The objetive of this project is to discover tools and solutions
to alleviate performance degradatation in control systems, due to
the presence of variable or random time-delays. This is a subject
with very practical relevance, and its efficient solution poses many
open problems.
To achieve this objective we propose two complementary tools: Quantitative
Feedback Theory (QFT) and NonLinear Stability Theory. Both
techniques are adecuate to address, from a wide perspective, the problem
of delays. QFT provides the ability to deal frequencially with the
time-delay uncertainty, and the ability to design compensators. The
Nonlinear Stablility tools guarantee the robustness of the solutions
in front of instabilities due to uncertain delays or uncertain dynamics.
The project also addresses the specific study and implementations
of a teleoperation system, built with electromechanical components,
robust against communication delays; and an accurate temperature control
system, robust against time-varying transport delays.
