Two case studies in optimization-based computer-aided design of control systems

There have been many approaches proposed for the computer-aided design of control systems. The co-authors of this paper include several strong proponents of a design methodology emphasizing designer's intuition, man-machine interaction and sophisticated optimization techniques [1]. This methodology has been implemented by our group as part of the DELIGHT MaryLin system [2, 3], an offshoot of Berkeley's DELIGHT system [4, 5]. A logical way to test this approach to computer-aided design is to apply DELIGHT. MaryLin to a number of real control system design problems and see how well it performs. This paper describes just such applications to two control problems supplied by industry. In both cases, the problems had been previously solved by other techniques. Thus, we are able to compare the solution obtained with DELIGHT. MaryLin to solutions that are acceptable in actual practice.