Optimal diagonal scaling for infinity-norm optimization

A solution is presented for the previously unsolved diagonally scaled multivariable infinity-norm optimization problem of minimizing D(s)(A(s) + Ψ(s) X(s))D⁻¹(s)_∞ over the set of stable minimum-phase diagonal D(s) and stable X(s). This problem is of central importance in the synthesis of feedback control laws for robust stability and insensitivity in the presence of ‘structured’ plant uncertainty. The result facilitates the design of feedback controllers which optimize the ‘excess stability margin’ [3] (or, equivalently, the ‘structured singular value μ’ [4]) of diagonally perturbed feedback systems.     

Computation of the robustness margin with the skewed μ tool

Methods for the direct computation of the maximal structured singular value (s.s.v.) over the frequency range require a recursive application of μ analysis. Introducing the v measure as a skewed s.s.v., we point out the problem can be solved by a single application of the v tool. A mixed v upper bound is then proposed, which provides a direct solution to the problem. The relationship between the mixed μ and v upper bounds is moreover clarified. The nonnegativity of the sensitivity of the mixed μ upper bound is finally obtained as a corollary.     

A Multivariable Two-Degree-Of-Freedom Control Methodology

This paper presents a two-degree-of-freedom design methodology based on a decoupling scheme. The proposed scheme is derived from the Youla parametrization and leads to a two-step design procedure. In the first step, a model-matching approach is proposed in order to set the desired nominal tracking objectives, while in the second step, μ-synthesis techniques are used in order to deal with the robust performance objectives. Special attention is paid to the robust tracking problem. For unstructured uncertainty, the most significant feature of the proposed design is that robust tracking requirements can be achieved, in a satisfactory way, by a simple H_∞ optimization. We carry out the design example on an ill-conditioned plant.     

Robust control for nonlinear systems with structured 2-gain bounded uncertainty

This paper focuses on the problem of robust control design for uncertain nonlinear systems with ₂-gain bounded dynamic uncertainty and periodically time-varying memoryless uncertainty. The robust performance problem is solved via nonlinear ^∞ control with scaling factors. It is shown that the scaling factors can be functions of state variables in contrast with linear robust control.     

Controller synthesis via the 4-polynomial approach

In some recent work it was shown that to stabilize systems with real parameter uncertainty it suffices to find a controller that simultaneously stabilizes a finite number of polynomials. These polynomials include those generated from the ‘vertex’ plants as well as some generated by some ‘fictitious’ vertex plants that involve the controller. This paper deals with the issues of existence of such a controller, controller synthesis, and conservativeness of the design. It is shown how this approach can ‘enhance’ the stability robustness of an H_∞ design.     

Robust stabilization of infinite dimensional systems by finite dimensional controllers

The problem of robustly stabilizing an infinite dimensional system with transfer function G, subject to an additive perturbation Δ is considered. It is assumed that: G ε ₀(σ) of systems introduced by Callier and Desoer [3]; the perturbation satisfies |W₁ΔW₂| < ε, where W₁ and W₂ are stable and minimum phase; and G and G + Δ have the same number of poles in ⁺. Now write W₁GW₂=G₁ + G₁, where G₁ is rational and totally unstable and G₂ is stable. Generalizing the finite dimensional results of Glover [12] this family of perturbed systems is shown to be stabilizable if and only if ε σ_min (G^*₁)( = the smallest Hankel singular value of G^*₁). A finite dimensional stabilizing controller is then given by where 2 is a rational approximation of G₂ such that

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) and K₁ robustly stabilizes G₁ to margin ε. The feedback system (G, K) will then be stable if |W₁ΔW₂| _∞< ε − Δ.     

Robust control of a class of uncertain nonlinear systems

This paper considers the robust control of a class of nonlinear systems with real time-varying parameter uncertainty. Interest is focused on the design of linear dynamic output feedback control and two problems are addressed. The first one is the robust stabilization and the other is the problem of robust performance in an H_∞ sense. A technique is proposed for designing stabilizing controllers for both problems by converting them into ‘scaled’ H_∞ control problems which do not involve parameter uncertainty.     

Robust H∞ control for linear discrete-time systems with norm-bounded time-varying uncertainty

The problem of robust H_∞ analysis and synthesis for linear discrete-time systems with norm-bounded time-varying uncertainty is studied in this paper. It will be shown that this problem is equivalent to the problem of H_∞ analysis and synthesis of an auxiliary system. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the equivalency are proved. Thus the original problem can be solved by existing H_∞ control methods.     

Hurwitz testing sets for parallel polytopes of polynomials

In considering robustness of linear systems with uncertain paramenters, one is lead to consider simultaneous stability of families of polynomials. Efficient Hurwitz stability tests for polytopes of polynomials have earlier been developed using evaluations on the imaginary axis. This paper gives a stability criterion for parallel polytopes in terms of Hurwitz stability of a number of corners and edges. The ‘testing set’ of edges and corners depends entirely on the edge directions of the polytope, hence the results are particularly applicable in simultaneous analysis of several polytopes with equal edge directions.It follows as a consequence, that Kharitonov's four polynomial test for independent coefficient uncertainties is replaced by a test of 2q polynomials, when the stability region is a sector Ω = { e^iv | > 0, rπ/q < | v | ≤ π } and r/q is a rational number.     

Job scheduling to minimize expected weighted flowtime on uniform processors

We consider a sequencing problem in which there are n jobs to be processed nonpreemptively on m nonidentical processors. The processing time of the j-th processor is exponentially distributed with rate μ_j, where μ₁μ₂μ_m. Job i incurs a holding cost at rate c_i per unit time while still in the system, where c₁c₂c_n. We show that to minimize total expected holding costs (weighted flowtime), it is optimal to take the fastest (lowest indexed) available processor, say processor j, and assign job k to it if k>(Σ_i^j−₁μ_i)/μ_j−j k−1. After each assignment the jobs are renumbered (so that job k+1 becomes job k, etc.), and the procedure is repeated with the next fastest available processor, etc. Note that the policy does not depend on the values of the holding costs c_i. This result is a generalization of the result of Agrawala et al. (1984) for minimizing expected flowtime, i.e., minimizing total holding cost when the holding costs of all the jobs are the same. We give a simpler proof of the more general result.     

Robust feedforward design for a two-degrees of freedom controller

In this paper we address the problem of designing the feedforward block of a two degrees of freedom controller in the case of single input single output (SISO) discrete-time linear systems with model uncertainty. In this work the design of the feedforward filter is formulated as a robust model matching problem. First, a closed form solution of the optimal noncausal filter, which minimizes the worst-case model matching error for each ω[0,2π], is obtained. Then, suitable rational stable approximations of the optimal solution are derived either by means of causal filters or, when a preview of the reference signal is available, by means of noncausal FIR filters. The efficiency of the proposed method is tested on a simulated example.     

Robust state feedback synthesis for control of non-square multivariable nonlinear systems

In this paper, a robust nonlinear controller is designed in the Input/Output (I/O) linearization framework, for non-square multivariable nonlinear systems that have more inputs than outputs and are subject to parametric uncertainty. A nonlinear state feedback is synthesized that approximately linearizes the system in an I/O sense by solving a convex optimization problem online. A robust controller is designed for the linear uncertain subsystem using a multi-model H₂/H_∞ synthesis approach to ensure robust stability and performance of non-square multivariable, nonlinear systems. This methodology is illustrated via simulation of a regulation problem in a continuous stirred tank reactor.     

Nonlinear robust H∞ control via dynamic output feedback

The problem on robust H_∞ control for a class of nonlinear systems with parameter uncertainty is studied. Sufficient conditions for the existence of the dynamic output feedback controller are obtained. Under these conditions, the closed-loop systems have robust H_∞-performance. A numerical example is given to illustrate the design of a robust controller using the proposed approach.     

A new test against an umbrella alternative and the associated simultaneous confidence intervals

For the usual balanced one-way fixed effects analysis of variance (ANOVA) model, a new test of the null hypothesis H₀: μ₁==μ_k against the umbrella alternative H_h:μ₁≤≤μ_h≥≥μ_k with at least one strict inequality is proposed. More usefully, this new test can be easily inverted to produce a set of one-sided simultaneous confidence intervals (SCIs) for all the ordered pairwise differences μ_j−μ_i for 1≤i<j≤h and h≤j<i≤k, and therefore enables the experimenter to infer which μ_i's are different when H₀ is rejected. A table of critical values is provided to allow immediate and simple implementation of this new inference procedure.     

Robust controller design for temperature tracking problems in jacketed batch reactors

There is an increasing trend to employ advanced instrumentation and control strategies for batch processes where expensive products are being manufactured. In this paper, a robust nonlinear control strategy is developed for temperature tracking problems in batch reactors in the presence of parametric uncertainty. The controller has a multi-loop feedback configuration. An inner loop is designed for approximate input–output linearization of a nominal plant. The outer loop is designed for stability and robust performance by utilizing results from structured singular values (μ-synthesis). It is shown via simulation of a temperature tracking problem in batch synthesis that the controller provides excellent tracking despite parametric uncertainty.     

Discrete-time linear periodic systems: A note on the reachability and controllability interval length

Discrete-time linear systems with periodic coefficients of period T are considered in this paper. The reachability and controllability indices at time t for periodic systems, μ_rt and μ_ct, are defined. It is shown that the reachability [controllability] subspace at time t does coincide with the reachability [controllability] subspace over the interval (t − μ_rt,T, t) [(t, t + μ_ct.,T)] and properly includes the reachability [controllability] subspace over the interval (t −(μ_rt−1) T, t) [(t, t +(μ_cr−1)T)].     

On the weighted sensitivity minimization problem for delay systems

We consider the H^∞-optimal sensitivity problem for delay systems. In particular, we consider computation of μ:= inf {|W-φq|_∞ : q ε H^∞(j )} where W(s) is any function in RH^∞(j ), and φ in H^∞(j ) is any inner function. We derive a new explicit solution in the pure delay case where φ = e^−sh, h > 0.     

Decentralized state-feedback stabilization and robust control of uncertain large-scale systems with integrally constrained interconnections

This paper is concerned with a problem of stabilization and robust control design for interconnected uncertain systems. A new class of uncertain large-scale systems is considered in which interconnections between subsystems as well as uncertainties in each subsystem are described by integral quadratic constraints. The problem is to design a set of local (decentralized) controllers which stabilize the overall system and guarantee robust disturbance attenuation in the presence of the uncertainty in interconnections between subsystems as well as in each subsystem. The paper presents necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of such a controller. The proposed design is based on recent absolute stabilization and minimax optimal control results and employs solutions of a set of game-type Riccati algebraic equations arising in H_∞ control.     

On the pole location of a system designed by robust stability-degree assignment

In this paper, we examine the pole location of the feedback system composed of the nominal plant and the H_∞ central controller designed by the robust stability-degree assignment. Namely, the exact pole location at γ=∞ and the behavior near the infimum of γ are clarified where γ is the upper bound of the H_∞ norm constraint. The original design goal is to stabilize the plant against additive perturbations with the regional pole placement condition Re s<−α, and the design problem is reduced to the one-block H_∞ control problem.