14th International Conference on Systems Science

Citation

Vallée, R. (2002), "14th International Conference on Systems Science", Kybernetes, Vol. 31 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.2002.06731bab.003

14th International Conference on Systems Science

The "14th International Conference on Systems Science" was held in Wroclaw (Poland) from September 11 to 14, 2001. It was organised by the Institute of Control and Systems Engineering of the Wroclaw University of Technology and by the Committee of Automation of the Wroclaw Branch the Polish Academy of Sciences. The Chairman was Professor Zdzislav Bubnicki, President of the Polish Committee of Automation (Polish Academy of Sciences). The "International Conference on Systems Science" started in 1977 and is held every year since 1980 on a rotational basis by three institutions: Wroclaw University of Technology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Coventry University (UK) and University of Nevada (USA).

At the opening session (Plate 1), on Tuesday September 11, after addresses by Professors Z. Bubnicki, R. Vallee (F) in the name of the World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics (WOSC), W.R. Wells (USA), D.J.G. James (UK), an award was presented to Prof. Lord A. Zadeh (USA) in recognition of his works on fuzzy logics. The following plenary session, chaired by Dr. Toshiharu Hasegawa (Japan), was devoted to a lecture by Prof. L.A. Zadeh entitled "Towards an enlargement of the role of natural languages in information processing, decision and control" (where he raised, among other points, the issues of epistemology and ethics). Dr. Mo. Jamshidi (USA) was not able unfortunately to deliver his lecture on "Autonomous control of complex systems, space and earth-bound applications").

Plate 1. Opening session – Panel members included: Professors Z. Bubnicki, Robert Vallée and D.J.H. James (Left to right)

Plate 2. Plenary lecture: Professor Lofti A. Zadeh delivers the Plenary Lecture after receiving the conference award for his works on fuzzy logic

On Wednesday 12, at the plenary session, chaired by William R. Wells, Drs. Yashuiko Takahara and Yongmei Liu (Japan) gave a lecture on MGST (Mathematical general systems theory) + extProlog = another operational UML for problem solving EUD" and then Dr. Z. Bubnicki delivered his lecture on "Uncertain logics, variables and systems" (in the vein of logics). In the afternoon, a special meeting of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Wroclaw Branch) was devoted to "Information and Systems Science" with addresses by R. Vallée about WOSC, D. Dubois (B) on CHAOS, W.R. Wells about INCOSE, Z. Bubnicki on IASTED, G.P. Rao (India) about GULS. The Conference Dinner was held at Hotel Park Plaza.

The plenary session of Thursday 13, chaired by Dr. D.J. Glyn James, was devoted to lectures by Dr. Robert Vallée on "Time and dynamical systems" (introducing the concept of internal duration of a system) and by Dr. Jan M. Maciejowski (UK) on "MPC: a paradigm shift for an automatic control" (presenting new ideas in a classical field).

The proceedings were distributed to participants at the beginning of the conference. Among the many communications, we quote in the sessions on "Systems and control engineering": Roman Kulikowski, "Optimum strategy in risky challenge model"; Ganti Prasada Rao and Darwish AI Gobaisi, "A systems and control perspective of sustainable development"; Yin Lin, "Differential and integral calculus on discrete time series data" (in absentia); William R. Wells, "Status of systems engineering education". In the sessions of "Technical applications": J.A.F. Vinsonneau, Derek N. Shields, Paul J. King, Keith J. Burnham, "Fault detection and modelling for an automotive engine"; S. Martineau, Keith J. Burnham, J.A. Minihan, Elena Gaura, Olivier C.L. Haas, "Design of a bilinear conpensator for industrial furnaces". For "Systems theory" sessions: Tadeusz Kaczorek, "feedback holdability of singular discretetime linear systems"; Daniel M. Dubois, "Theory of incursive synchronization and application to the anticipation of a delayed Pearl-Verhulst chaotic system". In sessions devoted to "Control theory", "Non technical applications", "Acalutaritei networks in biological and economic systems": Zdzislaw Bubnicki and Blazej Fitrzyk, "Application of uncertain variables to stability analysis for a class of discrete uncertain systems"; Lidia Cristea and Eufrosina Otlacan, "The optimum relation between income and expenses in educational management"; Gavril Acalutaritei, "Structure of ecospheric Acalugaritei network" (in absentia); Eufrosma Otlacan and Romulus-Petru Otlacan, "Mathematical models for biological networks".

Apart from the scientific activities the participants had the opportunity to visit Wroclaw and appreciate not only the historical monuments but also the recent architectural innovations.

Robert Vallée