Machines can be controlled using advanced control systems that implement an automated version of singular spectrum analysis (SSA). For example, a control system can perform SSA on a time series having one or more time-dependent variables by: generating a trajectory matrix from the time series, performing singular value decomposition on the trajectory matrix to determine elementary matrices; and categorizing the elementary matrices into groups. The elementary matrices can be automatically categorized into the groups by: generating one or more w-correlation matrices based on spectral components associated with the time series, determining w-correlation values based on the one or more w-correlation matrices; categorizing the w-correlation values into a predefined number of w-correlation sets, and forming the groups based on the predefined number of w-correlation sets. The control system can then generate a predictive forecast using the groups and control operation of a machine using the predictive forecast.