Knowledge-based supervisory process control: applying fuzzy sets to blackboard control architecture

The blackboard control architecture has proven to be qualified for tasks as complex as supervisory process control. The task structure framework permits a hierarchical decomposition of tasks into subtasks common in the domain of supervisory process control. Qualitative task descriptions based on fuzzy sets grant the integration of the task structure framework while preserving the inherent flexibility of the blackboard control architecture. Fuzzy sets are further qualified to improve the basic control cycle. Linguistic variables allow the specification of control knowledge in a more natural way according to human knowledge.