Moving on from earlier stochastic and robust control paradigms, this book introduces the fundamentals of probabilistic methods in the analysis and design of uncertain systems. The use of randomized algorithms, guarantees a reduction in the computational complexity of classical robust control algorithms and in the conservativeness of methods like H-infinity control. Features: • self-contained treatment explaining randomized algorithms from their genesis in the principles of probability theory to their use for robust analysis and controller synthesis; • comprehensive treatment of sample generation, including consideration of the difficulties involved in obtaining independent and identically distributed samples; • applications in congestion control of high-speed communications networks and the stability of quantized sampled-data systems. This monograph will be of interest to theorists concerned with robust and optimal control techniques and to all control engineers dealing with system uncertainties.

The presence of uncertainty in a system description has always been a critical issue in control. The main objective of Randomized Algorithms for Analysis and Control of Uncertain Systems, with Applications (Second Edition) is to introduce the reader to the fundamentals of probabilistic methods in the analysis and design of systems subject to deterministic and stochastic uncertainty. The approach propounded by this text guarantees a reduction in the computational complexity of classical control algorithms and in the conservativeness of standard robust control techniques. The second edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect recent research and new applications with chapters on statistical learning theory, sequential methods for control and the scenario approach being completely rewritten. Features: · self-contained treatment explaining Monte Carlo and Las Vegas randomized algorithms from their genesis in the principles of probability theory to their use for system analysis; · development of a novel paradigm for (convex and nonconvex) controller synthesis in the presence of uncertainty and in the context of randomized algorithms; · comprehensive treatment of multivariate sample generation techniques, including consideration of the difficulties involved in obtaining identically and independently distributed samples; · applications of randomized algorithms in various endeavours, such as PageRank computation for the Google Web search engine, unmanned aerial vehicle design (both new in the second edition), congestion control of high-speed communications networks and stability of quantized sampled-data systems. Randomized Algorithms for Analysis and Control of Uncertain Systems (second edition) is certain to interest academic researchers and graduate control students working in probabilistic, robust or optimal control methods and control engineers dealing with system uncertainties. The present book is a very timely contribution to the literature. I have no hesitation in asserting that it will remain a widely cited reference work for many years. M. Vidyasagar

This Festschrift contains a collection of articles by friends, co-authors, colleagues, and former Ph.D. students of Keith Glover, Professor of Engineering at the University of Cambridge, on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday. Professor Glover's scientific work spans a wide variety of topics, the main themes being system identification, model reduction and approximation, robust controller synthesis, and control of aircraft and engines. The articles in this volume are a tribute to Professor Glover's seminal work in these areas.

Probabilistic and Randomized Methods for Design under Uncertainty is a collection of contributions from the world’s leading experts in a fast-emerging branch of control engineering and operations research. The book will be bought by university researchers and lecturers along with graduate students in control engineering and operational research.

The chapters in this volume, and the volume itself, celebrate the life and research of Roberto Tempo, a leader in the study of complex networked systems, their analysis and control under uncertainty, and robust designs. Contributors include authorities on uncertainty in systems, robustness, networked and network systems, social networks, distributed and randomized algorithms, and multi-agent systems—all fields that Roberto Tempo made vital contributions to. Additionally, at least one author of each chapter was a research collaborator of Roberto Tempo’s. This volume is structured in three parts. The first covers robustness and includes topics like time-invariant uncertainties, robust static output feedback design, and the uncertainty quartet. The second part is focused on randomization and probabilistic methods, which covers topics such as compressive sensing, and stochastic optimization. Finally, the third part deals with distributed systems and algorithms, and explores matters involving mathematical sociology, fault diagnoses, and PageRank computation. Each chapter presents exposition, provides new results, and identifies fruitful future directions in research. This book will serve as a valuable reference volume to researchers interested in uncertainty, complexity, robustness, optimization, algorithms, and networked systems.

Structured Controllers for Uncertain Systems focuses on the development of easy-to-use design strategies for robust low-order or fixed-structure controllers (particularly the industrially ubiquitous PID controller). These strategies are based on a recently-developed stochastic optimization method termed the "Heuristic Kalman Algorithm" (HKA) the use of which results in a simplified methodology that enables the solution of the structured control problem without a profusion of user-defined parameters. An overview of the main stochastic methods employable in the context of continuous non-convex optimization problems is also provided and various optimization criteria for the design of a structured controller are considered; H ∞, H2, and mixed H2/H∞ each merits a chapter to itself. Time-domain-performance specifications can be easily incorporated in the design.

This volume is composed of invited papers on learning and control. The contents form the proceedings of a workshop held in January 2008, in Hyderabad that honored the 60th birthday of Doctor Mathukumalli Vidyasagar. The 14 papers, written by international specialists in the field, cover a variety of interests within the broader field of learning and control. The diversity of the research provides a comprehensive overview of a field of great interest to control and system theorists.