Systems and Control E2

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The activities of the Department of Systems and Control include analysis, control and optimization of various systems and processes. Several activities are performed within this frame: research and development of new methods and algorithms for automatic control, the development of procedures and software tools to support the design and building of control systems, the development of special measuring and control modules, and the design of computer aided systems for control and supervision of devices, industrial and other processes.

The mission of the Department is to perform technologically oriented research, transfer the knowledge and results to practical applications and in this way contribute to the progress of Slovenia.

Transfer and knowledge exchange is especially intensive within entities that were co-founded and are now co-coordinated by the department. These entities are the Technology Centre for Production Automation, Robotics and Informatics (ARI), the Technology network Process Control Technology, and the Center of Excellence for Advanced Control Technologies.

SYSTEMS AND CONTROL – E2

  • Control and optimization of complex systems
  • Detection and localization of faults in technical systems and processes
  • Computer integrated production
  • Support and implementation technologies for control systems
  • Device and product development

Departmental web pages

Head of Department
Gregor Dolanc, Ph. D., gregor.dolanc@ijs.si

Secretary
Maja Janežič, e2@ijs.si
Telephone: +386 1 477 34 86


Control and optimization of complex systems
Most systems and processes could be well controlled with relatively simple and well known control procedures. However, there is a range of processes which are more difficult to tackle because of their nonlinear dynamics, complex structure and interactions between subsystems, and stochastic behavior. The emphasis of our research is on modeling methods, on control and optimization based on process models, in particular Gaussian processes, on methods for model predictive, nonlinear and adaptive control, as well as on tuning of industrial controllers. The fields of application are industrial processes, control of machines and devices and biological wastewater treatment plants.

Detection and localization of faults in technical systems and processes
Continuing quality control of devices, processes and products has become a necessity. For that purpose, the research field of fault detection and localization is being extensively developed and has a great potential for actual applications. Our research and development encompass the use of mathematical models for fault detection, the design of new algorithms that take into account the modeling error in decision making, and the application of advanced signal processing algorithms. The application areas are industrial processes and rotation engines.

Computer integrated production
Production in modern enterprises requires interconnection and coordination of control activities on different levels, i.e. on physical, production and business level. The integration of different levels is still a key problem. Our research is devoted to the methodology for decision support in the production process based on key performance indicators, to production scheduling and to non-technical (economic, social, organizational and human) aspects of control and IT systems introduction.

Support and implementation technologies for control systems
The prerequisite for successful control applications is also research and development of new and acquisition of existing technologies that enable efficient implementation of control systems. This mainly includes computer aided tools and building blocks. The emphasis of our work is on the development of specially designed computer modules, on the development of software building blocks, on the design of development environment for the application of more complex control algorithms, and on research of methods and tools for efficient development of software for industrial controllers.

Device and product development
The department has a long tradition and many references in the development of various systems and devices. This includes systems for control and supervision of processes that are used in industry, custom designed measuring systems that are used in research, and also high-technology products that are sold on the market. Also in future, this activity will deserve a great attention.


J. Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia, Telephone: +386 1 477 39 00
info@ijs.si