Two PhD positions
Research topic
DISC is focused on the diagnosis and control of distributed plants
using discrete-event models and methodologies. The objective is the
design of supervisors and fault detectors exploiting the concurrency
and the modularity of the plant model. Coordinated controllers should
preferably be designed using local plant models, and requiring limited information exchange between local controllers. The diagnosers should
be capable of handling the asynchronous nature of distributed systems.
We should use several techniques to reduce the computational complexity
of solving the above mentioned problem for distributed plants:
modularity in the modeling and control design phases; decentralized
control with communicating controllers; modular state estimation,
distributed diagnosis and modular fault detection based on the design
of partially decentralized observers; fluidification of some
discrete-event dynamics to reduce state-space cardinality.
Position 1 will be mainly related to fault detection and state observer
algorithms for embedded systems and will be supervised by Dr. Cristian
Mahulea (cmahuleaunizar [dot] es) and Prof. Manuel Silva (silvaunizar [dot] es). Activities will be mainly related to the following aspects:
• Develop methodologies for the model-based design of distributed fault
detection and diagnosis algorithms, and for state estimation, for DES
models at various levels of abstraction (discrete event systems and
timed fluid Petri nets).
• Develop tools for automatic model based design, and for selecting the
appropriate level of abstraction, and the appropriate level of
decomposition, allowing reliable and timely fault detection for
realistic cases. The computational complexity of the fault detection
algorithms will be further reduced by explicitly considering modular
and decentralized fault detectors.
Position 2 will be mainly related to model checking and supervisory control and will be supervised by Dr. Jorge Júlvez (julvezunizar [dot] es) and Prof. Manuel Silva (silvaunizar [dot] es). Activities will be mainly related to the following aspects:
• Study and elaborate new model checking strategies for efficient
verification of properties in the framework of distributed systems
modelled with Petri nets. The strategies to be considered might range
from divide and conquer approaches to symbolic and bounded model
checking.
• Design local supervisory controllers suitable for each subsystem of a
distributed system. The controllers to be design must exhibit a low
complexity and must be highly adaptable to potential changes in the
structure of the distributed system.
Tasks
The main task for the accepted candidates will be to conduct research
towards his/her PhD. The candidates are expected to complete the degree
within 3-4 years. Applicants must have MSc (or equivalent) degree in
Automatic Control, Computer Science, Mathematics,
Electrical/Electronics or Communications Engineering. Some knowledge on
formal models on computer science, automatic control or operational
research will be especially welcome. The salary will be around 1200
EUR/month, with an incremental raise in the following years. Health
insurance will also be provided.
The candidates will start on April or May 2010.
Contact
The interested students should send their applications by email, before 14th February 2010, to cmahuleaunizar [dot] es and julvezunizar [dot] es.
Each application should contain: (1) CV including the name and email
addresses of two references, (2) a letter of intentions and (3) the
list of positions prioritized.