DYSCO

DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS, CONTROL, AND OPTIMIZATION

Presentation

Research modern control and optimization technologies for helping
industry and society to control and optimize their processes

The main mission of the research unit DYSCO (Dynamical Systems, Control, and Optimization) is to develop novel methodologies for the design of control and decision strategies that make systems react autonomously and optimally to changes of the environment they are operating in. The research approach of DYSCO is based on dynamical models and numerical optimization, and focuses on understanding theoretical aspects, on developing numerical algorithms and software tools, and on applying the new concepts to real-life problems of industrial, economic, and societal interest. DYSCO is a unit of the research area Computer Science and Engineering at the IMT Institute for Advanced Studies Lucca, Italy.

People

  • Alberto Bemporad - Professor
  • Panagiotis Patrinos - Assistant Professor
  • Daniele Bernardini - Postdoc
  • Pantelis Sopasakis - Postdoc
  • Alberto Guiggiani - Ph.D. Student
  • Rodrigo Lopez Farìas - Ph.D. Student
  • Giuseppe Pappalardo - Ph.D Student
  • Carlo Alberto Pascucci - Ph.D. Student
  • Laura Puglia - Ph.D. Student
  • Ajay Sampathirao - Ph.D. Student
  • Lorenzo Stella - Ph.D. Student

Research topics

Model Predictive Control (MPC)
min Model Predictive Control (MPC) is widely adopted in industry for real-time control of large multivariable processes to optimize process operations under the best use of limited resources. The main idea of MPC is to choose the control action by solving an optimal control problem on line that minimizes a performance criterion over a future horizon, subject to constraints on process variables. The research unit investigates several issues in MPC, such as: stochastic MPC for constrained linear systems, decentralized and hierarchical MPC for spatially-distributed large-scale systems, MPC of networked systems based on wireless sensor feedback, explicit MPC and multiparametric programming for linear, hybrid, uncertain, and quantized systems.

Hybrid systems
The hybrid models investigated by DYSCO are based on mixed-integer models for describing systems composed of both continuous and discrete dynamic components. Research investigations in hybrid systems include: modeling, model predictive control, verification and reachability analysis, observability analysis, fault detection and state estimation, scheduling and optimal control, stochastic hybrid systems, event-based hybrid systems, identification of hybrid models.

Software Tools

MATLAB toolboxes for real-time dynamic optimization based on linear/quadratic and mixed-integer models were developed by the research unit:


Applications

Automotive control systems
Traction control, direct-injection engines, semi-active suspensions, electromagnetic actuators, adaptive cruise control, robotized gearboxes, air-to-fuel ratio, active steering, idle speed, power management and thermal management in hybrid electrical vehicles.

Aerospace control
Satellite attitude control, guidance, navigation and control unmanned aerial vehicles (including formation flying and rendezvous).

Industrial process control
Control of gas turbines, gas supply systems, flatness in cold tandem rolling, sewer networks, water networks, solar plants.

Energy, management, and finance
Dynamic hedging of financial options, optimal issuance of public debt securities, cement mill scheduling, optimal bidding on energy markets, optimal power dispatch in smart grids, maintenance of power distribution networks, decentralized control of power systems.


Collaborations

The research unit collaborates with several companies including The Mathworks, Ford, Jaguar, ABB, Fiat, JFE, Danieli Automation, Enel, United Technologies, Thales Alenia Space, MPS Capital Services, DENSO Automotive GmbH, Dolomiti Energia, SOFCpower, and other companies. The unit also has scientific collaborations with several universities worldwide.


Funding

European Commission
FP7: Project EFFINET - Efficient Integrated Real-time Monitoring and Control of Drinking Water Networks
FP7: European network of Excellence HYCON2 - Highly complex networked control systems
FP7: Project E-PRICE - Price-based Control of Electrical Power Systems
FP7: Project MOBY-DIC - Model-based synthesis of digital electronic circuits for embedded control
FP7: Project WIDE - Decentralized and Wireless Control of Large-scale Systems (Coord.: A. Bemporad)
FP6: Network of excellence HYCON - Hybrid Control
FP5: Project CC - Control and Computation
FP5: "Marie Curie" Control Training Site grants to host foreign researchers FP4: Project VHS - Verification of Hybrid Systems

European Agencies
EU Space Agency: ORCSAT - On-line reconfiguration control system and avionics technologies
EU Space Agency: ROBMPC - Robust MPC for space constrained systems
European Defence Agency: Project NICE - Nonlinear innovative control designs and evaluations

National funding (Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research)
Advanced methodologies for control of hybrid systems (2006-2007)
Models for optimization, control, and coordination of distributed supply chains (2004-2005)
FIRB project Simulation methods for public debt management (2005-2007)

Industry
Ford Motor Company, MPS Capital Services, Thales Alenia Space, DENSO Automotive GmbH, The Mathworks.

Events

Spinoff company

ODYS Srl