Abstract

Abstract
The gravitational search algorithm is proposed to design PID control structures. The controller design is performed considering the objectives of set-point tracking and disturbance rejection, minimizing the integral of the absolute error criterion. A two-degrees-of-freedom control configuration with a feed-forward prefilter inserted outside the PID feedback loop is used to improve system performance for both design criteria. The prefilter used is a Posicast three-step shaper designed simultaneously with a PID controller. Simulation results are presented which show the merit of the proposed technique.

Abstract
This work presents an automatic tuning method for the discontinuous component of the Sliding Mode Generalized Predictive Controller (SMGPC) subject to constraints. The strategy employs Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to minimize a second aggregated cost function. The continuous component is obtained by the standard procedure, by Quadratic Programming (QP), thus yielding an online dual optimization scheme. Simulations and performance indexes for common process models in industry, such as nonminimum phase and time delayed systems, result in a better performance, improving robustness and tracking accuracy.

Abstract
This paper describes a proposal to develop a Tourism Recommendation System based in Users and Points-of-Interest (POI) profiles The main focus of this work is to evaluate if gathered user’s physical and psychological functionality levels will return more accurate recommendation results. This work also aims to contribute with a different way to classify (POI) considering their capacity measured in accessibility levels to receive tourists with certain levels of physical and psychological issues that will be described in this paper sections. © Springer International Publishing AG 2017.

Abstract
The paper presents a tuning method for PID controllers which substantially improves closed-loop disturbance rejection performance while keeping the tracking performance. The tuning method is based on the internal disturbance compensator which parameters are calculated according to the Magnitude Optimum criterion. The results of experiments show that the proposed model-based approach gives superior disturbance-rejection response and lower controller activity when compared to Disturbance Rejection Magnitude Optimum tuning method. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017.

Abstract
This paper presents an experiment concerning the development of two mobile devices applications with the App Inventor 2 for Android operating systems. These applications are intended to support teaching and learning activities in Industrial Automation and Control courses, particularly concerning logic control, logic controller programming and process control. While the reported applications: eLogicum and Automatum are yet in an early development stage, this paper aims to motivate teachers and students to a wider use of mobile devices in the context of university teaching and learning processes. Both applications are reported, focusing in the more relevant development issues concerning the App Inventor 2 use.