Department of Automation and Control Engineering

The Department of Automation and Control Engineering currently has 12 educational researchers, of whom 4 are professors and 2 are an associate professors. There are also 5 members of research staff. In both Bachelor's and Master's study the Department participates in teaching theoretical and specialized subjects within a degree course entitled Automation and Process Control that is part of a degree programme in Chemical and Process Engineering, as well as within degree courses entitled Automatic Control and Informatics (the Department acting as guarantor of this course) and Information Technologies that are part of a degree programme in Engineering Informatics. It is also responsible for teaching technical subjects within a degree course entitled Security Technologies, Systems and Management that is part of a degree programme in Engineering Informatics.

The following subjects are especially concerned: Automatic Control Theory I, Automatic Control Theory II, Microcomputers, Programming of Real-Time Applications, Geographic Information Systems, Programmable Automatons, Microcomputers and PLC, Multimedia, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning), Acoustics, Lighting, Building Physics, HVAC Systems, Intelligent Building Techniques, HVAC Measurement Techniques, Integrated System Design, Control and Information System Design, Dynamic System Modelling, Process Engineering I, and Process Engineering II, System Simulation, Technical Tools of Automation, Optimization Methods. The last two of the above mentioned subjects are also taught within some of the degree courses offered by the Faculty of Technology. The Department simultaneously participates in educating students in a Doctoral programme entitled Chemical and Process Engineering and its degree course in Technical Cybernetics.

Research and development activities of the Departmental staff are primarily focused on problems in the following fields:

• modern automatic control methods,
• application of computer control systems,
• modelling of technological processes with emphasis laid on using mathematical models for optimum process control in the tanning industry,
• optimization of heat supply.

One of the most remarkable achievements of the Department was conferring a Rolex Award for the research into modelling of technological processes in the tanning industry on one of its staff members in 1999. Also, several members of the Departmental staff were awarded a golden medal at the World Exhibition of Innovation, Research and New Technologies in Brussels.

The Departmental members are involved in research activities within a MEYS research project entitled "Modeling and Control of Processing Procedures of Natural and Synthetic Polymers" and a MEYS research project entitled "National Research Programme II" (cooperation with UNIS, a Brno based company). They lead research projects of the HEDF MEYS and participate in some standard and postdoctoral projects of the GACR. In the education and research sphere, the Department collaborates with numerous domestic and foreign establishments.

Also, the Departmental staff works in close liaison with industry, particularly the sectors of electrotechnical, machinery, chemical and foundry industries.