Mathematical Modelling, Nonlinear Control and Performance Evaluation of a Ground Based Mobile Air Defence System (eBook)

Dr. Constantinos Frangos is a registered Professional Engineer (Pr.Eng.) in South Africa and a senior member of the SAIEE and IEEE. His academic qualifications include a B.Eng.(Elec. Eng.) (cum laude), University of Pretoria, 1979-1982, a M.S.(Ind. Eng.), Stanford University, 1983-1984, and a Ph.D.(Elec. Eng.), University of Pretoria, 1986-1988. After graduation he worked initially in industry where he specialized in Decision and Control with an emphasis on mathematical modelling and nonlinear control of dynamic systems. He subsequently worked for twenty years in academia. He was Associate Professor, Dept. of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Pretoria, 1989-1998, where he co-founded the Laboratory for Decision and Control and lectured undergraduate courses: Linear Control, Digital Control, and a postgraduate course: Optimal Control Theory. He was Full Professor, Dept. of Statistics, Rand Afrikaans University/University of Johannesburg, 2000-2010, where he lectured undergraduate courses: Statistics for Electrical Engineers, Stochastic Signal Processing, and postgraduate courses: Markov Decision Processes, Introduction to Optimization Theory. He co-developed Feasible Control Theory that is used to design control strategies for linear and nonlinear dynamic systems such that a wide range of performance specifications and constraints are satisfied. Feasible Control Theory practically circumvents many of the difficulties of Optimal Control Theory.
His research work deals with the following: (1) Mathematical modelling and nonlinear control of autonomous vehicles. (2) Stochastic modelling and optimal/suboptimal feedback control of nonlinear models of aerospace systems, electromechanical systems and manufacturing systems subject to control constraints and state constraints. This involves the numerical solution of the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman partial differential equation subject to boundary conditions. (3) Applications of Feasible Control Theory to solve problems involving the closed loop control of linear stochastic systems and the open loop control of nonlinear deterministic systems, for example, manoeuvring control of super tanker ships in constrained waters. (4) Stochastic modelling and performance evaluation of ground based air defence systems. The results of the above-mentioned research have been documented in over twenty scientific papers published in reviewed international journals.

Since 2011 Dr. Frangos is operating as a private research consultant working on industrial research projects in Decision and Control.