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Date: Fri, 07 Feb 92 09:07 EST
From: Dot Baker <UNCDOT@UNC.BITNET>
Subject: NSF Program Guideline
To: pjones@UNCVX1.BITNET

Hi Paul,
   Please post to the NIH LIstserver as:
      Intelligent.920207
                        Dottie
 ---------------------------- Text of forwarded message -----------------------
Title       : NSF9210--Intelligent Control
Type        : Program Guideline
NSF Contact : ENG/ECS
Date        : February 5, 1992
 
 
INTELLIGENT CONTROL
 
Announcement of Program Initiative
 
 
A Cooperative Program between the National Science Foundation
and the Electric Power Research Institute
 
DEADLINE DATES:
 
     Letter of Intent:       March 23, 1992
 
     Formal Proposal:   April 27, 1992
 
 
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
 
ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE
 
 
 
 
INTELLIGENT CONTROL
 
INTRODUCTION
 
The principle of feedback to control dynamic systems is fundamental
and has played a major  role in many areas of science and
engineering. As control methods found their way into  standard
practice, they have opened the door to a wide spectrum of complex
applications.  Such complex systems are characterized by uncertain
models, a high degree of nonlinearity,  distributed sensors and
actuators, high noise levels, abrupt changes in dynamics,
hierarchical  and distributed decision makers, multiple time
scales, complex information patterns, large  amounts of data, and
stringent performance requirements. The degree to which a control
system deals successfully with the above difficulties depends on
the level of intelligence in the system.  Qualitatively, a system
that exhibits the ability to learn about its environment, process
the information to reduce uncertainty, plan, generate and execute
control action in a safe and reliable manner constitutes an
intelligent control system.
 
In the last five years, major breakthroughs have been made in
robust and adaptive control  of multiple-input, multiple-output
linear and nonlinear dynamic systems. For example, new  analytical
methods enable design of multivariable controllers to account for
structured and  unstructured uncertainties. The design methods have
potential to reduce control system  development costs significantly
and could produce better performance while guaranteeing  system
stability. A challenge in control engineering is to further develop
design methods to  deal with complex real world systems and
transfer the knowledge to engineering practice.  One way to improve
the effectiveness of analytical tools of control theory is by cross
fertilizing research results from disciplines such as knowledge-
based systems, pattern  recognition, neural networks, and fuzzy
logic. New understanding and breakthroughs are  needed to blend the
analytical and theoretical insights of control theory and the
flexible  frameworks of artificial intelligence.
 
The distinction between a theory of intelligent control systems and
more traditional control  theory lies in the degree to which the
system can cope with uncertainty and complexity.  A theory of
intelligent control could provide insights in  building models with
multiple levels of abstractions and/or precision, and further
develop  concepts of learning, adaptation and organization .
 
A multi-disciplinary research team approach could play a critical
role in advancing the  general theory of Intelligent Control
Systems and in ensuring its success in many areas of  engineering
applications such as robotics, power systems, manufacturing
systems,  material/chemical processing, and biological systems. For
example, better control systems  can be designed by developing
techniques for uncertainty modeling, effectively blending
control algorithms with heuristics, improving training of neural
networks for real-time system  identification, and effective use
of programming environments. In addition, simulations and
laboratory experiments on simple systems could provide
opportunities for substantial  improvements in the controller
design.
 
It is against this background that a number of programs within the
Engineering (ENG)  Directorate, and the Computer and Information
Science and Engineering (CISE)  Directorate of the National Science
Foundation (NSF), and the Electric Power Research  Institute (EPRI)
have created a research initiative in the area of Intelligent
Control Systems  (ICS). The purpose of this initiative is to
increase cooperation and cross fertilization of  ideas between
different disciplines of engineering and computer science, with a
goal to  address challenging research issues in the control of
complex dynamic systems.
 
The initiative is being sponsored by the following participants:
 
National Science Foundation (NSF):
 
     Division of Electrical Communications and Systems (ECS/ENG)
     Division of Mechanical and Structural Systems (MSS/ENG)
     Division of Design and Manufacturing Systems (DDM/ENG)
     Division of Chemical and Thermal Systems (CTS/ENG)
     Division of Biological and Critical Systems (BCS/ENG)
     Division of Information, Robotics, and Intelligent Systems
     (IRIS/CISE)
 
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI):
 
     Office of Exploratory and Applied Research
     Customer Systems Division
     Electrical Systems Division
     Generation and Storage Division
     Nuclear Power Division
 
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
 
This initiative supports analytical and experimental research on
Intelligent Control Systems.  The sponsoring agencies encourage
multidisciplinary proposals dealing with engineering  applications,
control theory, real-time computations, and laboratory experiments
to explore  concepts in intelligent control. Control-oriented
mathematical modeling of systems, new  algorithms and
architectures, and concepts from expert systems, neural networks,
fuzzy logic,  and other areas shall be used to reduce uncertainties
and control the system in a safe and  reliable manner. The emphasis
should be on new ways to formulate problems to design  intelligent
controllers rather than piecing together traditional approaches
such as a  proportional, integral, and derivative (PID) controller
at a lower level loosely connected to  a rule-based controller
operating at a supervisory level. The purpose of this initiative
is to  encourage the development of fundamental control engineering
methods and not technology demonstrations. The applications may be
selected from electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, chemical, or
biological systems to develop simulations and/or laboratory
experiments for validation,  verification, and performance
evaluation of real-time intelligent control systems.  Collaborative
research projects with industry and government laboratories are
encouraged.  However, the focus should be on basic analytical and
experimental control  engineering research, and student education,
and not on complex hardware or system  prototyping.
 
RESEARCH TOPICS
 
The research efforts must be directed toward increasing fundamental
knowledge of  intelligent control systems by cross disciplinary
team efforts in developing analytical methods  and laboratory
experiments. Proposals dealing with one or more of the following
topics will  be considered under this initiative.
 
-  Modeling, identification, and control of uncertainties in
   dynamic systems from first  principle models and experimental
   data
 
-  Analysis and design of hybrid systems with discrete events and
   dynamical elements in  mutual feedback
 
-  Theory to analyze and design interactions between multiple
   agents including a human in  the loop
 
-  Development of new engineering adaptive control systems based
   on biological prototypes
 
-  Theory of system reconfiguration following fault diagnosis
 
-  Automatic rule generation, rule modification and learning for
   real-time implementation of intelligent control systems
 
-  Integration of task level planning with real-time control
 
-  Mathematical and computational frameworks to cope with
   combinatorial complexity in intelligent control systems
 
-  Methods to iterate through requirements analysis, controller
   synthesis, and system performance verification
 
-  Theory and methods for performing validation and verification
   on intelligent control systems
 
-  Laboratory experiments and generic case studies to demonstrate
   intelligent control design  methods.
 
The following reports are available as a further source of
information and can be obtained  by e-mail to rbaheti@nsf.gov.
 
1.  "NSF/EPRI Workshop on Intelligent Control Systems", October
     15-16, 1990, Final Report, edited by R. Shoureshi and
     D. Wormley.
 
2.   "Facing the Challenge of Computer Science in the Industrial
      Applications of Control." A  joint IEEE CSS - IFAC project,
      October 10, 1991, update by A. Benveniste, K Astrom,
      P.  Canes, G. Cohen, L. Ljung.
 
3.   "NSF Workshop on Bio-Control by Neural Networks", May 16-18,
      1990, Final Report,  edited by G. Bekey and P. Katona.
 
 
WHO MAY SUBMIT
 
Academic and other research institutions in the United States with
engineering, computer and  information science research and
education programs are invited to submit proposals.  A proposal may
include researchers  from mechanical, electrical, chemical,
biological, manufacturing, computer and information  science, and
other engineering and science disciplines as appropriate.   Team
efforts that will  blend multiple disciplines in engineering and
computer science are especially encouraged  to achieve the desired
Intelligent Control Systems research objectives.  Investigators may
be from a single institution or from several institutions, wherever
the required expertise may be located.  Contributions of all  the
participants must be combined into a single integrated proposal
which conforms to the  usual requirements and limitations of a
proposal length.  The project duration may be up to three years.
Proposals must follow the guidelines set  forth in the NSF
publication Grants for Research and Education in Science and
Engineering,  (GRESE, NSF 90-77, rev. 8/90).
 
Collaboration with industry and government laboratories is
desirable and may be  in the form of participating personnel, loan
of equipment, gifts of various kinds,  and/or financial
contributions. An academic institution must be the prime research
management organization. Third-party cofunding, such as with local
utilities or industries,  is also encouraged.  However, funding
provided by this initiative must be used primarily to  support
researchers from academic institutions.
 
BUDGETS AND AWARDS
 
The budget of each proposal should be specified for each year and
may be for the total period of the award.  Cost sharing by the
institutions and industry is encouraged.  Funds up to the amount
of $1,500,000  have been allocated by the NSF for this initiative.
EPRI will provide up to $1,500,000 in additional funds in the form
of contracts, to supplement the NSF awards or to make separate
awards.  There will be no fixed allocation of funds by research
topics.  The sponsors may elect to continue this joint initiative
in the future years, but are not committed to doing so.
 
 
SUBMISSION DATES
 
A letter of intent including two pages of proposal summary and the
names of the investigators is required by March 23, 1992. The
letter should be mailed to Dr. Kishan Baheti, Room 1151, Division
of Electrical,  Communications, and Systems Engineering, National
Science Foundation, 1800 G Street,  N.W., Washington, DC, 20550.
The proposal summary will be mainly  used to select a review panel
and will not be used to encourage or discourage submission of a
proposal.  The deadline date for receipt of the formal proposal is
April 27,  1992. Ten copies of the proposal in response to this
initiative should be sent directly to:
 
     Proposal Processing Unit - Room 223
     NSF 92-10; Intelligent Control Initiative
     National Science Foundation
     1800 G Street, N.W.
     Washington D.C. 20550
 
On the cover sheet, NSF Form 1207, insert "NSF-EPRI/XXX" where
"XXX" identifies the NSF Division most closely related to the
research. The project description  may not exceed 15 single-spaced
pages (or 30 double-spaced pages). The restriction on page  limit
will be enforced.
 
EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS
 
Mail review, panel review, or a combination of the two may be used
to assist in the evaluation of proposals.  Award decisions will be
made jointly by NSF and EPRI.  Each of the sponsors reserves the
right to fund meritorious proposals separately or outside this
initiative in cases when a difference of priorities between the
sponsors prevents funding as part of this initiative.
 
By submitting a proposal in response to this initiative, the
proposer grants NSF permission to share with EPRI, for purposes of
evaluation, review documents that would otherwise be considered
confidential between NSF and the applicant.
 
INQUIRIES
 
General inquiries concerning this program announcement may be
directed to the  appropriate NSF or EPRI Program Director:
 
NSF:
 
Dr. Kishan Baheti - Engineering Systems/Systems Theory,
     Tel: 202-357-9618
 
Dr. Peter Sauer - Engineering Systems/Power Systems,
     Tel: 202-357-9618
 
Dr. Maria Burka - Chemical Reaction Processes,
     Tel: 202-357-9606
 
Dr. Karen Mudry - Bioengineering and Aiding the Disabled,
     Tel: 202-357-7955
 
Mr. Norman Caplan - Ocean Systems Engineering,
     Tel: 202-357-7737
 
Dr. William Hakala - Dynamic Systems and Control,
     Tel: 202-357-9542
 
Dr. Suren Rao - Manufacturing Processes and Equipment,
     Tel: 202-357-7676
 
Dr. Howard Moraff- Robotics and Machine Intelligence,
     Tel: 202-357-9586
 
Dr. Paul Werbos - Communications and Computation
     Systems/Neuroengineering, Tel: 202357-9618
 
 
EPRI:
 
Dr. John S. Maulbetsch - Office of Exploratory Research,
     Tel: 415-855-2438
 
Mr. K.H. Bill Sun - Safety, Control and Diagnostics Program,
     Nuclear Power Division,
     Tel: 415-855-2119
 
Mr. Murthy Divakaruni - Fossil Plant Operations Program, Generation
     and Storage Division,
     Tel: 415-855-2409
 
Dr. Rambabu Adapa - Power System Planning and Operations Program,
     Electrical Systems  Division,
     Tel: 415-855-8988
 
Dr. M. Khattar - Commercial Program, Customer Systems Division,
     Tel: 415-855-2699
 
 
GRANT GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
 
NSF grants awarded under this joint program will be administered
in accordance with either the terms and conditions of NSF GC-1
(10/91), Grant General Conditions, or FDP-II, Federal Demonstration
Project General Terms and Conditions depending on the awardee
institution.  Copies of these documents and the NSF brochure
"Grants for Research and Education in Science and Engineering" (NSF
90-77) may be  requested at no cost from:
 
 
     National Science Foundation
     Forms and Publications, Room 232
     1800 G Street, N.W.
     Washington, D.C. 20550
 
EPRI awards will be made as contracts, the governing conditions of
which may be obtained from:
 
     Electric Power Research Institute
     3412 Hillview Avenue
     Palo Alto, CA 94303
 
Copies of NSF program announcements are available electronically
using the Science and  Technology Information System (STIS). The
full text can be searched on-line, and copied  from the system.
Instructions for use of the system are in NSF 91-10 "STIS Flyer".
The  printed copy is available from the Forms and Publications
Unit. An electronic copy may  be requested by sending a message to
"stis@nsf.gov" (INTERNET) or "stis@nsf" (BITNET).
 
If you are a user of electronic mail and have access to either
BITNET or INTERNET, you may order NSF publications electronically.
BITNET users should address requests to pubs@nsf.  INTERNET users
should send requests to pubs@nsf.gov.  In your request include the
NSF publication number and title, number of copies, your name, and
mailing address.  Publications will be mailed within two days of
receipt of request.
 
The Foundation provides awards for research and related activities
in the sciences and  engineering. The awardee is wholly responsible
for the conduct of such activities and  preparation of the results
for publication. The Foundation, therefore, does not assume
responsibility for research results and their interpretation.
 
TITLE TO EQUIPMENT
 
Title to equipment purchased, acquired or fabricated with NSF grant
funds by a college or  university or other non-profit organization
normally will vest in the grantee institution.
 
PUBLICATION AND PATENT POLICY
 
Timely publication of results obtained from projects supported by
this program is expected.  Patent rights to inventions during the
project will be governed by NSF policy as expressed  in Section 650
of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations and in accordance
with  Public Law 96-517. This law, commonly called the Bayh-Dole
Act, provides small business firms and nonprofit organizations
(including universities) with the principal patent rights  to any
inventions they make during federally-supported research.
Universities and other institutions that propose to collaborate
should reach an agreement  as to the disposition of patent rights
from the project prior to submitting the proposal to  NSF.
Specific inquiries about patent policies may be directed to:
 
     Office of the General Counsel
     National Science Foundation
     Washington, D.C. 20550
     Telephone: (202) 357-9447
 
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH
 
The Foundation welcomes proposals on behalf of all qualified
engineers and scientists. NSF  strongly encourages women,
minorities and people with disabilities to participate fully in
the program described in this announcement, both as investigators
and as students.  In accordance with Federal statutes and
regulations and NSF policies, no person on  grounds of race, color,
age, sex, national origin, or disability shall be excluded from
participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to
discrimination under any program  or activity receiving financial
assistance from the National Science Foundation.
 
The National Science Foundation has TDD (Telephonic Device for the
Deaf) capability  which enables individuals with hearing impairment
to communicate with the Division of  Personnel and Management for
information relating to NSF programs or for general  information.
This number is (202) 357-7492.
 
FACILITATION AWARDS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
WITH DISABILITIES (FASED)
 
FASED provides funding for special assistance or equipment to
enable persons with disabilities (investigators and other staff,
including student research assistants) to work on an NSF project.
See the FASED program announcement (NSF 91-54), or contact the
FASED Coordinator in the Directorate for Education and Human
Resources at (202) 357-7456.
 
PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT
 
The information requested on the application material is solicited
under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950,
as amended.  It will be used and disclosed in connection with the
selection of qualified proposals.  See NSF-50 System of Records,
"Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated records," 56
Fed. Reg. 54,907 (October 23, 1991).  Submission of the requested
information is voluntary.  Failure to provide full and complete
information, however, may reduce the possibility of your receiving
the award.
 
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering
and maintaining the data needed and completing and reviewing the
collection of information.  Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,
including suggestions for reducing this burden, to
 
     Herman G. Fleming
     Reports Clearance Officer
     Division of Personnel and Management
     National Science Foundation
     Washington, D.C. 20550
 
     and to:
 
     Office of Management and Budget
     Paperwork Reduction Project (3145-0058)
     Washington, D.C. 20503
 
Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance 47.041-Engineering,
47.070-Computer and Information Science and Engineering.
 
 
..stis file is nsf9210
..expires November 1992
 
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