Abstract: In order to improve the dynamic feature and static accuracy of tidal model system, it is necessary to obtain an accurate dynamic model and select a rational control strategy. In this paper, the modelling and adaptive control for tidal model system are studied in detail with the water level and water flow being controlled variables. The weighting minimum variance self-tuning regulator is designed to obtain a high accuracy control for the tidal model system. A new parameter estimation method is used to increase the accuracy. The adoption of "fogetting factor" in the method can avoid the data saturation and improve the robustness. Both simulations and application have proved that the new control strategy is sucessful.

Key words: fogetting factor, parameter estimation, tidal model, hydraulic model, adaptive control