Model predictive control as a module for autonomous operation of complex plastics production processes

摘要

With the ambitious future project "Industry 4.0", the German government encourages the informatization of the industry as we know it today. Amongst others, the factory of the future shall automatically adjust to fluctuating requirements and increase the resource efficiency. An essential element of these developments is the systematic establishment of additional control loops. These control loops can be machine-oriented, assuring within the scope of a process control that the process reliably keeps within predefined states. In addition to that, higher-level control loops, e. g. in the form of quality control loops, can adjust machine parameters depending on the required product quality. In all cases, control technology brings forward self-controlled and reproducible production. In the following, a small outlook shall be given on how methods of advanced control technology can support and improve production processes, e. g. in the area of plastics technology.