A team of four researchers from the School of Mathematical Sciences, led by John Curtin Distinguished Emeritus Professor, Professor Teo Kok Lay, have been awarded the prestigious Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) in 2021. The three other collaborators are Dr Cheong Huey Tyng, Dr Lai Kee Huong, and Dr Lee Mok Siang. The secured grant, amounting to RM 135,000, proposes a novel computational study of constrained optimal problems with discrete-valued control.

The ubiquitous optimal control problems have found applications in almost every area of science and engineering. The optimal control literature is saturated by problems in which the decision variables are continuous variables, that is, they can assume any value within a continuous range. However, real systems often involve decisions of a discrete nature. For example, ‘on/off’, ‘left/right’, ‘up/down’, ‘open/closed’, ‘gear 1/2/3’, etc.

The current optimal control theory is inadequate for making such discrete decisions. Determining the optimal mode sequence, and the corresponding optimal switching times is a non-linear optimal control problem that cannot be solved using conventional optimal control techniques. As such, the research project proposes new theories and methods that would be developed for solving optimal control problems with discrete-valued control. The proposed theories and methods would then be applied in a wide range of optimal control problems, which include shale-gas extraction, gradient-elution chromatography, pipeline transportation, and path planning for micro-robots.

The novel algorithm developed in the research project will greatly benefit the energy industry, especially in increasing the efficiency of production, and in minimizing wastage. In addition, the proposed mathematical model will help address the issues and challenges highlighted by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI) on National Policy on Industry 4.0, by strengthening the innovation capacity and capability, as reflected in global innovation rankings; and increases the number of high-skilled workers in the manufacturing sector.

Professor Teo’s expertise in the field of optimal control is complemented by his team members, who are experts in various fields of applied mathematics - Dr Cheong (mathematical modelling, fluid dynamic, and numerical methods), Dr Lai (machine learning, evolutionary computation, and swarm intelligence), and Dr Lee (numerical optimization and optimization for deep learning).

Emeritus Professor Dr Teo Kok Lay 
School of Mathematical Sciences
Email: @email