A parallel control strategy abstracted from the baroreceptor reflex

A parallel control strategy is developed for process applications by "reverse engineering" the functions of the baroreceptor reflex, the biological control system system which regulates arterial blood pressure. The parallel control technique is applicable to single-input processes with two types of output measurements: (i) a primary measurement of the controlled output which has unfavorable dynamic responses to input changes; and (ii) a secondary measurement of a different output which has more favorable dynamic characteristics. In order to provide high performance disturbance rejection, the parallel control system uses the primary and secondary outputs in a coordinated fashion. An H₂-optimal controller is designed and implemented using a parallel control architecture which is derived from a biologically-inspired control structure. The parallel control strategy is shown to provide improved performance and robustness as compared to conventional cascade control.