A practical open-source approach to Model Predictive Control using the Legendre–Gauss–Radau pseudospectral method
In a world increasingly reliant on technologies that sense and respond to their environment—from thermostats to energy grids—predictive capabilities are critical. However, uncertainties and complexity often hinder the adoption of advanced strategies like Model Predictive Control (MPC), leading many industries to rely on simpler, less effective methods. This paper presents a practical, open-source software tool based on the Legendre–Gauss–Radau pseudospectral method, designed to streamline MPC implementation. The software handles dynamics, constraints, and objectives efficiently while supporting black-box systems. A case study in this paper demonstrates its effectiveness, with additional examples in the supplementary material validating its versatility. • An open-source software tool streamlines the implementation of Model Predictive Control (MPC). • The Legendre–Gauss–Radau pseudospectral method is used to convert dynamic systems into nonlinear programming problems. • Supports both symbolic and black-box system dynamics for wide applicability. • Offers modular architecture enabling users to define dynamics, constraints, and objectives independently. • Demonstrates effectiveness through case studies and examples, with additional material provided online.
Authors
- Saeid Bayat (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7697-208X)
- James T. Allison (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2054-836X)
Institutions
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Software Impacts
- Published
- 2025-05-22
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.simpa.2025.100769
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Control Systems Optimization
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.21
Funders
- Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy