93621117 Mehra Fabrication of Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) requires the use of sophisticated manufacturing processes. One such process is Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) which is becoming a key technology for consolidating MMC airframe structural panels for advanced aircraft. The objective of proposed effort is to develop a hierarchical two level adaptive optimizing controller using, techniques of Modern Control Theory, System Identification and Neural Networks. The Level 2 controller minimizes the ultimate cost per unit of production and the Level 1 controller regulates the HIP process to achieve optimal temperature and pressure profiles dictated by the Level 2 controller. Phase I research includes (i) a State-of-The-Art survey (ii) identification of Level 1 process models from real data (iii) the design of an adaptive Model Predictive Controller (MPC) (iv) testing of the MPC controller and (v) development of architecture for Level 2 controller. IBIS Associates, a leader in the field of materials technology will provide subcontract support. Industrial Materials Technologies (IMT), the largest HIP consolidator in the world, has indicated their willingness for supporting the Phase I effort. ***
