The development of systems that apply recent concepts such as adaptive optics, interferometry and artificial guide stars to compensate for atmospheric and instrumental blurring in astronomical systems is needed. E Chemical Process Control Research on the control of chemical plants and studies of new design strategies for complex integrated chemical processes as well as system optimization is needed. Included in this area are innovative new approaches to problems such as temperature and pressure control techniques. Software development is an appropriate area for research under this thrust. Intelligent Control Systems Advanced control systems and programmable devices are needed for power plants.
Research is needed on solutions to control problems and on intelligent control systems and designs.
This thrust also seeks the development of power semiconductors, programmable logic controllers and industrial control systems computers using analog, digital and microprocessor technology software. Small power systems for autonomous-remote scientific data acquisition systems are also being sought. Systems to coordinate building heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and lighting as well as techniques for determination and control of air quality and pollutants in building environments. There is a need to design, develop and produce innovative systems for testing, data acquisition and characterization in the industrial and laboratory environments. This thrust also includes the prototyping of smart structures and smart devices and elements, advanced sensors and actuators, and wireless data transmission and signal processing techniques for use in condition monitoring, diagnosis and dynamic response control of detectors and instruments.