...... G. O. Correa and M. A. da Silveira A Version of Hautus' Test for Tandem Connection of Linear Systems ....................................... A. Bacciotti and G. Beccari Poisson LQR Design for Asynchronous Multirate Controllers ...................................................... R. P. Leland On Solving Diophantine Equations by Real Matrix Manipulation ............................ M. Yamada, P. C. Zun, and Y. Funahashi Nonlinear Versus Linear Control in the Absolute Stabilizability of Uncertain Systems with Structured Uncertainty ................................... A. V. Savkin and I. R. Petersen A Linear Algebraic Framework for Dynamic Feedback Linearization ................... E. Aranda-Bricaire, C. H. Moog, and J.-B. Pomet Design of A Class of Luenberger Observers for Descriptor Systems ........................................... M. Hou and P. C. Muller Comments on "On the Robust Popov Criterion for Interval Lur'e Systems" .................... T. Mori, T. Nishimura, Y. Kuroe, and H. Kokame An Output Feedback Globally Stable Controller for Induction Motors ................................... G. Espinosa-Perez and R. Ortega Eigenstructure Assignment in Linear Descriptor Systems .......................................... P. Zagalak and V. Kucera Robust Regulation in the Presence of Norm-Bounded Uncertainty ............ J. Abedor, K. Nagpal, P. P. Khargonekar, and K. Poolla Frequency-Domain Criteria of Robust Stability for Slowly Time-varying Systems ...................................................... A. Megretski Routing and Scheduling in Heterogeneous Systems: A Sample Path Approach .................................................. P. D. Sparaggis Methods and Theory for Off-Line Machine Learning ... S. Yakowitz and J. Mai Discrete-Time Observers with Random Noises in Dynamic Block .................................. E. A. Lyasheko and L. B. Ryashko Nevanlinna-Pick Interpolation Problem for Two Frequency Scale Systems ...................................................... H. M. Oloomi Multiscale Smoothing Error Models ......... M. R. Luettgen and A. S. Wilsky A Generalized Popov-Belevitch-Hautus Test of Observability ...................................... B. K. Ghosh and J. Rosenthal A Note on Robust Pole Placement ................ M. K. Solak and A. C. Peng Pole Assignment for Uncertain Systems in A Specified Disk by State Feedback ................................. G. Garcia and J. Bernussou Modified Output Error Identification - Elimination of the SPR Condition ............................................ A. Betser and E. Zeheb Comments on "Explicit Asymmetric Bounds for Robust Stability of Continuous and Discrete-Time Systems" ............................. J. Xiao *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contribured by: Edwin F. Beschler Journal of Mathematical Systems, Estimation, and Control Volume 5, Number 1 Table of contents Nonlinear Feedback Control of Flexible Robot Arms with Infinite Dimensional Models Xuru Ding, Tzyh-Jong Tarn, Antal K. Bejczy and Chuanfan Guo 1 Empirical Distributions in Least Squares Estimation for Distributed Parameter Systems B.G. Fitzpatrick and G. Yin 37 =20 The Extended Kalman Filter as a Local Asymptotic Observer for Discrete-Time Nonlinear Systems Yongkyu Song and Jessy W. Grizzle 59 L Sensitivity Minimization of Linear System Representations via Gradient Flows U. Helmke and J.B. Moore 79 Summary: Limit Theorems of Probability Theory in Linear Controlled Evolution Systems with Quadratic Cost Bozenna Pasik-Duncan 99 Summary: A Unified Representation for Nonlinear Discrete-Time and Samples Dynamics S. Monaco and D. Normand-Cyrot 103 Summary: The Spaces of Improper Rational Matrices and ARMA-Systems of Fixed McMillan Degree Filippo de Mari and Heide Gl=9Fsing-L=9Fer=A7en 107 Summary: A Modification of the Trust-Region Gauss-Newton Method to Solve Separable Nonlinear Least Squares Problems Christine B=9Ackmann 111 Summary: An Algorithm for Viability Kernels in H=9Alderian Case: Approximation by Discrete Dynamical Systems Marc Quincampoix and Patrick Saint-Pierre 115 Summary: An Observer for Infinite-dimensional=20 Skew-adjoint Bilinear Systems J.P. Gauthier, C.Z. Xu, and A. Bounabat 119 Summary: An Intrinsic Characterization of Properness for Linear Time-varying Systems E. Delaleau and J. Rudolph 123 Summary: On Abnormal Extremals for Lagrange=20 Variational Problems A.A. Agrachev and A.V. Sarychev 127 Summary: Linear Quadratic Optimal Control of Time-Varying Systems with Indefinite Costs on Hilbert Spaces: The Finite Horizon Problem Birgit Jacob 131 Summary: Realization of Rational Matrices by Singular Systems Heide Glusing-Luerssen 135 Errata Summary: Singular Perturbation for Controlled Wave Equations Francesca Bucci 139 Cumulative Index ****************************************** * * * Conferences * * * ****************************************** *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: Ken Zeger THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL ALLERTON CONFERENCE ON COMMUNICATION, CONTROL, AND COMPUTING OCTOBER 4 - 6, 1994 The Thirty-third Annual Allerton Conference on Communication, Control, and Computing will be held October 4 - 6, 1995 at Allerton House, the conference center of the University of Illinois. Allerton House is located twenty-six miles southwest of the Urbana-Champaign campus of the University in a wooded area on the Sangamon River. It is part of the fifteen hundred acre Robert Allerton Park, near Monticello, Illinois. Papers presenting original research are solicited in the areas of communication systems, information theory and coding, detection and estimation, communication networks, mobile radio, vector quantization, source coding, image coding and data compression, control systems, robust and nonlinear control, adaptive control, optimization, dynamic games, large scale systems, robotics and automation, manufacturing systems, discrete event systems, intelligent control, multivariable control, adaptive signal processing, learning theory, neural networks, and numerical methods for signals and systems, multiple-access communications, digital radio, high-speed packet switches for telecommunications, queueing networks, discrete event systems, and automatic highway systems. Persons interested in organizing sessions on other topics are encouraged to discuss the proposed session(s) with the conference co-chairmen. Information for authors: Two kinds of papers are solicited. The first are regular papers for presentation in twenty minutes; these papers will be published in the conference Proceedings. The second are short papers suitable for presentation in ten minutes; only summaries of these papers will be published in the Proceedings. The purpose of the short paper category is to encourage authors to present preliminary results of their work. For regular papers, a title and a five to ten page extended abstract, including references and sufficient detail to permit careful reviewing are required. For short papers, a title and a thousand word summary are required. Manuscripts that are submitted as regular papers but cannot be accommodated in that category will be considered in the short paper category, unless the authors indicate otherwise. Two copies of the manuscript must be received by July 24, 1995. These should be mailed to 33nd Annual Allerton Conference, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Coordinated Science Laboratory, 1308 West Main Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801. Please specify the name and address of the author who is to receive all subsequent correspondence. Authors will be notified of acceptance by August 22, 1995, at which time they will also receive special sheets for the preparation of papers for the Proceedings. The length of regular papers is limited to the equivalent of ten single-spaced 8 1/2-by-11 inch pages. The length of short papers is limited to two such pages. Conference Co-Chairs: Sean Meyn and Ken Zeger (email: allerton@tornado.csl.uiuc.edu) COORDINATED SCIENCE LABORATORY AND DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: William A. Gruver 1995 IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SYSTEMS, MAN AND CYBERNETICS October 22-25, 1995 Waterfront Centre Hotel Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada CALL FOR PAPERS Theme: "Intelligent Systems for the 21st Century" * Adaptive Systems * Artificial Intelligence * Behavorial Decision Making * Biocybernetics * Biomedical Engineering * Cognitive Systems and Engineering * Command and Control Systems * Computer Vision * Conflict Analysis * Cybernetics * Database Systems * Decision Support Systems * Decision Technologies * Discrete Event Systems * Distributed Decision Making * Energy Systems * Expert Systems * Flexible Manufacturing * Fuzzy systems * Genetic Algorithms * Human Computer Interaction * Human Decision Making * Image Processing * Information and Decision Systems * Intelligent Control and Automation * Intelligent Highway Vehicle Systems * Intelligent Manufacturing Systems * Knowledge Based Systems Learning Systems * Machine Intelligence * Mechatronics * Medical Informatics * Multimedia * Neural Networks * Neurocontrol * Pattern Recognition * Petri Nets * Process Control * Qualitative Reasoning * Risk Management * Robotics * Search Techniques * Software Engineering * Statistical Methods * Stochastic Systems * Supervisory Control* System Evaluation and Design * Systems Engineering * Technology Forecasting * Technology Transfer Important Dates February 1, 1995: Send 4 copies of an extended abstract (2-3 pages) of papers for contributed sessions and papers for invited sessions to the Program Chair, Clarence W. deSilva, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Fax +1-604-822-2403, Internet: desilva@mech.ubc.ca. Send two copies of proposals for workshops and tutorials to the Program Chair. April 15, 1995: Preliminary acceptance July 1, 1995: Full papers due for all sessions To be placed on the mailing list for future announcements, send name and address to the Conference Secretariat, SMC95, Venue West, 645-375 Water Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5C6 Canada; Fax +1-604-681-2503. The conference will include an exhibit of state-of-the-art hardware and software procucts. Reservations for space and further information can be obtained from the Secretariat. For other information, contact the General Chair, William A. Gruver, School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC V5A 1S6, Canada; Fax: +1-604-291-4371, Internet: gruver@cs.sfu.ca. Vancouver, British Columbia, was incorporated as a city in 1886. It is a microcosm of Canada's rich ethnic mix, including the second largest Chinatown in North America. Its cultural diversity is matched only by the natural beauty of green landscapes, stretches of ocean front and a spectacular back drop of coastal mountains. Shopping, entertainment, recreation, international cuisine, and world class hotels make Vancouver an ideal setting for the 1995 International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics. *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: Marios Polycarpou CALL FOR PAPERS 3RD IEEE MEDITERRANEAN SYMPOSIUM ON NEW DIRECTIONS IN CONTROL AND AUTOMATION July 11-13, 1995 Sheraton Hotel Limassol, CYPRUS Co-Sponsoring Organizations: IEEE Control Systems Society University of Cyprus, Cyprus The Technical University of Crete, Greece IEEE Cyprus Section IEE Cyprus Section The Greek Chapter of the IEEE The 3rd Mediterranean Symposium is a continuation of the 1st and 2nd successful symposia that took place in Crete, Greece. The site for the 3rd symposium is chosen to be on the island of Cyprus, located in the east part of the Mediterranean Sea at the crossroads of three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa. The Sheraton Hotel at Limassol, Cyprus is chosen as the conference site. The hotel is a five star hotel located on the beach a few miles away from downtown Limassol. The central theme of the 3rd IEEE Mediterranean Symposium is control, automation with emphasis on the current theoretical developments as well as the latest applications to engineering problems. The purpose of having such a broad theme is to bring together researchers and engineers from different areas with overlapping interests to identify new problems and future directions in the area of control and automation. New and fast emerging technologies in the areas of transportation, environmental engineering, multimedia, robotics, manufacturing and others, open the way for new and unique applications of control and automation that will be addressed in the conference. The program will include invited survey papers by leading international authorities on several topics that cover the broad theme of the symposium. GENERAL CHAIRMAN: Petros Ioannou Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies University of Southern California 3740 McClintock Avenue, Suite 200B Los Angeles, CA 90089-2562 email: ioannou@bode.usc.edu PROGRAM CHAIRMAN: Frank Lewis Automation and Robotics Research Institute The University of Texas at Arlington 7300 Jack Newell Blvd. S. Fortworth, TX 76118 email: flewis@arrirs03.uta.edu SPECIAL SESSIONS Anastasios Chassiakos AND TUTORIAL CHAIRMAN: CSU-Long Beach 1250 Bellflower Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90840-5602 email: achassk@csulb.edu Paper Submission: FIVE copies of the full paper in final form must be received for peer review by the Program Chairman by February 28, 1995. Papers will be reviewed by the International Program Committee. Authors will be notified of acceptance or rejection by April 15, 1995. The final, camera ready papers must be received by the Publication Chairman no later than June 1, 1995. Special Sessions and Tutorials: Four copies of proposals for invited sessions including all full papers and a cover letter indicating the scope of the proposed session, or, tutorials including a detailed outline of the proposed topic, must be submitted to the Special Sessions Chairman by February 28, 1995. Invited sessions may include survey papers and possibly a panel discussion. SCHEDULE SUMMARY: Febr. 28, 1995- Deadline for submission of contributed papers and invited session proposals April 15, 1995- Tentative notification of invited session organizers July 1, 1995- Camera-ready papers due at the printer This is an abbreviated call for papers. A full CFP (including registration forms etc.) can be obtained by sending email to the program chairman at . *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: bdilisi@siam.org Travel Support Available for ICIAM 95 SIAM is administering a travel grant program for ICIAM 95--- the third International Congress on Industrial and Applied Mathematics---to be held in Hamburg, Germany, July 3--7. The grants, which are funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, will provide partial travel support to qualified applicants. The awards are intended primarily for young researchers and graduate students; women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply. Awards will be based on merit. Preference will be given to participants in the ICIAM 95 program and to applicants who do not have other travel support for the meeting. Typical anticipated awards will range from $800 to $1000. Travel costs will be reimbursed up to the amount of the award on submission of a signed travel expense form to SIAM. Additional information and application forms can be accessed through the SIAM home page on the World Wide Web (http://www.siam.org) or the SIAM gopher server (gopher.siam.org). Application materials can also be obtained from the SIAM office (ICIAM 95 Coordinator, SIAM, 3600 University City Science Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2688; 215-382-9800; 215-386-7999 (fax); meetings@siam.org). The cutoff date for applications is March 15, and final decisions will be made no later than April 15. Early submission of applications is encouraged; whenever possible, SIAM will make decisions and notify applicants as the applications are received. *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: R. Ravi & J. H. Taylor The Fourth IEEE Conference on Control Applications The Desmond Hotel, Albany, New York September 28-29, 1995 ** FINAL CALL FOR PAPERS ** The fourth IEEE Conference on Control Applications (CCA) is being sponsored by the IEEE Control Systems Society in cooperation with the ASME to emphasize control applications. The CCA '95 will be held in Albany, New York, at the Desmond Hotel on September 28-29, 1995. For further information, contact either of the General Cochairs: Joe H. Chow, ECSE Department, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, 12180--3590 Phone: 518--276--6374 Fax: 518--276--6261 E-mail: chowj@rpi.edu K. Dean Minto, Control Systems and Electronics Technologies Laboratory, GE Corporate R&D Center, Schenectady, New York, 12309 Phone: 518--387--6760 Fax: 518--387--5164 E-mail: minto@crd.ge.com The theme of CCA '95 is POWER AND ENERGY SYSTEMS, and the Program Committee is especially interested in papers dealing with: Alternative energy sytems, combined cycle/Cogen, Distribution systems, Environmental aspects, Energy management, FACTS/HVDC, Non-utility generation, Power electronics, Power system stability, Protection systems, Space power applications, Turbine/Generator control. In addition, the usual broad aspects of the application of control techniques such as: Adaptive Control, Artificial Intelligence, Decentralized Control, Fuzzy Logic, Neural Nets, Modeling & Diagnostics, Optimization, Robust/Nonlinear Control, Simulation, and System Identification are equally welcome. The 4th CCA Program Committee invites authors to submit 5 copies of complete manuscripts for regular papers or 5 copies of extended summaries for brief papers. The first page of each manuscript must contain the title of the paper, author's names and affiliations, and 4 keywords. Manuscripts should be sent to: The 4th IEEE Conference on Control Applications GE Corporate R&D Center, Schenectady, New York, 12309 The Program Committee is also soliciting proposals for invited sessions. Prospective organizers should contact either of the Program Cochairs: R. Ravi, Control Systems and Electronics Technologies Laboratory, GE Corporate R&D Center, Schenectady, New York, 12309 Phone: 518-387-5354 Fax: 518-387-5164 E-mail: ravi@crd.ge.com James H. Taylor, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB CANADA E3B 5A3 Phone: (506) 453-5101 Fax: 453--3589 E-mail: jtaylor@unb.ca *********************************************************************** DEADLINES *********************************************************************** ** Manuscripts and proposals due by FEBRUARY 1, 1995 ** Notification of Acceptance MAY 15, 1995 ** Camera-Ready Manuscripts due by JUNE 30, 1995 *********************************************************************** For more information, contact any of the people listed above, see the Call for Papers in the 1 September issue of E-LETTER, or send a blank message to the autoresponse alias: info.cs.95conf.cca@ieee.org *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: rotstein WORKSHOP-Call For Papers ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF EVENT-DRIVEN OPERATIONS IN PROCESS SYSTEMS Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Imperial College, London, U.K., 10-11 April, 1995 OBJECTIVES Over the last decade, a number of researchers in the process systems community have approached the problem of modelling, analysis, verification and synthesis of event-driven or hybrid operations. Typical problems of this nature arise in plant start-up/shut-down, emergency operating procedures, and batch operations. These are key aspects in the development of plant automation systems. However, there is no well established theoretical framework comparable to that existing for the design and analysis of continuous feedback control systems. The main difficulty with these systems is their event-driven characteristics, which complicate their modelling and analysis. Researchers have therefore explored the use of a number of different methods and tools, such as logic-based planning, Petri-Nets, Mixed Integer Optimization and Automata Theory. Some of these approaches are mainly theoretical, while others are oriented to specific applications. The similarities and differences between the approaches adopted and their applicability to practical problems are often difficult to establish. The aim of the workshop is to bring together researchers and practitioners interested in the control and operation of event-driven chemical industrial processes so as to establish the current state of the field and future trends. Furthermore, it is a goal to identify successful applications in the process industry as well as relevant benchmark case studies. Special efforts will be made to link research in the process systems area with recent developments in the Discrete Event Systems field. FORMAT In order to encourage interaction and discussions, the number of participants will be limited to 60. Mornings will be dedicated to a small number of invited presentations and broad reviews. Afternoons will be structured as poster sessions, initiating with brief oral presentations and closing with panel discussions. Industrial participation is specially encouraged. Proceedings will be published in the Journal of Process Controlas a special journal issue, after the workshop. DEADLINES January 15, 1995 deadline for extended abstracts (3 pages). February 1, 1995 notification of acceptance. March 31, 1995 submission of full paper. Abstract selection will be based on relevance to the workshop subject and technical quality. Selected contributions will appear, after peered review, in the Journal of Process Control. Keeping with the informal spirit of the workshop, there will be no formal proceedings of the conference. Collected copies of the papers will be distributed at the workshop. PRELIMINARY PROGRAM DAY 1 Session 1. Industrial Challenges Presentation 1 Bill Daly, Unilever Research Presentation 2 (to be confirmed) Presentation 3 (to be confirmed) Session 2. Modelling and Simulation Presentation 1 Hassane Alla, LAG - ENSIEG (to be confirmed) Presentation 2 Costas Pantelides, Imperial College Session 3. Contributions on Modelling and Simulation Brief presentations. Poster session and demonstrations Panel discussion DAY 2 Session 4. Specification, Verification and Safety Analysis Presentation 1 Robert Valette, LAAS (to be confirmed) Presentation 2 Gary Powers, CMU (confirmed) Session 5. Controller Design Presentation 1 Murray Wonham, University of Toronto Presentation 2 Jeff Kantor, Notre Dame University Session 6. Contributions on Verification and Controller Design Brief presentations. Poster session and demonstrations Panel discussion REGISTRATION FEES The registration fees is 200 sterling, and includes VAT, lunches, coffee breaks, the workshop dinner and copies of the papers. Participants to the workshop should complete the enclosed registration form and return it together with the registration fee to the workshop secretariat. In view of the limited places, early registration is recommended. A refund of fees for selected bona fide students may be possible, depending on the sponsorship attracted. Please, indicate if you wish to apply. ACCOMODATION List available from the Secretariat. WORKSHOP SECRETARIAT Mrs Diana Goreham Centre for Process Systems Engineering Imperial College London SW7 2BY Tel: +44 (71) 694-6609 FAX: +44 (71) 594-6606 Email: d.goreham@ic.ac.uk *.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.** Contributed by: Khalil DRIRA DCCS'95 : 13th IFAC Workshop on Distributed Computer Control Systems TOULOUSE-BLAGNAC, FRANCE , 27-29 September 95 Scope : The workshop will consist of formal presentations, discussion and informal meetings covering recentadvances and current issues in theory, applications , and technology of distributed computer control systems. The topics to be covered include, but are not restricted to : - The role of real-time in DCCS specifications - Analysis and design methods for DCCS, including software methods - Scheduling methods for DCCS - Real-time distributed operating systems - Testing and validation - Dependability issues of DCCS - Industrial application and experience with DCCS Participation Attendance will be limited to a maximum of 60 participants. Preference will be given to those who submit abstracts or express interest in organising specific sessions or panel discussions. Participants are requested to register in advance not later than 30 June 1995 Extended abstracts Offers of papers are welcome from individuals and groups on the topics outlined above. Five copies of an extended abstract in English (1000-2000 words) should be received by the workshop secretariat not later than 1 March 95. Please include e-mail and fax numbers with the author's address. Papers Full papers are to be prepared according to the instructions that will ne sent to the author. Accepted ppaers mist be presented in person at the workshop. Each registered participant will be provided with a copy of the preprint volume including all accepted papers. Copyright The copyright of all accepted papers is automatically tranferred to IFAC. Papers are also considered for publication in the IFAC journal Automatica and Control Engineering Practice. Important dates : Extended abstracts- Papers due..........................01 March 95 Selection and invitation................................15 May 95 Registration............................................30 June 95 Full papers due.........................................30 June 95 Workshop................................................27-29 September 95 Sponsor InternaTIOnal Federation of Automatic Control Organised BY AFCET with support from LAAS-CNRS Toulouse and IUT-B BlagnaC International Program committee Chair : Prof J.A. De La Puente, ETSI Telecomunicacion Madrid (Spain) L.Boullart (B), A. Crespo (E), A. Burns (UK), F. Cristian (USA), F. De Paoli (I), J.C. Fabre (F), M. Inamoto (J), L. Ivanyoe (H), A.Keijzer (NL), H. Kopetz (A), W. Kwon(K), R.Lauber (G), I.McLeod (SA), J. Mercier (F), A. Mok (USA), L. Motus (Es), S. Narita (J), G. Qin (USA), K. Ramamrithan(USA), M.G.Rodd (UK), G. Suski (USA), J.P.Thomesse (F), G. Zhao( Singapore). National Organising committee A.E.K Sahraoui , Chairman J. Alcouffe, E. Dufour, M.T.Ippolito, M. Tuffery, D. Vielle Correspondence DCCS'95 SECRETARIAT LAAS-CNRS 7, AVENUE COLONEL ROCHE 31 077 TOULOUSE, FRANCE CEDEX TEL : 33 61 33 63 11 FAX : 33 61 55 35 77 E-MAIL : dccs95@laas.fr ****************************************** * * * THE END * * * ******************************************