Introduction to the Monograph

Abstract

Recently, increased attention has been given in the media and trade journals to the relationship between a country’s performance in the industrial sector and its success in the international marketplace. It has been generally observed that future excellence in manufacturing and industrial automation is essential to improving quality and competitiveness in the industrial sector. An important factor in providing the technological base necessary to achieve this excellence is the development of advanced industrial control systems. As more sophisticated control strategies are developed for practical systems (such as robotic manipulators, motion control systems, and process control systems), it will be possible for the manufacturing and industrial control industries to reduce production costs and increase their competitiveness.