Semi-global finite-time observers for nonlinear systems

It is well known that high gain observers exist for single output nonlinear systems that are uniformly observable and globally Lipschitzian. Under the same conditions, we show that these systems admit semi-global and finite-time converging observers. This is achieved with a derivation of a new sufficient condition for local finite-time stability, in conjunction with applications of geometric homogeneity and Lyapunov theories.     

Sliding-mode observers for systems with unknown inputs: A high-gain approach

Sliding-mode observers can be constructed for systems with unknown inputs if the so-called observer matching condition is satisfied. However, most systems do not satisfy this condition. To construct sliding-mode observers for systems that do not satisfy the observer matching condition, auxiliary outputs are generated using high-gain approximate differentiators and then employed in the design of sliding-mode observers. The state estimation error of the proposed high-gain approximate differentiator based sliding-mode observer is shown to be uniformly ultimately bounded with respect to a ball whose radius is a function of design parameters. Finally, the unknown input reconstruction using the proposed observer is analyzed and then illustrated with a numerical example.     

Nonlinear sliding mode high-gain observers for fault estimation

A robust high gain observer for state and unknown inputs/faults estimations for a special class of nonlinear systems is developed in this article. Ensuring the observability of the faults/unknown inputs with respect to the outputs, the faults can be estimated from the sliding surface. Under a Lipschitz condition for the nonlinear part, the high gain observers are designed under some regularity assumptions. In the sliding mode, the convergence of the estimation error dynamics is proven similar to the analysis of high-gain observers.     

Finite-time estimation for linear time-delay systems via homogeneous method

This paper presents a finite-time observer for linear time-delay systems with commensurate delay. Unlike the existing observers in the literature which converge asymptotically, the proposed observer provides a finite-time estimation. This is realised by using the well-known homogeneous technique, and the results are also extended to investigate the estimation problem for linear time-delay systems with unknown inputs. Simulation results are presented in order to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method.     

Recursive design of finite-time convergent observers for a class of time-varying nonlinear systems

This paper considers the problem of designing globally finite-time convergent observers for a class of nonlinear systems with time-varying and output-dependent coefficients, which make the existing design approaches inapplicable. To solve this problem, a bottom-up design approach is first employed to recursively construct a finite-time convergent observer with time-varying coefficients for the nominal system. Then, using the homogeneous domination approach, we scale the finite-time convergent observer with an appropriate choice of gain for the original nonlinear system satisfying a Hölder condition. In addition, we show that the Hölder condition imposed on the nonlinearities can be removed for nonlinear systems with bounded trajectories.     

Robust finite-time containment control for high-order multi-agent systems with matched uncertainties under directed communication graphs

In this paper, we study the robust finite-time containment control problem for a class of high-order uncertain nonlinear multi-agent systems modelled as high-order integrator systems with bounded matched uncertainties. When relative state information between neighbouring agents is available, an observer-based distributed controller is proposed for each follower using the sliding mode control technique which solves the finite-time containment control problem under general directed communication graphs. When only relative output information is available, robust exact differentiators and high-order sliding-mode controllers are employed together with the distributed finite-time observers. It is shown that robust finite-time containment control can still be achieved in this situation. An application in the coordination of multiple non-holonomic mobile robots is used as an example to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategies.     

Finite-time observers for multi-agent systems without velocity measurements and with input saturations

This paper is devoted to the distributed finite-time observers for multi-agent systems, where the control inputs are required to be bounded and the velocities are assumed to be not available for feedback. An effective framework through defining a class of coordinated saturation functions is introduced, under which both a first-order finite-time observer and a high-order finite-time observer are constructed. By applying the homogeneous theory for stability analysis, it is proven that all the states of the followers can converge to that of the leader in finite time under our proposed observers. With mild modifications of our control strategies, the foregoing results are then extended to the distributed finite-time containment control problem, where the states of the followers converge to the convex hull spanned by the multiple dynamic leaders. Numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of our methods.     

Finite-time stabilization by state feedback control for a class of time-varying nonlinear systems

In this paper, finite-time stabilization is considered for a class of nonlinear systems dominated by a lower-triangular model with a time-varying gain. Based on the finite-time Lyapunov stability theorem and dynamic gain control design approach, state feedback finite-time stabilization controllers are proposed with gains being tuned online by two dynamic equations. Different from many existing finite-time control designs for lower-triangular nonlinear systems, the celebrated backstepping method is not utilized here. It is observed that our design procedure is much simpler, and the resulting control gains are in general not as high as those provided by the backstepping method. A simulation example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design procedure.     

一类带不确定输入动态非线性系统的输出反馈鲁棒镇定

研究一类带不确定输入动态非线性系统的输出反馈鲁棒镇定问题.通过在高增益观测器引入新的设计参数,改进了通常的高增益反馈控制的设计方法.在输入动态满足零相对阶最小相位的假设下,基于非分离设计原则给出了动态输出反馈控制器的设计方法,所设计的控制器实现了对任意可允许不确定输入动态的全局鲁棒镇定.     

A separation principle for a class of non-UCO systems

This paper introduces a new approach to output feedback stabilization of single-input-single-output systems which, unlike other techniques found in the literature, does not use quasilinear high-gain observers and control input saturation to achieve separation between the state feedback and observer designs. Rather, we show that by using nonlinear high-gain observers working in state coordinates, together with a dynamic projection algorithm, the same kind of separation principle is achieved for a larger class of systems which are not uniformly completely observable. By working in state coordinates, this approach avoids using knowledge of the inverse of the observability mapping to estimate the state of the plant, which is otherwise needed when using high-gain observers to estimate the output time derivatives.     

转移概率部分未知时滞跳变系统有限时间控制

时滞是许多工业系统的固有特性,会导致系统控制性能的下降,甚至影响系统稳定,而在实际系统中,有限时间系统的特性更值得关注。针对上述情况,对一类具有时滞的马尔可夫跳变系统有限时间控制器设计的问题进行了研究。把转移概率完全已知的条件放宽至部分未知的更一般情形,采用自由权重的方法,保证所得的线性矩阵不等式具有更小的保守性。首先,给出马尔科夫跳变系统有限时间有界性、有限时间 H无穷有界性的判定准则。然后,通过对线性矩阵不等式(LMIs)求解,获得状态观测器和状态反馈控制器的增益矩阵。最后,仿真实例验证所提算法的有效性。     

Finite-time consensus algorithm for multi-agent systems with double-integrator dynamics

In this paper, we discuss the finite-time consensus problem for leaderless and leader–follower multi-agent systems with external disturbances. Based on the finite-time control technique, continuous distributed control algorithms are designed for these agents described by double integrators. Firstly, for the leaderless multi-agent systems, it is shown that the states of all agents can reach a consensus in finite time in the absence of disturbances. In the presence of disturbances, the steady-state errors of any two agents can reach a region in finite time. Secondly, for the leader–follower multi-agent systems, finite-time consensus algorithms are also designed based on distributed finite-time observers. Rigorous proof is given by using Lyapunov theory and graph theory. Finally, one example is employed to verify the efficiency of the proposed method.     

Smooth sliding-mode observers for specific growth rate and substrate from biomass measurement

This paper addresses the estimation of specific growth rate and substrate concentration from biomass measurements in fermentation processes. Specifically, sliding-mode observers are proposed, for which finite-time global convergence is demonstrated using Lyapunov stability theory and concepts of variable structure systems. Two observers are developed for specific growth rate estimation, one producing a discontinuous estimation which is used afterwards for substrate estimation, and the other one – based on high-gain observers – that generates a smooth estimation with first-order dynamics and finite-time bounded convergence error. In the case of substrate estimation, an observer that increases the convergence rate to a vicinity of the real substrate concentration while achieving asymptotic convergence despite kinetic model uncertainties in properly excited processes is designed. This observer also exhibits first-order dynamics.     

Global finite-time control for a class of switched nonlinear systems with different powers via output feedback

This paper is concerned with the problem of global finite-time control for switched nonlinear systems whose nonlinear terms satisfy homogenous growth conditions. At first, we design homogenous output feedback controllers for nominal switched nonlinear systems by adding a power integrator method. Then, we employ the homogeneous domination approach to scale homogeneous observers and controllers to render switched nonlinear systems with lower-triangular homogenous growth condition globally finite-time stable. Finally, the proposed control method can be extended to switched nonlinear systems satisfying with upper-triangular homogeneous growth condition. Two examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.     

High-gain observers in the presence of measurement noise: A switched-gain approach

This paper considers output feedback control using high-gain observers in the presence of measurement noise for a class of nonlinear systems. We study stability in the presence of measurement noise and illustrate the tradeoff when selecting the observer gain between state reconstruction speed and robustness to model uncertainty on the one hand versus amplification of noise on the other. Based on this tradeoff we propose a high-gain observer that switches between two gain values. This scheme is able to quickly recover the system states during large estimation error and reduce the effect of measurement noise in a neighborhood of the origin of the estimation error. We argue boundedness and ultimate boundedness of the closed-loop system under switched-gain output feedback.     

An approach to design semi-global finite-time observers for a class of nonlinear systems

In this paper, the problem of designing semi-global finite-time observers for a class of nonlinear systems is investigated. Based on the theories of finite-time stability, an approach to designing semi-global finite-time observers for the nonlinear systems is presented. It has been shown that, after the finite time, the designed finite-time observer realizes the accurate reconstruction of the states of the nonlinear system. A numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness and validity of the met...     

Global finite-time output feedback stabilisation for a class of uncertain nontriangular nonlinear systems

This article addresses the problem of global finite-time output feedback stabilisation for a class of nonlinear systems in nontriangular form with an unknown output function. Since the output function is not precisely known, traditional observers based on the output is not implementable. We first design a state observer and use the observer states to construct a controller to globally stabilise the nominal system without the perturbing nonlinearities. Then, we apply the homogeneous domination approach to design a scaled homogeneous observer and controller with an appropriate choice of gain to render the nonlinear system globally finite-time stable.     

Finite-time control of linear parameter-varying systems with norm-bounded exogenous disturbance

In this paper, a new approach is presented for finite-time control problems for linear systems subject to time-varying parametric uncertainties and exogenous disturbance. The disturbance is assumed to be time varying and bounded. Sufficient conditions are obtained for the existence of a linear parameter-dependent state feedback gain, which can ensure that the closed-loop system is finite-time bounded （FTB）. The conditions can be reduced to feasibility problems involving LMIs. Numerical examples show the validity of the proposed methodology.     

具有未知动态的船舶编队输出反馈控制

研究了仅利用相对位置信息和相对航向信息的船舶编队输出反馈控制问题.首先使用leader-follower策略,建立了船舶编队的运动学模型.然后应用微分同胚变换将系统解耦成3个子系统.根据船舶低频运动的特点,在跟随船水动力学模型中粘性水动力和力矩未知以及所有船舶速度都不可测量的假定下,提出了一种高增益广义比例积分观测器来估计这些未知和不可测量动态.在高增益广义比例积分观测器的基础上,分别设计了线性输出反馈控制器和输入饱和受限的输出反馈控制器,并分析了闭环系统的稳定性.最后仿真结果表明了方法的有效性.     

Finite-time control of linear parameter-varying systems with norm-bounded exogenous disturbance

In this paper, a new approach is presented for finite-time control problems for linear systems subject to time-varying parametric uncertainties and exogenous disturbance. The disturbance is assumed to be time varying and bounded. Sufficient conditions are obtained for the existence of a linear parameter-dependent state feedback gain, which can ensure that the closed-loop system is finite-time bounded (FTB). The conditions can be reduced to feasibility problems involving LMIs. Numerical examples show the validity of the proposed methodology.