The proposed book presents recent breakthroughs for the control of distributed parameter systems and follows on from a workshop devoted to this topic. It introduces new and unified visions of the challenging control problems raised by distributed parameter systems. The book collects contributions written by prominent international experts in the control community, addressing a wide variety of topics. It spans the full range from theoretical research to practical implementation and follows three traverse axes: emerging ideas in terms of control strategies (energy shaping, prediction-based control, numerical control, input saturation), theoretical concepts for interconnected systems (with potential non-linear actuation dynamics), advanced applications (cable-operated elevators, traffic networks), and numerical aspects. Cutting-edge experts in the field contributed in this volume, making it a valuable reference source for control practitioners, graduate students, and scientists researching practical and theoretical solutions to the challenging problems raised by distributed parameter systems.

Distributed Parameter Control Systems: Theory and Application is a two-part book consisting of 10 theoretical and five application-oriented chapters contributed by well-known workers in the distributed-parameter systems. The book covers topics of distributed parameter control systems in the areas of simulation, identification, state estimation, stability, control (optimal, stochastic, and coordinated), numerical approximation methods, optimal sensor, and actuator positioning. Five applications works include chemical reactors, heat exchangers, petroleum reservoirs/aquifers, and nuclear reactors. The text will be a useful reference for both graduate students and professional researchers working in the field.

This bookseries aimes to report new developments on parts of control systems and signal processing at a high level, without a restriction in the size of contribution, if (it is) necessary. Basic knowledge is needed. Each volume deals with a special theme. The fol1owing types of contributions will be taken into consideration: coherent representation on single topics with new results, new improved expositions or new applications in a known field of control systems and signal processing, practical applications of theoretic methods, - a survey of published articles with deep insight. Seminar work outs or themes from meetings with exeptional interest could belong to this series, if they satisfy the conditions. The manuscript is reproduced by photographic process and therefore it must be typed with extreme care. The author can get instruction. The manuscript is sent to Prof. Dr. 1. Hartmann, Institut fUr Regelungstechnik, Technische Universit't Berlin, HardenbergstraBe 29c, 1000 Berlin 12, West Germany.

The term distributed parameter system as used in the report shall mean a plant, or object whose outputs are to be controlled, which is characterized by a partial differential equation. The consideration of such systems is a relatively recent event, motivated both by practical problems and by a desire to extend and generalize the existing body of optimal control theory. The theory of partial differential equations is considerably more detailed and contains considerably fewer general results than the theory of ordinary differential equations. Because of this the authors introduce specialized notions and symbology, not in common usage in optimal control theory, in order to be able to state their results with some precision and compactness. It was the intent in writing the report to present results to a wide control engineering readership. In keeping with this, a section of the report is devoted to an explanation of the requisit mathematical operations, and, where expedient, detailed mathematical proofs are deferred to the references. Hueristic arguments are used as a vehicle to transmit concepts, but not as a substitute for required rigor. Several optimal control problems for linear distributed parameter systems are stated. Theoretical and algorithmic solutions are presented along with examples to illustrate these results.