METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A PROCESS USING ADAPTIVE PREDICTION FEEDBACK

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for controlling a process which may include long process delays, using an internal model-based control strategy wherein any external disturbances are effectively taken into account in a manner which results in a stable, predictable output. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, rather than using a mismatch signal .epsilon. as a feedback signal to address mismatches due to both modelling errors and to any external disturbance component, exemplary embodiments feedback an adaptive prediction of the mismatch signal. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, the adaptive, predicted mismatch signal possesses a value which takes into account the process time delay, or the process time delay plus some additional delay, to allow time for the control system to respond.