An Overview of Finite/Fixed-Time Control and Its Application in Engineering Systems

The finite/fixed-time stabilization and tracking control is currently a hot field in various systems since the faster convergence can be obtained. By contrast to the asymptotic stability,the finite-time stability possesses the better control performance and disturbance rejection property. Different from the finite-time stability, the fixed-time stability has a faster convergence speed and the upper bound of the settling time can be estimated. Moreover, the convergent time does not rely on the initial information.This work aims at presenting an overview of the finite/fixed-time stabilization and tracking control and its applications in engineering systems. Firstly, several fundamental definitions on the finite/fixed-time stability are recalled. Then, the research results on the finite/fixed-time stabilization and tracking control are reviewed in detail and categorized via diverse input signal structures and engineering applications. Finally, some challenging problems needed to be solved are presented.

Evaluation of Control Effects against Sugarcane Pests：A New Sustained-release and Long-lasting Pesticide and Convenient and Efficient Pesticide Application Technology

[Objective]The paper was to screen a new ideal sustained-release,long-lasting and low-toxic pesticide and convenient and efficient pesticide application technology for controlling Ceratovacuna lanigera and Baliathrips serratus. [Method]2% Imidacloprid GR were selected and applied in the soil for field efficacy trial. [Result] The optimum dosage of 2% imidacloprid GR was 30 kg/hm^2（ active ingredient 600 g）,which can be mixed with fertilizer（ 30 kg pesticide and 40-80 kg fertilizer per hm^2） once combined with sugarcane planting management or big ridging during February and June. The control effects against C. lanigera and B. serratus could be more than 98. 2% and 81. 1%,respectively. The actual yield and sugar content in various pesticide treatments were increased by 33 390 kg/hm^2 and 6. 6% respectively compared to blank control. [Conclusion]2% imidacloprid GR has good control effects on C. lanigera and B. serratus. It is a new pesticide with ideal sustained-release,long-lasting and low-toxin effects against C. lanigera and B. serratus. Therefore,it could be used alternatively with other pesticides,to delay production and development of drug resistance.

Control Effect of Zinc Fertilizer Application Against Apple Little Leaf

In order to provide a theoretical basis for apple cultivation techniques and to provide a reference for preparation of scientific management measures,the occurrence and damage status of apple little leaf in northern Guizhou was investigated,and fertilizer control test against the disease was also conducted.（1）Apple little leaf occurred from April to October in apple producing areas in northern Guizhou every year,with heavy incidence from April to May,light incidence from June to July,and the lightest incidence from August to October.（2） Effectiveness test showed that application of zinc sulfate fertilizer 135 g ＋ cow dung 10 kg received the best control effect,followed by zinc sulfate fertilizer 165 g ＋ cow dung 10 kg,then zinc sulfate fertilizer 105 g ＋ cow dung 10 kg and zinc sulfate fertilizer 150 g ＋ cow dung 10 kg.（3） Based on local environmental conditions,occurrence and damage situation,incidence conditions and fertilizer efficacy test,comprehensive prevention and control technology with rational supplement of zinc fertilizer could be used to control apple little leaf.

Special Issue on New Trends in Theory and Applications of Complex Control Systems

Complexity is one of the leading features of modem control systems. It is caused by the complex properties of controlled plants and the varied requirements in controller designs. In dealing with the control problems with complexity, in the past two decades, a lot of papers have been published that reported fruitful results on different theoretical backgrounds and with different methodologies, such as differential geometry-based design methods, hybrid system theory, switching control, neural network-based intelligent control, etc.

Call for Papers:Special Issue on "Recent Advances and New Directions in Switched Control Systems" ——Jounal of Control Theory and Application

Recently, switched control systems have been attracting much attention m the control community because the problems are not only academically challenging for the inherent complexity, but also of practical importance due to its wide ranges of applications in nature, engineering, and social sciences.

Call for papers Journal of Control Theory and Applications Special issue on Wireless sensor networks:from theory to practices and applications

Wireless Sensor Network （WSN） is characterized by the dense deployment of sensor nodes that continuously observe physical phenomenon. The main advantages of WSN include its low cost, rapid deployment, self-organization, and fault tolerance. WSN has received tremendous interests of various research communities,

Special issue on control theory and applications in honor of the 60th birthday of Professor Frank L. Lewis

It is our great pleasure to put up this special issue in Journal of Control Theory and Applications in honor of the 60th birthday of Professor Frank Lewis, who has made many significant contributions to the field of control engineering through the years, and who is regarded as a pioneer in many areas in control and automation, which includes applied optimal control and geometric systems theory in his earlier research period, and his recent focus on intelligent nonlinear control,

Call for papers Journal of Control Theory and Applications Special issue on Approximate dynamic programming and reinforcement learning

Approximate dynamic programming (ADP) is a general and effective approach for solving optimal control and estimation problems by adapting to uncertain and nonconvex environments over time.

Application of Homemade DCS in Integrated BOP Control of 600-MW Supercritical Unit

The PLC and upper computer are used in BOP control system of traditional thermal power plant to monitor the in-situ equipment. It is complicated and wastes labor and resources. It is difficult to maintain and manage them. Beijing GuoDian ZhiShen Control Technology applied the homemade DCS (EDPF-NT System) to the integrated BOP control system of 600-MW supercritical power unit, which offers advantages in efficiency promotion, cost reduction and resource sharing. That also reflects the dominance of EDPF-NT System in performance, price, real-time DUP, network compatibility and communication. This article introduces the main characteristics, structure and configuration of EDPF-NT System, as well as the hierarchical operation, the multi-domain network structure and the private network router developed for Zhuanghe Power Plant.

An integrated approach for machine-learning-based system identification of dynamical systems under control:application towards the model predictive control of a highly nonlinear reactor system

Advanced model-based control strategies,e.g.,model predictive control,can offer superior control of key process variables for multiple-input multiple-output systems.The quality of the system model is critical to controller performance and should adequately describe the process dynamics across its operating range while remaining amenable to fast optimization.This work articulates an integrated system identification procedure for deriving black-box nonlinear continuous-time multiple-input multiple-output system models for nonlinear model predictive control.To showcase this approach,five candidate models for polynomial and interaction features of both output and manipulated variables were trained on simulated data and integrated into a nonlinear model predictive controller for a highly nonlinear continuous stirred tank reactor system.This procedure successfully identified system models that enabled effective control in both servo and regulator problems across wider operating ranges.These controllers also had reasonable per-iteration times of ca.0.1 s.This demonstration of how such system models could be identified for nonlinear model predictive control without prior knowledge of system dynamics opens further possibilities for direct data-driven methodologies for model-based control which,in the face of process uncertainties or modelling limitations,allow rapid and stable control over wider operating ranges.

Fault diagnosis and accommodation with flight control applications

This paper reviews some main results and process concerning with fault diagnosis and accommodation with flight control applications.The fault detection and diagnosis including the quantitative and qualitative methods and the fault-tolerant control including passive and active schemes are introduced,respectively.The control designs and developments of the fault diagnosis and accommodation for continuous-time systems and discrete-time systems,the fault diagnosis and fault-tolerant control for switched systems and interconnected systems as well as the applied flight control research including hypersonic vehicle,spacecraft and helicopter systems are summarised.