Prädiktionsregelung

Prädiktionsregelung, also known as predictive control, is a method of automatic control that uses future predictions of the controlled system to determine the optimal control actions. The principle was developed in the 1960s by Rudolf Kalman and soon became the foundation for modern model‑predictive control (MPC). In a typical setting, a mathematical model of the process predicts future behavior over a short horizon. An optimization routine then calculates the sequence of control inputs that will minimize a cost function, usually composed of deviation from setpoints and control effort, while respecting system constraints.

The algorithm proceeds in a receding‑horizon fashion: after each measurement, the horizon is shifted one step forward, new predictions are made, and the first control action of the optimal sequence is applied. This closed‑loop operation ensures that uncertainties, disturbances and model inaccuracies are compensated automatically. Key advantages of Prädiktionsregelung include the ability to explicitly handle multi‑variable interactions, incorporate constraints on inputs and states, and improve performance in systems with transport delays.

Applications of predictive control span a wide range of industrial processes. Chemical plants use MPC to regulate temperature, pressure and composition in reactors; the oil and gas sector relies on it for refinery units and pipelines; the automotive industry adopts it in engine management and vehicle dynamics; and building automation uses predictive strategies for energy‑efficient climate control. Academic research continues to enhance the technique through robust and nonlinear extensions, data‑driven modeling, and integration with artificial intelligence.

Prädiktionsregelung remains a cornerstone of advanced process automation due to its systematic approach to handling prediction, optimization and constraints in a unified framework. Its ongoing development aligns with the broader movement toward intelligent, flexible, and efficient industrial control systems.