9216474 Bowen The objective of the research is to develop generic fuzzy constraint-based architecture for Multiple Agent Process Control. Among the benefits of the project will be: 1. This project will improve the effectiveness of process control technology by cross-fertilizing research results from fuzzy logic, constraint processing, and process control. In particular, the project will involve fundamental research aimed at a) developing a new set of control engineering techniques based on the use of constraint network processing to achieve coordination between multiple agents in the control loop; b) developing new fuzzy constraint network-based process control techniques for handling non-linear systems, complex systems, adaptive systems, and systems with time delays. 2. This project will enable industry to address a broader class of control application. In particular, we will a) provide the industrial community with a generic fuzzy constraint network- based architecture for process control; b) use our industrial contacts to achieve a widespread dissemination of information about this new technology. 3. This project will improve the quality of Engineering Education by incorporating the newly developed fundamental control engineering techniques into graduate and undergraduate level courses on process control. ***
