Model Based Control Design

With the advent of model based design, a control system can be easily conceived and then fine tuned to a high degree.

This can then be deployed on a Microcontroller or on an FPGA based physical system.

A Microcontroller can be the core of your system and host a large range of peripherals, and in fact high end Microcontrollers can cost far less than you might think.

A major advantage of an FPGA is that it can be thought of as a type of Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). An ASIC can be configured to host a Microcontroller IP block which can then be connected to various peripherals like UARTs, PWM generators and Ethernet controllers. The applications and potential of this solution is almost limitless.

FPGAs tend to be more costly, however an analysis can be made as to the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches.

Model based control design is an approach that allows engineers to build better controllers for complex systems. This video explains how MBCD works and shows examples of its use in industry.

Maintain a Systematic Approach

A systematic approach to model based control design involves creating a set of equations that describe the system being controlled. These equations are then solved using numerical methods such as linear programming. Once these equations are solved, the controller is designed.

Understand the Problem Space

A model based controller design approach starts with an understanding of the problem space. This includes identifying the goals of the control system, determining what variables need to be controlled, and defining how those variables will affect each other.

Identify the Inputs and Outputs

Once the inputs and outputs of the system are identified, the next step is to determine the relationships between them. These relationships are represented by equations. In order to solve these equations, we must first identify the unknown values. To do this, we use the input/output data collected during testing.

Create a Mathematical Model

A model is an equation that describes how the system works. Models can be either deterministic or stochastic. Deterministic models describe the relationship between variables with certainty. Stochastic models describe the relationship between random events.

In conclusion

Model based control design is a powerful tool for creating controllers for complex systems.

MBCD has been applied successfully to a wide variety of applications including aircraft flight controls, nuclear reactors, power plants, chemical processes, and manufacturing facilities.

Please contact us for help with your project or business.