Controller robustness is always a major concern. A controller that meets certain performance design objectives cannot be satisfactory unless it can preserve such quality in the presence of expected uncertainties. For nuclear reactors, a controller that preserves stability and performance for a wide range of operating conditions and disturbances is especially desirable. This paper presents the design of a robust controller using the linear quadratic gaussian with loop transfer recovery (LQG/ LTR) for nuclear reactors with the objective of keeping a desirable performance for reactor fuel temperature and temperature of the coolant leaving the reactor for a wide range of reactor power. The obtained results are compared to an observer-based state feedback optimal reactor temperature controller. Sensitivity analysis of the dominant closed-loop eigenvalues and nonlinear simulation are used to demonstrate and compare the performance and robustness of the two controllers. The LQG/LTR approach is systematic, methodical, easy to design, and can give improved temperature performance over a wide range of reactor operation.

Flooding is one of the most frequent and costly natural disasters affecting mankind. However, implementing Internet of Things (IoT) technology to monitor river behavior may help mitigate or prevent future disasters. This article outlines the hardware development of an IoT system (RiverCore) and defines an application scenario in a specific hydrological region of the state of Colima (Mexico), highlighting the characteristics of data acquisition and data processing used. Both fixed position and moving drifter node systems are described along with web-based data acquisition platform developments integrated with IoT techniques to retrieve data through 3G cellular networks. The developed architecture uses the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol, along with encryption and security mechanisms, to send real-time data packages from fixed nodes to a server that stores retrieved data in a non-relational database. From this, data can be accessed and displayed through different customizable queries and graphical representations, allowing future use in flood analysis and prediction systems. All of these features are presented along with graphical evidence of the deployment of the different devices and of several cellular communication and on-site data acquisition tests.

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