Incorporating simulation into building systems control logic

We present a prototypically implemented and empirically tested daylight-responsive lighting systems control in buildings that makes use of realtime sensing and lighting simulation. This system can control the position of window blinds and the status  of the luminaires. It operates as follows: (1) At regular time intervals, the system considers a set of candidate control states for the subsequent time step; (2) These alternatives are then virtually enacted via lighting simulation. (3) The simulation results are compared and ranked according to the preferences (objective function) specified by the occupants and/or facility manager to identify the candidate control state with the most desirable performance.