Blas M. Vinagre

Control Theory is an interdisciplinary field of engineering and mathematics that studies the behavior of dynamic systems with external stimuli and how to modify such behavior through feedback, and the very concept of dynamic system implies the study of how the trajectories of a point in a geometric space evolve in time. Thus, time is at the very foundation of control theory, and its development and achievements are conditioned both by the conception we have of it and by our way of measuring and using it. Following a quasi-chronological order, this work aims to give an overview of how these conceptions and these ways of measuring and using time are reflected in the paths followed by control theory from its origins to the present day.

Control Theory is an interdisciplinary field of engineering and mathematics that studies the behavior of dynamic systems with external stimuli and how to modify such behavior through feedback, and the very concept of dynamic system implies the study of how the trajectories of a point in a geometric space evolve in time. Thus, time is at the very foundation of control theory, and its development and achievements are conditioned both by the conception we have of it and by our way of measuring and using it. Following a quasi-chronological order, this work aims to give an overview of how these conceptions and these ways of measuring and using time are reflected in the paths followed by control theory from its origins to the present day.

Fractional-order Systems and Controls details the use of fractional calculus in the description and modeling of systems, and in a range of control design and practical applications. It is largely self-contained, covering the fundamentals of fractional calculus together with some analytical and numerical techniques and providing MATLAB® codes for the simulation of fractional-order control (FOC) systems. Many different FOC schemes are presented for control and dynamic systems problems. Practical material relating to a wide variety of applications is also provided. All the control schemes and applications are presented in the monograph with either system simulation results or real experimental results, or both. Fractional-order Systems and Controls provides readers with a basic understanding of FOC concepts and methods, so they can extend their use of FOC in other industrial system applications, thereby expanding their range of disciplines by exploiting this versatile new set of control techniques.

Fractional-order Systems and Controls details the use of fractional calculus in the description and modeling of systems, and in a range of control design and practical applications. It is largely self-contained, covering the fundamentals of fractional calculus together with some analytical and numerical techniques and providing MATLAB® codes for the simulation of fractional-order control (FOC) systems. Many different FOC schemes are presented for control and dynamic systems problems. Practical material relating to a wide variety of applications is also provided. All the control schemes and applications are presented in the monograph with either system simulation results or real experimental results, or both. Fractional-order Systems and Controls provides readers with a basic understanding of FOC concepts and methods, so they can extend their use of FOC in other industrial system applications, thereby expanding their range of disciplines by exploiting this versatile new set of control techniques.