The University of British Columbia

This article considers the design of practical feedback controllers for a class of spatially distributed processes where the state of a uniform physical substrate is influenced by an array of evenly distributed, identically constructed actuators and measured by an array of evenly distributed, identical sensors. A constructive procedure is introduced for designing spatially distributed feedback controllers with the objective of practical implementation. The full controller design cycle is addressed; including specification, synthesis, and implementation. The proposed design procedure has been field-tested and forms the basis of a software tool that has recently been implemented in a commercial product for the design of industrial paper machine controllers. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.