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If you would like to graduate with a project involving the control of
water networks, then this project may be interesting for you. In the
project
Multi-Agent Control of Large-Scale Hybrid Systems we investigate the
use of agents for the control of
large transportation systems, including water networks, which can be
modeled as hybrid systems. In multi-agent control a number of agents (or
controllers) tries to cooperatively solve the control problem.
Multi-Agent Control. When using agents for control of
large-scale systems, each agent is
assigned a
certain subproblem. Agents have to solve their subproblems in such a way
that
the performance of the overall system is optimal in some way. They can
in
general only achieve this through coordination with other agents.
Figure 1: A schematic representation of a hierarchical multi-agent
control framework.
Water Networks. One particular area we focus on at the
moment is
the control of water
networks. The water network cannot be controlled from a single,
centralized, point. Currently water networks are typically
controlled in a decentralized fashion, in which local controllers
determine the settings for pumps and gates locally, without taking
other controllers into account. New control methods are necessary that
do consider the possibility for communication among controllers to
implement cooperation and negotiation. In this way improved overall
system performance may be achieved and the negative impacts of, e.g.,
floods can be minimized.
Current Research. Currently, methods for multi-agent control of
water networks based on
model predictive control are being developed in our group. These
methods are so far being tested on Matlab simulation studies with
small networks. Our methods need to be further developed and tested on
more realistic networks.
Concrete MSc Thesis Topics.
Interesting practical thesis research can come from the
following directions:
- Investigation of current methods for the control of large-scale
water networks.
- Development of your own method for the control of these water
networks.
- Implementation of existing and/or your own control method.
More theoretical thesis research can come from:
- Modeling of a water network as a hybrid system, i.e.,
incorporating continuous dynamics (of water flow) and discrete dynamics
(of switches and gates).
- Investigation of current methods for control of small scale hybrid
systems.
- Development of an extension of these methods to large-scale systems,
based on multi-agent concepts.
Of course, these topics are not fixed and can be varied according to
your own interests.
More Information. If you are interested in selecting a project
connected to the
information above as your MSc project,
please come along or send us an email for more information, see Rudy
Negenborn or Bart
De Schutter.
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