Adaptive synchronisation of unknown nonlinear networked systems with prescribed performance

This paper proposes an adaptive tracking control with prescribed performance function for distributive cooperative control of highly nonlinear multi-agent systems. The use of such approach confines the tracking error within a large predefined set to a predefined smaller set. The key idea is to transform the constrained system into unconstrained one through the transformation of the output error. Agents’ dynamics are assumed unknown, and the controller is developed for a strongly connected structured network. The proposed controller allows all agents to follow the trajectory of the leader node, while satisfying the necessary dynamic requirements. The proposed approach guarantees uniform ultimate boundedness for the transformed error as well as a bounded adaptive estimate of the unknown parameters and dynamics. Simulations include two examples to validate the robustness and smoothness of the proposed controller against highly nonlinear heterogeneous multi-agent system with uncertain time-variant parameters and external disturbances.     

Neuro-adaptive cooperative tracking control of unknown higher-order affine nonlinear systems

In this paper we propose a practical design method for distributed cooperative tracking control of a class of higher-order nonlinear multi-agent systems. Dynamics of the agents (also called the nodes) are assumed to be unknown to the controller and are estimated using Neural Networks. Linearization-based robust neuro-adaptive controller driving the follower nodes to track the trajectory of the leader node is proposed. The nodes are connected through a weighted directed graph with a time-invariant topology. In addition to the fact that only few nodes have access to the leader, communication among the follower nodes is limited with some nodes having access to the information of their neighbor nodes only. Command generated by the leader node is ultimately followed by the followers with bounded synchronization error. The proposed controller is well-defined in the sense that control effort is restrained to practical limits. The closed-loop system dynamics are proved to be stable and simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.     

多智能体系统自适应跟踪控制

基于带有非线性动态的二阶多智能体系统,研究了在有动态领导者条件下的跟踪一致性问题。假设跟随者只能获取邻居智能体的相对状态信息,只有一部分跟随者可以获得领导者的位置和速度信息,领导者的控制输入非零且不被任何一个跟随者可知。在通信拓扑为无向连通图的条件下,为了避免全局信息的不确定性,设计了分布式自适应控制协议。将系统的一致性问题转化为误差系统的一致性问题,通过Lyapunov稳定性理论和矩阵理论分析得到了该协议使系统达到一致的充分条件。最后用仿真例子证明了设计方法的有效性。     

Distributed adaptive output feedback tracking control for a class of uncertain nonlinear multi-agent systems

This paper addresses the distributed output feedback tracking control problem for multi-agent systems with higher order nonlinear non-strict-feedback dynamics and directed communication graphs. The existing works usually design a distributed consensus controller using all the states of each agent, which are often immeasurable, especially in nonlinear systems. In this paper, based only on the relative output between itself and its neighbours, a distributed adaptive consensus control law is proposed for each agent using the backstepping technique and approximation technique of Fourier series (FS) to solve the output feedback tracking control problem of multi-agent systems. The FS structure is taken not only for tracking the unknown nonlinear dynamics but also the unknown derivatives of virtual controllers in the controller design procedure, which can therefore prevent virtual controllers from containing uncertain terms. The projection algorithm is applied to ensure that the estimated parameters remain in some known bounded sets. Lyapunov stability analysis shows that the proposed control law can guarantee that the output of each agent synchronises to the leader with bounded residual errors and that all the signals in the closed-loop system are uniformly ultimately bounded. Simulation results have verified the performance and feasibility of the proposed distributed adaptive control strategy.     

Adaptive cooperative tracking control of higher-order nonlinear systems with unknown dynamics

A practical design method is developed for cooperative tracking control of higher-order nonlinear systems with a dynamic leader. The communication network is a weighted directed graph with a fixed topology. Each follower node is modeled by a higher-order integrator incorporating with unknown nonlinear dynamics and an unknown disturbance. The leader node is modeled as a higher-order nonautonomous nonlinear system. It acts as a command generator giving commands only to a small portion of the networked group. A robust adaptive neural network controller is designed for each follower node such that all follower nodes ultimately synchronize to the leader node with bounded residual errors. Moreover, these controllers are distributed in the sense that the controller design for each follower node only requires relative state information between itself and its neighbors. A simulation example demonstrates the effectiveness of the algorithm.     

基于预设性能的非仿射非线性系统自适应有限时间控制

针对一类具有死区的非仿射非线性系统,将预设性能控制与有限时间控制相结合,提出一种具有预设性能的自适应有限时间跟踪控制方法.基于Backstepping技术、模糊逻辑系统及有限时间Lyapunov稳定理论,给出使系统半全局实际有限时间稳定(semi-globally practically finite-time stable,SGPFS)的充分条件和设计步骤.该控制策略不仅使系统的输出误差在有限时间内收敛到一个预先设定区域,同时保证其收敛速度、最大超调量和稳态误差均满足预先设定的性能要求.最后通过仿真示例验证了所提出设计方法的有效性.     

Distributed low-complexity output feedback tracking control for nonlinear multi-agent systems with unmodeled dynamics and prescribed performance

This paper investigates the prescribed performance distributed output consensus problem under directed graphs. With the utilisation of a filter, the original system of each follower can be converted into a strict-feedback system. Then, we design a prescribed performance output feedback distributed control protocol by applying the backstepping approach in the converted system. The proposed protocol can guarantee that the consensus tracking error of each agent evolves in predefined decaying bounds to achieve the prescribed performance, that is, the consensus tracking error of each agent converges to a predetermined residual set at a convergence rate no less than a prespecified value and exhibiting a maximum overshoot less than a preassigned constant. Moreover, during the process of consensus, all the signals in the closed-loop system are globally uniformly bounded. A simulation example is given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control protocol.     

Adaptive prescribed performance tracking control for strict‐feedback nonlinear systems with zero dynamics

This paper focuses on the adaptive tracking control problem for strict‐feedback nonlinear systems with zero dynamics via prescribed performance. Based on polynomial fitting, an adjustable performance function is firstly proposed, whose parameters can be adjusted in real time according to the tracking error. Furthermore, an adaptive prescribed performance tracking controller is constructed via the backstepping method, which guarantees that all the states in the closed‐loop system are bounded. Meanwhile, the output tracking error falls within an adjustable performance boundary and asymptotically converges to zero. Simulation comparison demonstrates the advantages of the developed controller as follows: (1) the parameters of the adjustable performance function are adjusted online according to the tracking errors for a faster convergent performance boundary; (2) the steady‐state performance of the system is further optimized simultaneously.     

A low-complexity global approximation-free control scheme with prescribed performance for unknown pure feedback systems

A universal, approximation-free state feedback control scheme is designed for unknown pure feedback systems, capable of guaranteeing, for any initial system condition, output tracking with prescribed performance and bounded closed loop signals. By prescribed performance, it is meant that the output error converges to a predefined arbitrarily small residual set, with convergence rate no less than a certain prespecified value, having maximum overshoot less than a preassigned level. The proposed state feedback controller isolates the aforementioned output performance characteristics from control gains selection and exhibits strong robustness against model uncertainties, while completely avoiding the explosion of complexity issue raised by backstepping-like approaches that are typically employed to the control of pure feedback systems. In this respect, a low complexity design is achieved. Moreover, the controllability assumptions reported in the relevant literature are further relaxed, thus enlarging the class of pure feedback systems that can be considered. Finally, simulation studies clarify and verify the approach.     

Distributed robust finite-time nonlinear consensus protocols for multi-agent systems

This paper investigates the robust finite-time consensus problem of multi-agent systems in networks with undirected topology. Global nonlinear consensus protocols augmented with a variable structure are constructed with the aid of Lyapunov functions for each single-integrator agent dynamics in the presence of external disturbances. In particular, it is shown that the finite settling time of the proposed general framework for robust consensus design is upper bounded for any initial condition. This makes it possible for network consensus problems to design and estimate the convergence time offline for a multi-agent team with a given undirected information flow. Finally, simulation results are presented to demonstrate the performance and effectiveness of our finite-time protocols.     

Adaptive quantised fault-tolerant tracking control of uncertain nonlinear systems with unknown control direction and the prescribed accuracy

In this paper, the problem of adaptive fault-tolerant tracking control for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems in the presence of input quantisation and unknown control direction is considered. By choosing a class of particular Nussbaum functions, an adaptive fault-tolerant control scheme is designed to compensate actuator faults and input quantisation while the control direction is unknown. Compared with the existing results, the proposed controller can directly compensate for the nonlinear term caused by actuator faults and the nonlinear decomposition on the quantiser without estimating its bound. Furthermore, via Barhalant's Lemma, it is proven that all the signals of the closed-loop system are globally uniformly bounded and the tracking error converges into a prescribed accuracy in prior. Finally, an illustrative example is used for verifying effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Adaptive dynamic surface control for MIMO nonlinear time-varying systems with prescribed tracking performance

In this paper, an adaptive dynamic surface control scheme is proposed for a class of multi-input multi-output (MIMO) nonlinear time-varying systems. By fusing a bound estimation approach, a smooth function and a time-varying matrix factorisation, the obstacle caused by unknown time-varying parameters is circumvented. The proposed scheme is free of the problem of explosion of complexity and needs only one updated parameter at each design step. Moreover, all tracking errors can converge to predefined arbitrarily small residual sets with a prescribed convergence rate and maximum overshoot. Such features result in a simple adaptive controller which can be easily implemented in applications with less computational burden and satisfactory tracking performance. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.     

Adaptive output feedback consensus tracking for linear multi-agent systems with unknown dynamics

In this paper, the consensus tracking problem with unknown dynamics in the leader for the linear multi-agent systems is addressed. Based on the relative output information among the agents, decentralised adaptive consensus protocols with static coupling gains are designed to guarantee that the consensus tracking errors converge to a small neighbourhood around the origin and all the signals in the closed-loop dynamics are uniformly ultimately bounded. Moreover, the result is extended to the case with dynamic coupling gains which are independent of the eigenvalues of the Laplacian matrix. Both of the protocols with static and dynamic coupling gains are designed by using the relative outputs, which are more practical than the state-feedback ones. Finally, the theoretical results are verified through an example.     

Adaptive prescribed performance control for switched nonlinear systems with input saturation

In this paper, an adaptive prescribed performance output-feedback control scheme is proposed for a class of switched nonlinear systems with input saturation. The MT-filters are employed to estimate the unmeasured states and the unknown functions are approximated by the radial basis function neural networks in controller design procedure. It is proved that all the signals in the closed-loop system are semi-globally uniformly ultimately bounded and the tracking error satisfies the prescribed performance. Finally, simulation results are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Adaptive tracking H-infinity control for switched nonlinear systems with unknown control gain sign

This paper addresses the adaptive tracking control scheme for switched nonlinear systems with unknown control gain sign. The approach relaxes the hypothesis that the upper bound of function control gain is known constant and the bounds of external disturbance and approximation errors of neural networks are known. RBF neural networks (NNs) are used to approximate unknown functions and an H-infinity controller is introduced to enhance robustness. The adaptive updating laws and the admissible switching signals have been derived from switched multiple Lyapunov function method. It’s proved that the resulting closed loop system is asymptotically Lyapunov stable such that the output tracking error performance and H-infinity disturbance attenuation level are well obtained. Finally, a simulation example of Forced Duffing systems is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme and improve significantly the transient performance.     

Event-triggered adaptive tracking control for nonlinear systems with input saturation and unknown control directions

This article is concerned with event-triggered adaptive tracking control design of strict-feedback nonlinear systems, which are subject to input saturation and unknown control directions. In the design procedure, a smooth nonlinear function is employed to approximate the saturation function so that the controller can be designed under the framework of backstepping. The Nussbaum gain technique is employed to address the issue of the unknown control directions. A predetermined time convergent performance function and a nonlinear mapping technique are introduced to guarantee that the tracking error can converge in the predetermined time with a fast convergence rate and a high accuracy. Then the event-triggered adaptive prescribed performance tracking control strategy is proposed, which not only ensures the boundedness of all the closed-loop signals and the convergence of tracking error but also reduces the communication burden from the controller to the actuator. At last, the simulation study further tests the availability of the proposed control strategy.     

Distributed adaptive tracking control for high-order multi-agent systems with unknown dynamics

In this paper, we investigate the adaptive tracking problem of high-order multi-agent systems with unknown parameters and unknown nonlinear functions. Under the assumption that the leader is the root of a spanning tree, a distributed adaptive controller with tuning function is constructed recursively based on backstepping design method. The designed controller can guarantee that the tracking errors and the parameter errors eventually converge to an arbitrarily small compact set by choosing design parameters. A simulation example demonstrates the effectiveness of the design scheme.     

多智能体系统协调控制一致性问题研究综述*

本文综述了多智能体系统协调控制一致性问题的发展情况,介绍了解决一致性问题的主要原理和适用范围,对一致性协议进行了总结,对一致性问题的研究的主要领域进行了深入阐述,对群集、蜂涌、聚集、传感器网络估计等问题进行分析和阐述。最后讨论了以上领域尚未解决的问题和未来的研究方向。     

Prescribed performance distributed consensus control for nonlinear multi-agent systems with unknown dead-zone input

In this paper, the problem of prescribed performance distributed output consensus for higher-order non-affine nonlinear multi-agent systems with unknown dead-zone input is investigated. Fuzzy logical systems are utilised to identify the unknown nonlinearities. By introducing prescribed performance, the transient and steady performance of synchronisation errors are guaranteed. Based on Lyapunov stability theory and the dynamic surface control technique, a new distributed consensus algorithm for non-affine nonlinear multi-agent systems is proposed, which ensures cooperatively uniformly ultimately boundedness of all signals in the closed-loop systems and enables the output of each follower to synchronise with the leader within predefined bounded error. Finally, simulation examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.     

Improved prescribed performance control for nonlinear systems with unknown control direction and input dead-zone

In view of the input dead-zone, unknown control direction and difficulty in satisfying the prescribed performance that suffered in practical systems, an improved prescribed performance-based adaptive control scheme is stressed for uncertain nonlinear systems in this paper. Firstly, by adopting a characteristic function, the input dead-zone is linearized to a model with bounded perturbation. To settle the “computation complexity” issue, an adaptive controller is built via command filter design method, where the fuzzy logic systems are introduced to approximate the unknown nonlinearities. Meanwhile, the Nussbaum function is brought in controller design to counter the hardship of unknown control direction. Besides, the tracking error can be restricted in the prescribed boundary in finite time with the improved performance function. The presented control approach can not only ensure the finite-time convergence property of tracking error and the boundedness of all signals in the closed-loop system, but also easily implement in engineering. Finally, the simulation examples confirm the validity of the designed control scheme.