There are two sides of the problem to come up with useful and efficient tools for the efficient development of integrated control and supervision systems. The activity area described above is more concentrating on investigating how to make existing tools efficiently used. The other side of this to develop new methods (models, algorithms, theories, etc.) for this process. This involves models and algorithms for planning, sequential control, and control of batch processes. It also involves the (substantial) problem of developing hybrid models, i.e., models that combine logical and continuous system descriptions, and also how to allow systematic or even automatic synthesis of hybrid control systems. Moreover, the area contains the links between hard core nonlinear control theory and fuzzy control, which has turned out to be a useful tool for the design of nonlinear controllers and gain scheduled controllers.
The goal for the activities in this area is to provide better analytical tools for the engineer in the design process. This certainly is a most ambitious goal, and it is clear that the activities must be concentrated only to certain aspects in this area.