Explicit model predictive control for PDEs: The case of a heat equation

Explicit model predictive control design is carefully developed for discrete-time linear plants on Hilbert spaces, and we highlight the role of the so-called Slater condition in the reliable explicit solution of the MPC optimization. We then proceed to present an explicit MPC algorithm that accounts for the stabilization and input constraints satisfaction. We do structure preserving temporal discretization of the infinite-dimensional parabolic PDE system by application of the Cayley transformation. The salient feature of explicit MPC design is the realization of the region-free approach in explicit MPC design with identification of active constraint sets to realize optimal stabilization and constraints satisfaction. Finally, the resulting design is illustrated by the application to the PDE model given by an unstable heat equation with boundary actuation and Neumann boundary conditions. The example demonstrates simultaneous stabilization and input constraints satisfaction on the one hand, and on the ability to deal with a relatively high plant dimension and a long optimization horizon on the other hand.