Predictive Control implementation in a PLC using the IEC 1131.3 programming standard

In this paper a novel implementation of a Generalized Predictive Controller (GPC) is presented; specifically the paper discusses programming of MPC in an industrial Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) software using the IEC 1131.3 programming standard. The algorithm was kept as simple as possible to overcome the capability problems of the hardware. Laboratory experiment tests were carried out to demonstrate the code on real hardware; in fact a first and second order bench-scale systems. The results of this work serve as an encouragement to further investigate the potential for developing simple predictive algorithms within off the shelf industrial standard hardware.