Predictive Control of a Human–in–the–Loop Network System Considering OperatorComfort Requirements

We propose a model-predictive control (MPC)-based approach to solve a human-in-the-loop control problem for a network system lacking sensors and actuators to allow for a fully automatic operation. The humans in the loop are, therefore, essential; they travel between the network nodes to provide the remote controller with measurements and to actuate the system according to the controller’s commands. Time instant optimization MPC is utilized to compute when the measurement and actuation actions are to take place to coordinate them with the network dynamics. The time instants also minimize the burden of human operators by tracking their energy levels and scheduling the necessary breaks. Fuel consumption related to the operators’ travel is also minimized. The results in a digital twin of the Dez Main Canal illustrate that the new algorithm outperforms previous methods in terms of meeting operational objectives and taking care of human well-being, but at the cost of higher computational requirements.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Water ResourcesDelft Center for Systems and Contro