Belem Saldivar has a B.S. degree in electronics and telecommunications engineering; she has also a M.Sc. degree in Automatic Control and a conjoint Ph.D. degree in Automatic Control and in Informatics and Applications. Her research is focused on the analysis, modeling and control of finite and infinite-dimensional dynamical systems. Islam Bousaada has the B.S., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Mathematics. His research is focused on qualitative theory of differential equations and its applications, normal forms, nonlinear analysis and formal calculus. Hugues Mounier has the B.S. degree in computer science, M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in automatic control. His research interests include differentially flat systems, infinite dimensional systems (delay- and PDE-based), model free control, real time systems and their applications to the design of engineering systems. Silviu-Iulian Niculescu has the B.S., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Automatic Control. His research interests include delay systems, robust control, operator theory and numerical methods in optimization and their applications to the design of engineering systems.

• From the Contents: Introduction.- Part I Modelling.- An Overview of Drillstring Models.- Bit–Rock Frictional Interface.- Comprehensive Modelling of a Vertical Oilwell Drilling System.- Part II Analysis.- Neural-Type Time-Delay Systems: Theoretical Background.- Part III Control.- Field Observations and Empirical Drilling Control.- Low-Order Controllers.- Flatness-Based Control of Drilling Vibrations.

Belem Saldivar has a B.S. degree in electronics and telecommunications engineering; she has also a M.Sc. degree in Automatic Control and a conjoint Ph.D. degree in Automatic Control and in Informatics and Applications. Her research is focused on the analysis, modeling and control of finite and infinite-dimensional dynamical systems. Islam Bousaada has the B.S., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Mathematics. His research is focused on qualitative theory of differential equations and its applications, normal forms, nonlinear analysis and formal calculus. Hugues Mounier has the B.S. degree in computer science, M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in automatic control. His research interests include differentially flat systems, infinite dimensional systems (delay- and PDE-based), model free control, real time systems and their applications to the design of engineering systems. Silviu-Iulian Niculescu has the B.S., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Automatic Control. His research interests include delay systems, robust control, operator theory and numerical methods in optimization and their applications to the design of engineering systems.

• From the Contents: Introduction.- Part I Modelling.- An Overview of Drillstring Models.- Bit–Rock Frictional Interface.- Comprehensive Modelling of a Vertical Oilwell Drilling System.- Part II Analysis.- Neural-Type Time-Delay Systems: Theoretical Background.- Part III Control.- Field Observations and Empirical Drilling Control.- Low-Order Controllers.- Flatness-Based Control of Drilling Vibrations.

Belem Saldivar has a B.S. degree in electronics and telecommunications engineering; she has also a M.Sc. degree in Automatic Control and a conjoint Ph.D. degree in Automatic Control and in Informatics and Applications. Her research is focused on the analysis, modeling and control of finite and infinite-dimensional dynamical systems. Islam Bousaada has the B.S., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Mathematics. His research is focused on qualitative theory of differential equations and its applications, normal forms, nonlinear analysis and formal calculus. Hugues Mounier has the B.S. degree in computer science, M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in automatic control. His research interests include differentially flat systems, infinite dimensional systems (delay- and PDE-based), model free control, real time systems and their applications to the design of engineering systems. Silviu-Iulian Niculescu has the B.S., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Automatic Control. His research interests include delay systems, robust control, operator theory and numerical methods in optimization and their applications to the design of engineering systems.

• From the Contents: Introduction.- Part I Modelling.- An Overview of Drillstring Models.- Bit–Rock Frictional Interface.- Comprehensive Modelling of a Vertical Oilwell Drilling System.- Part II Analysis.- Neural-Type Time-Delay Systems: Theoretical Background.- Part III Control.- Field Observations and Empirical Drilling Control.- Low-Order Controllers.- Flatness-Based Control of Drilling Vibrations.