ABSTRACT
The subject of flow control — particularly reactive flow control — is broadly introduced in this chapter, leaving some of the details to other chapters in this as well as in the other two volumes, which will deal
with the issues of control theory, distributed and optimal control, soft computing tools such as neural networks, genetic algorithms and fuzzy logic, diagnostic and control of turbulent flows, and futuristic control specifically targeting the coherent structures in turbulent flows. Distributed flow control can greatly benefit from the availability of inexpensive microsensors and microactuators, hence the relevance of this topic to the Handbook of MEMS. In reactive control of turbulent flows, large arrays of minute sensors and actuators form feedback or feedforward control loops, which have a performance that can be enhanced by employing optimized control algorithms and soft computing tools, hence the inclusion in this book of chapters on these specialized topics.
