David Jacobson, PwC‘s Director of Emerging Technologies, co-authors new book on Optimal Control Theory

July 26, 2010 – Dr David Jacobson, PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) Director of Emerging Technologies has completed his fifth book, called Primer on Optimal Control Theory, co-authored the book with Professor Jason Speyer of the University of California.

The book is of value to practitioners, researchers, professors and graduate students in the engineering, technology, aeronautics, defence, robotics, computer science, environmental sciences and automotive sectors. Written primarily for engineers and scientists, the book avoids abstract mathematical concepts and focuses more on a mathematical treatment suitable for practicing engineers in all industries.

“Every engineer’s objective is to design the best product or system and to get the highest operating performance, taking into account practical cost and engineering constraints,” says Jacobson. “The contemporary design of electrical, electronic, robotic and many other complex processes can be enhanced significantly using mathematical and computational techniques such as those covered in this new book.

“For example, design engineers need to make sure that they have their power-generating and distribution networks operating at peak performance,” he says. Jacobson uses the further example of commercial aviation and airlines’ need to determine what is the best way to economize on fuel usage. The book helps to determine the most effective controls and operating points to improve performance.

The book is published by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) in Philadelphia. For contents and author biographies please visit the book’s page on the SIAM website.