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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for 
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TZID:Africa/Johannesburg
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DTSTART:20240101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260612T130000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260612T140000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20260604T071635Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260604T071725Z
UID:1849-1781269200-1781272800@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:SACAC Guest Lecture by Prof Lijun Zhang
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/sacac-guest-lecture-by-prof-lijun-zhang/
CATEGORIES:Lecture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260529
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260530
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20260313T101701Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260313T101701Z
UID:1809-1780012800-1780099199@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:Workshop: Applied Machine Vision for Robotic Applications
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/workshop-applied-machine-vision-for-robotic-applications/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260508T130000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260508T140000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20260428T131028Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260428T131028Z
UID:1834-1778245200-1778248800@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:SACAC Guest Lecture: Benefit Estimates and Benefit Audits – The Same or Different by Dr Kevin Brooks
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/sacac-guest-lecture-benefit-estimates-and-benefit-audits-the-same-or-different-by-dr-kevin-brooks/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260410T130000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260410T140000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20260330T101753Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260330T102159Z
UID:1818-1775826000-1775829600@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:SACAC Guest Lecture: 10 April 2026
DESCRIPTION:Beyond The PID Loop: My Real-World Journey of Advanced Control and AI in Industrial Automation
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/sacac-guest-lecture-10-april-2026/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260313T130000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260313T140000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20260303T073158Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260303T073158Z
UID:1782-1773406800-1773410400@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:Guest Lecture: Bridging the gap between digital twins and current engineering practice
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/guest-lecture-bridging-the-gap-between-digital-twins-and-current-engineering-practice/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260213T090000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260213T120000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20260122T110306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260123T085057Z
UID:1754-1770973200-1770984000@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:SACAC AGM 2026
DESCRIPTION:NOTICE OF THE 2026 SACAC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING\nSACAC cordially invites all Members and Friends to attend the 65th SACAC AGM \nDate: Friday\, 13th of February 2026\nTime: 09h00 – 12h00\nVenue: 54 Bath Ave\, Rosebank\, Johannesburg\, 2196 \nGuest Speaker: Prof Frank Zhu \nMathematical Decomposition for Integrated Planning\, Operation and Control Optimization \n(Click here for Prof Zhu’s Bio.) \nKindly note that this is a hybrid Annual General Meeting. \nClick here to RSVP  \nPlease RSVP by close of business on Friday\, the 9th of January 2026. \nPlease click here to download the nomination form to elect the EXCO for 2026. Written nominations close at 08h00 on the 12th of February 2026. Please email your nomination form to secretariat@sacac.org.za \nWe look forward to welcoming you to the 2026 SACAC AGM.
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/sacac-agm-2026/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260205T130000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260205T140000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20251104T142744Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260203T141553Z
UID:1694-1770296400-1770300000@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:Cybergenetics: From Theory to Therapy
DESCRIPTION:Venue: University of Cape Town \n \nAbstract: The ability to program living cells with designed feedback circuits is transforming biotechnology and medicine. Cybergenetics unites control theory and synthetic biology to endow cells with regulatory functions once limited to engineered systems. In this lecture\, I will describe how theoretical insights into feedback and adaptation are being translated into the design and realization of genetic control circuits that operate reliably within the noisy\, nonlinear environment of living cells. I will present examples of synthetic feedback architectures implemented in both bacterial and mammalian systems\, where precise regulation of gene expression enables new levels of performance in cellular homeostasis. Finally\, I will discuss how these same principles are being applied to create therapeutic cells capable of autonomously sensing disease cues and restoring physiological balance. Together\, these advances chart a path from the mathematics of feedback to the engineering of adaptive\, intelligent cell-based therapies. \nDate: 5 February 2026 \nVenue: Chemical Engineering Seminar Room\, Chemical Engineering Building\, Upper Campus\, University of Cape Town \nREGISTER NOW\nCo-hosted by SACAC and CeBER
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/cybergenetics-from-theory-to-therapy/
LOCATION:University of Cape Town
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260204T180000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260204T190000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20251114T110623Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260203T141449Z
UID:1738-1770228000-1770231600@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:The Mathematics of Life’s Robustness: Internal Models and Perfect Adaptation in Biological Control
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Biological systems achieve remarkable robustness: cells maintain homeostasis and adapt precisely to environmental changes despite stochasticity\, delays\, and parametric uncertainty. How do they accomplish this\, and how can we replicate such capabilities in synthetic systems? In this lecture\, I will present a theoretical framework for robust perfect adaptation (RPA) in biomolecular networks\, revealing deep structural parallels between biological regulation and classical control theory. I will introduce a universal internal model principle (IMP) for living systems\, showing how integral feedback and its generalizations emerge naturally as the only architectures capable of achieving kinetics-independent robust perfect adaptation. Using a linear-algebraic characterization of network stoichiometry\, I will identify the necessary and sufficient structural conditions for maximal adaptation in both deterministic and stochastic settings. Beyond theory\, I will discuss synthetic implementations of these principles in living cells\, where engineered integral feedback controllers achieve robust regulation of protein expression and growth. Together\, these results demonstrate that the logic of control—long the foundation of engineered systems—is also the mathematics of life’s stability\, offering a blueprint for designing adaptive\, intelligent biological systems. \nDate: 4 February 2026 \nVenue: The NITheCS seminar room\, Merensky Building\, Entrance 0016\, Merriman Street\, Stellenbosch University \nREGISTER NOW\nCo-hosted by SACAC and NITheCS
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/the-mathematics-of-lifes-robustness-internal-models-and-perfect-adaptation-in-biological-control/
LOCATION:Stellenbosch University
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260203T180000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260203T190000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20251104T142005Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T124702Z
UID:1688-1770141600-1770145200@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:Opto-Cybergenetics for Bioreactor Optimization: Feedback Control of Cellular Function with Light
DESCRIPTION:Venue: University of Pretoria \n \nAbstract: Living cells are dynamic\, adaptive systems — rich in feedback\, noise\, and nonlinear behavior. Opto-cybergenetics is an emerging discipline that merges control theory\, synthetic biology\, and optogenetics to bring such systems under real-time feedback control. By coupling cells to computers through light-based signaling\, we can now measure and modulate gene expression dynamically\, enabling precise and optimal control of biological processes. In this talk\, I will present recent advances in closed-loop optogenetic control for biotechnology. In one example\, feedback regulation of the unfolded protein response in yeast maintained gene expression at near-optimal levels\, resulting in increased protein yields. In another\, dynamic cybergenetic control was used to stabilize and reprogram the composition of bacterial co-cultures in real time. Finally\, I will outline how these ideas extend toward fully autonomous genetic control systems\, where engineered circuits within cells perform their own regulation. Together\, these developments illustrate how opto-cybergenetics is transforming biotechnology into a truly cyber-physical discipline — one where light\, computation\, and living matter are seamlessly integrated through feedback. \nREGISTER NOW\nCo-hosted by SACAC and NITheCS
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/opto-cybergenetics-for-bioreactor-optimization-feedback-control-of-cellular-function-with-light/
LOCATION:University of Pretoria
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260130T130000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260130T140000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20251203T131737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251203T131737Z
UID:1745-1769778000-1769781600@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:SACAC Guest Lecture: Instrument Data Acquisition\, Control\, Analysis And Visualisation Systems At The Necsa Neutron Diffraction Facility
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/sacac-guest-lecture-instrument-data-acquisition-control-analysis-and-visualisation-systems-at-the-necsa-neutron-diffraction-facility/
LOCATION:Online
ORGANIZER;CN="SACAC":MAILTO:secretariat@sacac.org.za
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251114
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251115
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250915T091214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250915T091214Z
UID:1672-1763078400-1763164799@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:Control Systems Day
DESCRIPTION:The Control Systems Day is a student symposium organised by the South African Council for Automation and Control\, providing post-graduate students the opportunity to showcase their research in control engineering and related fields. The event will be held synchronously at the University of Cape Town and the University of the Witwatersrand\, with streaming between the two events. In person attendance is strongly encouraged\, but online attendance is available for those who cannot make it to either venue. \nREGISTER NOW \nFor more information\, contact secretariat@sacac.org.za
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/control-systems-day-3/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20251107T130000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20251107T140000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20251024T100843Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251024T100843Z
UID:1680-1762520400-1762524000@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:SACAC Guest Lecture: Towards Digital Control and Automation in South Africa – Trends and Challenges for Academics
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/sacac-guest-lecture-towards-digital-control-and-automation-in-south-africa-trends-and-challenges-for-academics/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20251003T130000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20251003T140000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250909T103711Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250916T065327Z
UID:1660-1759496400-1759500000@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:SACAC Guest Lecture: Machine Learning for Fast\, Robust Model Predictive Control
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/sacac-guest-lecture-machine-learning-for-fast-robust-model-predictive-control/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250910
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250911
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250611T102000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250618T080241Z
UID:1586-1757462400-1757548799@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:Girls in Control Workshop - 10 September 2025
DESCRIPTION:The Girls in Control Workshop is an inspiring initiative originally launched by the International Federation for Automation and Control (IFAC) and proudly hosted across South Africa by the South African Council for Automation and Control (SACAC). Aimed at girls aged 14 to 15\, the workshop seeks to ignite a passion for control engineering and encourage careers in STEM. Participants engage in hands-on coding activities using Scratch\, explore key control theory concepts\, and learn about real-world control applications. The events also feature a motivational talk. A science tour and exhibitions round off the experience\, providing a tangible glimpse into the exciting world of science\, engineering and technology. \nhttps://www.ifac-control.org/areas/girls-in-control-gic-workshop-and-material \n 
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/girls-in-control-workshop-10-september-2025/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250905T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250905T140000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250820T071212Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250820T071529Z
UID:1630-1757077200-1757080800@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:SACAC Guest Lecture: Challenges Developing Autonomous Ground Vehicle Capability for Off-Road Applications
DESCRIPTION:SPEAKER: Dr David Reinecke \nDr Reinecke completed his BEng and BEng Honours in Mechanical Engineering\, a Masters in Engineering Management at the University of Pretoria and his PhD in mechanical engineering at Cranfield University (Defence Academy) in the UK. Some of his achievements include assembling the first Rolls Royce E4B gearbox manufactured in South Africa as well as the industrialisation of the Rooivalk Attack Helicopter transmission system. Dr Reinecke became a Research Group Leader at the CSIR in 2006 fulfilling this role until 2016 after which he focused on research\, where he successfully grew the protection research capability through a multitude of training and infrastructure development initiatives. A fundamental foundation of Dr Reinecke’s ongoing strategy has been leveraging local and international collaboration with Tertiary Education Institutes\, Military Research Organisations and industry. He currently serves on six international military research panels driving and supporting international government policies\, technology research and acquisition. Locally Dr. Reinecke is the interim founding chair of the Scientific Imaging Association of South Africa and is serving on the Aerospace\, Maritime and Defence Industries Association (AMD) sub-group working on the rejuvenation of the local military manufacturing base. He is an honorary lecturer at the University of Witwatersrand. \nAbstract: \nMilitary application of Autonomous Ground Vehicle (AGV) poses unique challenges to autonomous control systems. Computational modelling and simulation can be used to inform general engineering aspects of AGV design such as sensor location and orientation\, system dynamic response etc.\, as well train the autonomy perception module. A crucial and oft overlooked aspect to modeling and simulation is verification and validation of the complex models required. Models are built of the environment and all its elements\, the sensors\, the platform and of course the autonomy stack itself. Each of these needs to be built\, tested\, verified and validated. \nThis talk will present the CSIR Landward Sciences Impact Area’s journey to an off-road AGV mobility capability for the South African National Defence Force. The approach follows a collaborative parallel development of the computational model and the autonomy stack using both existing and in-development AGV’s and various software platforms\, with outcomes from international efforts to fast track the local capability establishment. \nThe talk will cover the development of the required digital environment\, the software used including Robotic Operation Systems (ROS)\, autonomy stack\, testing and the challenges each of these pose as well as an automated verification and validation code. \nREGISTER NOW
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/sacac-guest-lecture-challenges-developing-autonomous-ground-vehicle-capability-for-off-road-applications/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250813
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250814
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250611T101838Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250618T080200Z
UID:1584-1755043200-1755129599@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:Girls in Control Workshop - 13 August 2025
DESCRIPTION:The Girls in Control Workshop is an inspiring initiative originally launched by the International Federation for Automation and Control (IFAC) and proudly hosted across South Africa by the South African Council for Automation and Control (SACAC). Aimed at girls aged 14 to 15\, the workshop seeks to ignite a passion for control engineering and encourage careers in STEM. Participants engage in hands-on coding activities using Scratch\, explore key control theory concepts\, and learn about real-world control applications. The events also feature a motivational talk. A science tour and exhibitions round off the experience\, providing a tangible glimpse into the exciting world of science\, engineering and technology. \nhttps://www.ifac-control.org/areas/girls-in-control-gic-workshop-and-material \n 
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/girls-in-control-workshop-13-august-2025/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250807T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250808T163000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250512T075024Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250515T131500Z
UID:1498-1754553600-1754670600@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:Model-Based Control:  A Practical Approach
DESCRIPTION:PROGRAMME\n\n\n\nDay 1: An introduction to the concepts and theory of predictive control\n\n\n08:00 – 08:30\nRegistration\, Tea\, Coffee\n\n\n\n08:30 – 09:00\nWelcome\, Logistics\, Speaker Intro\nTobi Louw\n\n\n09:00 – 10:40\nIntroduction and concepts\nAnthony Rossiter\n\n\n\na. Why is MPC needed and what are the core principles and concepts underlying a good design? \nThis part of the workshop focuses on concepts rather than mathematical detail; a good graduate who understands the concepts properly will find the mathematics and effective design choices are largely self-evident.\nThis talk starts by looking at examples where a simple classical feedback approach fails and these form the motivation for more advanced strategies. Human approaches are dissected to gain an understanding of the core components and these insights are used to frame what is now commonly known as model predictive control. These insights are also used to outline some ‘best practice’ guidance in the implementation of predictive control.\n\n\n\n\nb. Conceptual introduction to the underlying mathematics for defining an MPC algorithm and simple MATLAB code. \nHaving set up the core concepts underlying MPC\, the next talk focuses on the mathematical and programming aspects\, that is\, how we implement this thinking in practice. Nevertheless\, the talk aims to focus on core assumptions and principles rather than going through the fine details of the algebra. Having defined the basic algorithm\, the talk then moves to what appears a contradictory statement which is a warning to naïve users: why does an off-the-shelf MPC algorithm often fail to perform well? This is supplemented with numerous MATLAB illustrations.\n\n\n\n10:40 – 11:00\nBreak\n\n\n\n11:00 – 12:40\nTuning and constraint handling\nAnthony Rossiter\n\n\n\na. Why the selection of the horizons in MPC (tuning) can easily be done poorly? How to tune an MPC approach systematically to get good a priori expectation of good behaviour? \nThe previous talk finished by emphasising that one can easily tune MPC poorly and users need to follow good guidance and understand the repercussions of different choices. This section begins by giving a large number of illustrations which demonstrate the conceptual thinking behind different choices and hence why some choices are good and others are bad. This section finishes with some outline guidance for systematic but simple tuning.\n\n\n\n\nb. Constraint handling in MPC \nA core reason for using MPC is the ability to incorporate constraint handling into the controller design systematically rather than using ad hoc post-design rules. This brief segment reiterates why that is important and introduces concisely the algebra required to do this for a GPC type of law. Constraint handling for dual-mode and other laws requires some modifications which will be largely self-evident but is not covered explicitly here.\n\n\n\n12:40 – 13:20\nLunch\n\n\n\n13:20 – 14:00\nStability and dual mode approaches\nAnthony Rossiter\n\n\n\na. Concepts of dual-mode MPC and why this now dominates the literature but not industrial practice \nThe talk on tuning may have raised many questions about whether we can avoid issues link to poor choices by a better initial design. The answer is provided here as dual-mode MPC approaches are introduced. However\, it is also noted that while these have much better analytical properties\, they are often ignored by industry due to the increased complexity and potential feasibility issues.\n\n\n\n14:00 – 14:40\nNonlinear systems\nAnthony Rossiter\n\n\n\na. Concepts of non-linear MPC and simple illustrations \nAll real systems are non-linear and yet most control strategies are based on linear modelling assumptions\, largely because many systems work in a relatively tight operating range for which a linear approximation is accurate enough. However\, what if that is not the case? A good property of MPC is that the extension to the non-linear case is straightforward and systematic\, but of course at the price of increased mathematical and computing complexity. This brief segment introduces the basic concepts of how a nonlinear MPC algorithm can be defined. Code is not provided as good code for NL MPC requires significant expertise to develop and is largely in the realm of a few specialists; you only go this route if the performance benefits are significant.\n\n\n\n14:40 – 15:00\nBreak\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\nDay 2: Mission: Optimisation – Linear and Nonlinear MPC in Action\n\n\n15:00 – 16:30\nPractical linear control – workshop introduction\nKevin Brooks\n\n\n15:00 – 16:30\nAn MPC Methodology that has been developed over many years and companies will be presented. This includes project phases and how to justify an MPC project. The design of an MPC will be discussed\, including the choice of MVs\, CVs\, DVs and optimisation objectives. The delegates will undertake two workshops: \nWorkshop 1 – MPC design for a flotation plant.\nWorkshop 2 – Build a simulator of the flotation system (software provided – bring a laptop).\n\n\n\n08:00 – 08:30\nRegistration\, Tea\, Coffee\n\n\n\n08:30 – 09:50\nStep testing a plant and model identification\nKevin Brooks\n\n\n\nWorkshop 2 will be completed.\n\n\n\n\nTypes of models used in MPC will be discussed. The step-testing phase will be demonstrated. To be a little different\, for workshop 3\, an ARX model based on given step test data will be built\, using either Matlab\, Python or Excel.\n\n\n\n09:50 – 11:00\nController simulation\nKevin Brooks\n\n\n\nThe simulation\, commissioning\, implementation and deployment of an MPC will be outlined. For workshop 4 a Controller will be built and verified.\n\n\n\n11:00 – 11:20\nBreak\n\n\n\n11:20 – 12:40\nPractical non-linear control – workshop introduction\nLoutjie Coetzee\n\n\n\nBuilding on the concept of linear model predictive control in the morning session\, we will look at an example of a grinding circuit feeding a flotation circuit to see where it may make sense to augment linear models with some nonlinear elements to better describe the behaviour of the grinding circuit for optimisation.\n\n\n\n12:40 – 13:20\nLunch\n\n\n\n13:20 – 15:00\nModelling in Star CS\nLoutjie Coetzee\n\n\n\nThis session will conduct practical modelling of a grinding circuit with nonlinear elements\, incorporating the concepts from the pre-lunch session. This will occur as a hands-on practical session in an industrial APC platform from Mintek\, called StarCS. \nThe modelling updates will cover nonlinear elements\, such as piece-wise linear\, nonlinear steady-state and even nonlinear economic objective functions\, which capture the flotation performance.\n\n\n\n15:00 – 15:20\nBreak\n\n\n\n15:20 – 16:15\nController Simulation in Star CS\nLoutjie Coetzee\n\n\n\nIn this final session\, we will continue the hands-on practical session by focussing on simulating the grinding circuit under nonlinear model predictive control and seeing how changes in the economics of the minerals processing plant affect the operating point that the real-time optimiser calculates and how the dynamic controller steers the process from the current steady-state to the new optimised steady-state.\n\n\n\n16:15 – 16:30\nWrap Up\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\nDay 1 resources \nAttendees might like to know that MATLAB online is now free to use for those without a license and this also allows some memory space where personal files can be stored.\nhttps://uk.mathworks.com/products/matlab-online.html \nThe workshop files are in a zip file and largely users can simply run and edit the script files directly as will be demonstrated during the workshop. The variables are defined within the script files in what we hope is an intuitive manner. However\, these files are deliberately simple and transparent for illustrative/educational purposes; hence they are not written to be robust against poor user choices and other possible errors such as infeasibility. A wider range of MATLAB files associated to the author’s book (A First Course in Predictive Control\, 2018\, Taylor and Francis) are also included in the zip file in a separate subfolder on the same webpage. Explanation of these is within the book but largely the ‘example’ files illustrate how to run and use the more complicated files. \nhttps://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/controleducation/mainindex\n(See chapter 8\, end of page)\n\n\n\n\nDay 2 resources \nTBC\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/model-based-control-a-practical-approach-2/
LOCATION:Stellenbosch University
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250804T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250805T163000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250512T074621Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T082209Z
UID:1493-1754294400-1754411400@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:Model-Based Control:  A Practical Approach
DESCRIPTION:PROGRAMME\n\n\n\nDay 1: An introduction to the concepts and theory of predictive control\n\n\n08:00 – 08:30\nRegistration\, Tea\, Coffee\n\n\n\n08:30 – 09:00\nWelcome\, Logistics\, Speaker Intro\nTobi Louw\n\n\n09:00 – 10:40\nIntroduction and concepts\nAnthony Rossiter\n\n\n\na. Why is MPC needed and what are the core principles and concepts underlying a good design? \nThis part of the workshop focuses on concepts rather than mathematical detail; a good graduate who understands the concepts properly will find the mathematics and effective design choices are largely self-evident.\nThis talk starts by looking at examples where a simple classical feedback approach fails and these form the motivation for more advanced strategies. Human approaches are dissected to gain an understanding of the core components and these insights are used to frame what is now commonly known as model predictive control. These insights are also used to outline some ‘best practice’ guidance in the implementation of predictive control.\n\n\n\n\nb. Conceptual introduction to the underlying mathematics for defining an MPC algorithm and simple MATLAB code. \nHaving set up the core concepts underlying MPC\, the next talk focuses on the mathematical and programming aspects\, that is\, how we implement this thinking in practice. Nevertheless\, the talk aims to focus on core assumptions and principles rather than going through the fine details of the algebra. Having defined the basic algorithm\, the talk then moves to what appears a contradictory statement which is a warning to naïve users: why does an off-the-shelf MPC algorithm often fail to perform well? This is supplemented with numerous MATLAB illustrations.\n\n\n\n10:40 – 11:00\nBreak\n\n\n\n11:00 – 12:40\nTuning and constraint handling\nAnthony Rossiter\n\n\n\na. Why the selection of the horizons in MPC (tuning) can easily be done poorly? How to tune an MPC approach systematically to get good a priori expectation of good behaviour? \nThe previous talk finished by emphasising that one can easily tune MPC poorly and users need to follow good guidance and understand the repercussions of different choices. This section begins by giving a large number of illustrations which demonstrate the conceptual thinking behind different choices and hence why some choices are good and others are bad. This section finishes with some outline guidance for systematic but simple tuning.\n\n\n\n\nb. Constraint handling in MPC \nA core reason for using MPC is the ability to incorporate constraint handling into the controller design systematically rather than using ad hoc post-design rules. This brief segment reiterates why that is important and introduces concisely the algebra required to do this for a GPC type of law. Constraint handling for dual-mode and other laws requires some modifications which will be largely self-evident but is not covered explicitly here.\n\n\n\n12:40 – 13:20\nLunch\n\n\n\n13:20 – 14:00\nStability and dual mode approaches\nAnthony Rossiter\n\n\n\na. Concepts of dual-mode MPC and why this now dominates the literature but not industrial practice \nThe talk on tuning may have raised many questions about whether we can avoid issues link to poor choices by a better initial design. The answer is provided here as dual-mode MPC approaches are introduced. However\, it is also noted that while these have much better analytical properties\, they are often ignored by industry due to the increased complexity and potential feasibility issues.\n\n\n\n14:00 – 14:40\nNonlinear systems\nAnthony Rossiter\n\n\n\na. Concepts of non-linear MPC and simple illustrations \nAll real systems are non-linear and yet most control strategies are based on linear modelling assumptions\, largely because many systems work in a relatively tight operating range for which a linear approximation is accurate enough. However\, what if that is not the case? A good property of MPC is that the extension to the non-linear case is straightforward and systematic\, but of course at the price of increased mathematical and computing complexity. This brief segment introduces the basic concepts of how a nonlinear MPC algorithm can be defined. Code is not provided as good code for NL MPC requires significant expertise to develop and is largely in the realm of a few specialists; you only go this route if the performance benefits are significant.\n\n\n\n14:40 – 15:00\nBreak\n\n\n\n15:00 – 16:30\nPractical linear control – workshop introduction\nKevin Brooks\n\n\n15:00 – 16:30\nAn MPC Methodology that has been developed over many years and companies will be presented. This includes project phases and how to justify an MPC project. The design of an MPC will be discussed\, including the choice of MVs\, CVs\, DVs and optimisation objectives. The delegates will undertake two workshops: \nWorkshop 1 – MPC design for a flotation plant.\nWorkshop 2 – Build a simulator of the flotation system (software provided – bring a laptop).\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\nDay 2: Mission: Optimisation – Linear and Nonlinear MPC in Action\n\n\n08:00 – 08:30\nRegistration\, Tea\, Coffee\n\n\n\n08:30 – 09:50\nStep testing a plant and model identification\nKevin Brooks\n\n\n\nWorkshop 2 will be completed.\n\n\n\n\nTypes of models used in MPC will be discussed. The step-testing phase will be demonstrated. To be a little different\, for workshop 3\, an ARX model based on given step test data will be built\, using either Matlab\, Python or Excel.\n\n\n\n09:50 – 11:00\nController simulation\nKevin Brooks\n\n\n\nThe simulation\, commissioning\, implementation and deployment of an MPC will be outlined. For workshop 4 a Controller will be built and verified.\n\n\n\n11:00 – 11:20\nBreak\n\n\n\n11:20 – 12:40\nPractical non-linear control – workshop introduction\nLoutjie Coetzee\n\n\n\nBuilding on the concept of linear model predictive control in the morning session\, we will look at an example of a grinding circuit feeding a flotation circuit to see where it may make sense to augment linear models with some nonlinear elements to better describe the behaviour of the grinding circuit for optimisation.\n\n\n\n12:40 – 13:20\nLunch\n\n\n\n13:20 – 15:00\nModelling in Star CS\nLoutjie Coetzee\n\n\n\nThis session will conduct practical modelling of a grinding circuit with nonlinear elements\, incorporating the concepts from the pre-lunch session. This will occur as a hands-on practical session in an industrial APC platform from Mintek\, called StarCS. \nThe modelling updates will cover nonlinear elements\, such as piece-wise linear\, nonlinear steady-state and even nonlinear economic objective functions\, which capture the flotation performance.\n\n\n\n15:00 – 15:20\nBreak\n\n\n\n15:20 – 16:15\nController Simulation in Star CS\nLoutjie Coetzee\n\n\n\nIn this final session\, we will continue the hands-on practical session by focussing on simulating the grinding circuit under nonlinear model predictive control and seeing how changes in the economics of the minerals processing plant affect the operating point that the real-time optimiser calculates and how the dynamic controller steers the process from the current steady-state to the new optimised steady-state.\n\n\n\n16:15 – 16:30\nWrap Up\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDay 1 resources \nAttendees might like to know that MATLAB online is now free to use for those without a license and this also allows some memory space where personal files can be stored.\nhttps://uk.mathworks.com/products/matlab-online.html \nThe workshop files are in a zip file and largely users can simply run and edit the script files directly as will be demonstrated during the workshop. The variables are defined within the script files in what we hope is an intuitive manner. However\, these files are deliberately simple and transparent for illustrative/educational purposes; hence they are not written to be robust against poor user choices and other possible errors such as infeasibility. A wider range of MATLAB files associated to the author’s book (A First Course in Predictive Control\, 2018\, Taylor and Francis) are also included in the zip file in a separate subfolder on the same webpage. Explanation of these is within the book but largely the ‘example’ files illustrate how to run and use the more complicated files. \nhttps://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/controleducation/mainindex\n(See chapter 8\, end of page)\n\n\nDay 2 resources \nTBC\n\n\n\nREGISTER NOW
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/model-based-control-a-practical-approach/
LOCATION:University of Pretoria
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250801T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250801T140000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250729T053816Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250729T053905Z
UID:1617-1754053200-1754056800@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:SACAC Guest Lecture: Modern AI for Process Control Practitioners
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/sacac-guest-lecture-modern-ai-for-process-control-practitioners/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250729
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250730
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250611T101607Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250618T080056Z
UID:1580-1753747200-1753833599@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:Girls in Control Workshop - 29 July 2025
DESCRIPTION:The Girls in Control Workshop is an inspiring initiative originally launched by the International Federation for Automation and Control (IFAC) and proudly hosted across South Africa by the South African Council for Automation and Control (SACAC). Aimed at girls aged 14 to 15\, the workshop seeks to ignite a passion for control engineering and encourage careers in STEM. Participants engage in hands-on coding activities using Scratch\, explore key control theory concepts\, and learn about real-world control applications. The events also feature a motivational talk. A science tour and exhibitions round off the experience\, providing a tangible glimpse into the exciting world of science\, engineering and technology. \nhttps://www.ifac-control.org/areas/girls-in-control-gic-workshop-and-material \n \n 
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/girls-in-control-workshop-29-july-2025/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250606T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250606T140000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250528T085003Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T085003Z
UID:1559-1749214800-1749218400@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:SACAC Guest Lecture: Myths\, Misconceptions\, and the Untapped Power of Academia-Industry Collaboration
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/sacac-guest-lecture-myths-misconceptions-and-the-untapped-power-of-academia-industry-collaboration/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250523
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250524
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250425T072042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250512T075957Z
UID:1474-1747958400-1748044799@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:SACAC Workshop:  Exploratory Data Analysis For Industrial Processes
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/sacac-workshop-exploratory-data-analysis-for-industrial-processes/
LOCATION:Stellenbosch Campus
ORGANIZER;CN="SACAC":MAILTO:secretariat@sacac.org.za
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250509T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250509T140000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250414T093549Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250414T093549Z
UID:1460-1746795600-1746799200@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:SACAC Guest Lecture – Industrial Automation Engineering in Water Infrastructure Asset Management
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/sacac-guest-lecture-industrial-automation-engineering-in-water-infrastructure-asset-management/
ORGANIZER;CN="SACAC":MAILTO:secretariat@sacac.org.za
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250404T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250404T140000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250314T123331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250314T123642Z
UID:1444-1743771600-1743775200@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:The Subtle Art of Mismatch: Data\, Multi-Fidelity\, Models\, Latent Spaces\, Objectives And Proxies
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/the-subtle-art-of-mismatch-data-multi-fidelity-models-latent-spaces-objectives-and-proxies/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250404
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250405
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250212T123402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250212T123402Z
UID:1409-1743724800-1743811199@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:Guest Lecture
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/guest-lecture-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250326
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250327
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250212T123322Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250212T123430Z
UID:1407-1742947200-1743033599@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:Girls in Control
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/girls-in-control/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250314T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250314T140000
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250311T065056Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250311T073817Z
UID:1426-1741957200-1741960800@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:Guest Lecture: How Does A Gas-Cooled Nuclear Reactor Work And How Do We Control It?
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/guest-lecture-how-does-a-gas-cooled-nuclear-reactor-work-and-how-do-we-control-it/
ORGANIZER;CN="SACAC":MAILTO:secretariat@sacac.org.za
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250307
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250308
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250212T123251Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250212T123251Z
UID:1405-1741305600-1741391999@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:Guest Lecture
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/guest-lecture/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250214
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250215
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20250212T123146Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250212T123146Z
UID:1403-1739491200-1739577599@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:SACAC AGM
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/sacac-agm-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241115
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241116
DTSTAMP:20260728T121251
CREATED:20240729T070710Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241104T054740Z
UID:1329-1731628800-1731715199@sacac.org.za
SUMMARY:CONTROL SYSTEMS DAY 2024
DESCRIPTION:The South African Council for Automation and Control is pleased to present \nCONTROL SYSTEMS DAY 2024 \nDate: 15 November 2024\nVenues: University of Pretoria\, University of Cape Town\, or online. \nThe Control Systems Day is a student symposium organised by the South-African Council for Automation and Control\, providing post-graduate students the opportunity to showcase their research in control engineering and related fields\, incl. process dynamics\, monitoring and control\, automation\, aerospace- and robotics systems and more. \nThe event will be held synchronously at the University of Pretoria and the University of Cape Town\, with streaming between the two events. In person attendance is strongly encouraged\, but online attendance is available for those who cannot make it to Pretoria or Cape Town. \nRegistration closes on the 25th of October. Students wishing to present their work must register by this deadline and submit a 300-word abstract by the 1st of November. Abstracts can be emailed to secretariat@sacac.org.za. \nRegistration is now Closed.
URL:https://sacac.org.za/event/control-systems-day-2024/
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR