User friendly robust MPC tuning of uncertain paper-making processes

A robust tuning problem for a two-degree-of-freedom model predictive controller is explored for single-input, single-output uncertain paper-making processes. The objective is to achieve satisfactory closed-loop responses, as measured by overshoots, settling times and output oscillations with user-specified parametric uncertainties. As the output variation cannot be easily specified by the end users, two methods are proposed to connect a total variation specification to user-friendly indices, based on which two algorithms are designed to solve the tuning problem. An application to a process extracted from the pulp and paper industry is employed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.