Grant: Canada Research Chairs

Traditional industrial facilities are monitored and controlled through industrial computers, in which periodic time-triggered operations are the norm. However, this is no longer valid in modern industrial systems because of two reasons. First, integrating new communication and computing technologies generates a new class of systems called cyber-physical systems, in which network protocols and real-time computer algorithms evolve by events. Second, most existing industrial facilities are still operated by human operators through alarm systems. Could industrial plants be fully automated, without the intervention of operators at all? This would require incorporating alarm systems with control systems; but alarm systems are event-triggered, violating the periodicity condition. Dr. Chen's CRC program focuses on discovering intelligent solutions for monitoring and control of complex and modern industrial facilities, incorporating performance, safety, and security in the analysis and design, and considering communication, computation, and other constraints imposed by current industrial standards and technologies. The first objective is to develop a new event-triggered control paradigm for cyber-physical systems that would replace traditional time-triggered paradigms. The planned approach would be in general time-domain, using state-space models for physical processes, time-based equations for event-triggered operations, Lyapunov-based techniques for stability analysis, and optimization tools for design solutions. The second objective is to develop and apply an advanced alarm management technology for industrial plant operators in monitoring abnormal situations, using a quantitative approach based on alarm and event logs. The research problems are complex and challenging, requiring a great deal of innovation and originality to uncover new solutions which are effective and efficient. The proposed research program targets knowledge advance in the field of Control Systems, which is relevant to Electrical, Chemical, and Mechanical Engineering. The novelty and expected significance are as follows: The program would address major challenges facing the control systems community, impacting both theory and practice; the research would provide new tools and methodologies for control engineers, practitioners, and industrial plant operators; finally, the program would benefit Canadian industry by engaging in technology- and industry-relevant research student training.