Perspectives in Control : Theory and Applications

Perspectives in Control comprises twenty-one essays by leading experts in the field of control. Most of these were presented as plenary lectures at the colloquium erspectives in Control held at Paris, June 1998, and organised by the GdR-Automatique to mark the occasion of the sixtieth birthday of its founder, Ioan Dori Landau. The book provides a unique opportunity to report the views of the world-renowned authorities on some of the directions in which control disciplines might evolve in various areas at the threshold of the twenty-first century. The variety of essays, which includes advanced methodological contributions and overview tutorials as well as more philosophical reflections, contributes to the richness of the book. Many aspects of the field are discussed, including: - adaptive control; - passivity concepts; - nonlinear control; - system identification; - supervisory control; - diagnosis; - emerging applied fields such as mechatronics, air traffic control, power plants, and educational devices. Many of the pioneering aspects of Professor Landaus work are covered. The book will be of interest to scientists as a guide to challenging research subjects, and of value to applied researchers as a survey of the current state of the art and potential of the field.