9622652 Messac This research planning grant (RPG) project develops a general method for Real-Time hardware-in-the-loop Controller Design (R Co D) for both linear and nonlinear plants. The method offers various advantages over conventional system design approaches since it integrates several system design activities as well as a physical programming-based computational control method. The physical programming method is a highly-effective domain independent design optimization method. The ultimate objectives of this project include the development of a theoretical basis for R Co D method, its formulation of a mathematical infrastructure for its application, and an experimental verification to demonstrate its effectiveness. The effort in this planning grant project lays the necessary ground work toward this ultimate goal.***