Adaptive Design of Model-Based Controllers

Model-based regulators and adaptive control mechanisms have attracted tremendous interest and attention during recent years. This paper develops the notion of the "two-port" controller and uses the ensuing framework to analyze its robustness and performance characteristics. A series of new results defines the design procedure for the systemt's controllers. These results are subsequently used to analyze the characteristics of adaptive mechanisms around the two-port regulator. Specific suggestions are drawn as to what constitutes the proper formulation of the adaptive control problem and how an adaptive two-port controller can find its way to chemical process control problems.