Hybrid systems in process control

Modelling and control of hybrid systems, with particular emphasis on process control applications, are considered in this paper. Based on a number of observations on typical mixed discrete and continuous features for such applications, a fairly general model structure for hybrid systems is proposed. This model structure which clearly separates the open loop plant from the closed loop system, is suitable for analysis and synthesis of hybrid control systems. To illustrate this, two different approaches for control-law synthesis based on continuous and discrete specifications, are discussed