Robust Control of a Manufacturing Facility with Uncertain Processing Rates

Abstract

A procedure is presented for designing a real-time controller that, despite imprecise knowledge of the processing rates of a multi-part-type manufacturing facility, will achieve a desired cyclical operation mode and will return the facility to this operating mode in finite time when isolated disturbances occur. To achieve finite-time disturbance correction, while compensating for the uncertainty in processing rates, the controller uses a switching strategy to specify the processing times and idling intervals for each part-type, and to dynamically allocate the raw material input rate.