Advances in Fractional Order Controller Design and Applications

Abstract

Fractional order differentiation is a generalization of classical integer differentiation to real or complex orders. In the last couple of decades, a more profound understating of fractional calculus, as well as the developments in computing technologies combined with the unique advantages of fractional order differ-integrals in capturing closely complex phenomena, lead to ongoing research regarding fractional calculus and to an increasing interest towards using fractional calculus as an optimal tool to describe the dynamics of complex systems and to enhance the performance and robustness of control systems. The research community has managed to bring forward ideas and concepts that justify the importance of fractional calculus for future engineering and science discoveries. Since the emergence of the CRONE controllers and the generalization of the classical PID controller, many researchers have focused on the design problem of fractional order controllers, the optimal tuning, the possible extensions of fractional calculus in advanced control strategies, the problems regarding their implementation, and so on. There are still many issues and open problems left unattended in this area. This special issue aims at presenting some recent developments in the field of fractional order controllers, in order to further raise the interest regarding the increasing tendency of adopting fractional calculus in applications related to modeling and design of control systems.