Qualitative modelling for intelligent control

This paper considers three themes: an extensive review of the application of qualitative modelling (QM), application of three main types of QM on a case study problem, and consideration of wider industrial and research areas for QM and control. The review introduces QM, explores applications, and the areas of future research work. Further, the paper explores application of 3 different focused methods of QM on a multi-input multi-output case study. Following on, wider industrial issues include questions on: how does object orientation support QM, how does graphics support QM, how does QM fit in with industrial process control needs? Conclusions are drawn. Future work using the findings of the study as a basis for a QM controller of a real non-trivial demonstrator system, and then benchmarking it against a PID controller for the same system is outlined.