Electrical and Electronic Engineering - Research Publications

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    Gaussian Processes with Monotonicity Constraints for Preference Learning from Pairwise Comparisons
    Chin, R ; Manzie, C ; Ira, A ; Nesic, D ; Shames, I (IEEE, 2018)
    In preference learning, it is beneficial to incorporate monotonicity constraints for learning utility functions when there is prior knowledge of monotonicity. We present a novel method for learning utility functions with monotonicity constraints using Gaussian process regression. Data is provided in the form of pairwise comparisons between items. Using conditions on monotonicity for the predictive function, an algorithm is proposed which uses the weighted average between prior linear and maximum a posteriori (MAP) utility estimates. This algorithm is formally shown to guarantee monotonicity of the learned utility function in the dimensions desired. The algorithm is tested in a Monte Carlo simulation case study, in which the results suggest that the learned utility by the proposed algorithm performs better in prediction than the standalone linear estimate, and enforces monotonicity unlike the MAP estimate.
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    A machine learning approach for tuning model predictive controllers
    Ira, AS ; Shames, I ; Manzie, C ; Chin, R ; Nesic, D ; Nakada, H ; Sano, T (IEEE, 2018-01-01)
    Many industrial domains are characterized by Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems for which an explicit relationship capturing the nontrivial trade-off between the competing objectives is not available. Human experts have the ability to implicitly learn such a relationship, which in turn enables them to tune the corresponding controller to achieve the desirable closed-loop performance. However, as the complexity of the MIMO system and/or the controller increase, so does the tuning time and the associated tuning cost. To reduce the tuning cost, a framework is proposed in which a machine learning method for approximating the human-learned cost function along with an optimization algorithm for optimizing it, and consequently tuning the controller, are employed. In this work the focus is on the tuning of Model Predictive Controllers (MPCs), given both the interest in their implementations across many industrial domains and the associated high degrees of freedom present in the corresponding tuning process. To demonstrate the proposed approach, simulation results for the tuning of an air path MPC controller in a diesel engine are presented.
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    Tuning of multivariable model predictive controllers through expert bandit feedback
    Ira, AS ; Manzie, C ; Shames, I ; Chin, R ; Nesic, D ; Nakada, H ; Sano, T (TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2021-10-03)
    For certain industrial control applications an explicit function capturing the non-trivial trade-off between competing objectives in closed loop performance is not available. In such scenarios it is common practice to use the human innate ability to implicitly learn such a relationship and manually tune the corresponding controller to achieve the desirable closed loop performance. This approach has its deficiencies because of individual variations due to experience levels and preferences in the absence of an explicit calibration metric. Moreover, as the complexity of the underlying system and/or the controller increase, in the effort to achieve better performance, so does the tuning time and the associated tuning cost. To reduce the overall tuning cost, a tuning framework is proposed herein, whereby a supervised machine learning is used to extract the human-learned cost function and an optimisation algorithm that can efficiently deal with a large number of variables, is used for optimising the extracted cost function. Given the interest in the implementation across many industrial domains and the associated high degree of freedom present in the corresponding tuning process, a Model Predictive Controller applied to air path control in a diesel engine is tuned for the purpose of demonstrating the potential of the framework.