Coordinated control of distributed parameter systems

A new coordinated control approach is developed for a class of first-order distributed parameter systems controlled by a finite number of pointwise inputs. The approach does not make a discrete approximation of the original system. Rather, it partitions the system into subsystems only by making use of physical constraints. The control is achieved by three level optimization. Individual subsystems are optimized in the first level. The second level adjusts the interaction variables between subsystems. The third level optimizes the adjustment parameters for overall performance.