Efficient suboptimal parametric solutions to predictive control for PLC applications

The prime aim of this paper is to embed a predictive control (MPC) algorithm with constraint handling capabilities into a programmable logic controller (PLC). In order to achieve it, this paper develops parametric approaches to MPC but differs from more conventional approaches in that it predefines the complexity of the solution rather than the allowable suboptimality. The paper proposes a novel parameterisation of the parametric regions which allows efficiency of definition, effective spanning of the feasible region and also highly efficient search algorithms. Despite the suboptimality, the algorithm retains guaranteed stability, in the nominal case. A laboratory test was carried out to demonstrate the code on real hardware and the effectiveness of the solution. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.