Control systems
Our researchers
We focus on the development and implementation of control design methods, as well as process monitoring and diagnostics, with applications in oil and gas, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, automotive, aerospace, and nuclear industries.
Our achievements include pioneering work in negative imaginary systems and robustness analysis of non-square systems, now standard tools in nano-positioning force-feedback control for atomic force microscopy, and a novel structure in constrained distributed control (stabilising the storage beam at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron).
Research focus
We are experts in this field and cover all aspects related to process control.
Some specific areas we focus on are:
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Control theory
Our research in control systems is underpinned by rigorous mathematics. We are at the forefront of development in a variety of applications and domains including nonlinear control and stochastic approaches to better control uncertain systems.
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Process control
We are highly active in the area of process control research, with current studies focusing on techniques including model predictive control, stochastic distribution control, anti-windup control and multivariate statistical process control.
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Robotics
We conduct world leading research in robotics systems for areas that humans can’t enter. We focus on characterising and monitoring nuclear decommissioning facilities, such as Sellafield and Fukushima, and offshore renewable energy systems. We develop state-of-the-art aerial, aquatic and ground-based vehicles and high-performance manipulator systems.
