Centre for r eal-Time Distributed Systems (C rTDS)

The CRTDS team members are Prof R Tzoneva (leader), Mr C Kriger (deputy leader), Mr S Behardien, Mr M Mnguni, Mr Q Bart and Dr S Krishnamurthy.

The centre strives to make a theoretical and application-based contribution to advances in real-time distributed systems. It is concerned with the development of novel models, design methods, software, hardware and their integrated application for real-time monitoring and control. It also aims at insightful and focused determination of proper areas of application and research through appraisal and reappraisal of emerging control technologies.

The core activities are:

• Design and implementation of nonlinear controllers

• Distributed control based on IEC61499 standard for function block programming

• Networked control systems design and implementation

• Optimisation of complex distributed systems and development of algorithms for parallel computation using function block programming in a distributed control platform

• Nonlinear controllers for control of a magnetic levitation system were developed and implemented using the Beckhoff PLC.

• New methods for the design of a linear and nonlinear Smith predictive controller for nonlinear networked systems with constant and random delays were developed and implemented in realtime using LabVIEW software.

• New methods for design of fully decentralised nonlinear controllers for distributed nonlinear systems were developed.

• Second Beckhoff PLC with I/O cards, TwinCAT 3 functional block programming software and licenses for Matlab/Simulink toolboxes were purchased as the latest development in industrial control technology.

• The collaboration with Adroit Technologies and the Department of Water and Sanitation of the City of Cape Town to develop a control strategy for the activated sludge process in wastewater treatment, continued.

• Ogidan: DTech – Design of robust nonlinear networked control for wastewater distributed systems

• N Dube: DTech – Methods for parameters and state estimation of nonlinear processes

• Y Mfoumboulou: MTech – Development of nonlinear control algorithms for implementation in distributed systems

• N Tshemese: MTech – Design and PLC implementation of nonlinear PID controllers for control of nonlinear processes

The following postgraduate students completed their studies in 2014:

• Mr Y Mfoumboulou, MTech, CL – with the highest mark in the Faculty of Engineering in the field of nonlinear control systems – application to a magnetic levitation system

Highlights for 2014

• Methods for the design of nonlinear PID controllers were implemented in the real-time environment of Beckoff PLC and tested for application in wastewater treatment process control.

• Mr R Swartz, South Africa’s Siemens representative, visited to discuss donation of the Siemens industrial computer compatible with EC61499 and IEC61850 standard to be used as a building block for control and condition monitoring functions implementation in the future Smart grid.

Postgraduate research students and projects included:

• J Muga: DTech – Design and implementation of IEC61499 standard-based nonlinear controllers

• Mrs N Tshemese, MTech, CL – in the field of design of nonlinear PID controllers for the dissolved oxygen process in wastewater treatment

• Dr O Ogidan, DTech study – in the field of Networked Control Systems funding for 2014 included:

• Eskom TESP programme R120 000

• URF for DTech students O Ogidan and J Muga and MTech student G Deivakkannu – R100 000