Multivariable DELTA (δ) Operator Control in a Plant Physiology Experiment

Abstract This paper describes the use of the True Digital Control (TDC) approach (Young, et al ., 1987) in the design, simulation and implementation of Proportional-Integral-Plus (PIP) control of the temperature and relative humidity within an enclosed plant physiology cabinet. Control of the temperature and relative humidity was originally carried out using separate single-input single-output (SISO) controllers running simultaneously (McKenna, et al ., 1997). Due to the high degree of cross coupling which exists between these two channels it is more appropriate to use an optimal linear quadratic (LQ) design philosophy based upon the estimation of a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) model.