Tube-based robust economic model predictive control

In this paper, we develop a tube-based economic MPC framework for nonlinear systems subject to unknown but bounded disturbances. Instead of simply transferring the design procedure of tube-based stabilizing MPC to an economic MPC framework, we rather propose to consider the influence of the disturbance explicitly within the design of the MPC controller, which can lead to an improved closed-loop average performance. This will be done by using a specifically defined integral stage cost, which is the key feature of our proposed robust economic MPC algorithm. Furthermore, we show that the algorithm enjoys similar properties as a nominal economic MPC algorithm (i.e., without disturbances), in particular with respect to bounds on the asymptotic average performance of the resulting closed-loop system, as well as stability and optimal steady-state operation.     

On real-time robust model predictive control

High-speed applications impose a hard real-time constraint on the solution of a model predictive control (MPC) problem, which generally prevents the computation of the optimal control input. As a result, in most MPC implementations guarantees on feasibility and stability are sacrificed in order to achieve a real-time setting. In this paper we develop a real-time MPC approach for linear systems that provides these guarantees for arbitrary time constraints, allowing one to trade off computation time vs. performance. Stability is guaranteed by means of a constraint, enforcing that the resulting suboptimal MPC cost is a Lyapunov function. The key is then to guarantee feasibility in real-time, which is achieved by the proposed algorithm through a warm-starting technique in combination with robust MPC design. We address both regulation and tracking of piecewise constant references. As a main contribution of this paper, a new warm-start procedure together with a Lyapunov function for real-time tracking is presented. In addition to providing strong theoretical guarantees, the proposed method can be implemented at high sampling rates. Simulation examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the real-time scheme and show that computation times in the millisecond range can be achieved.     

A switching robust model predictive control approach for nonlinear systems

This work considers enhancing the stability and improving the economic performance of nonlinear model predictive control in the presence of disturbances or model uncertainties. First, a robust control Lyapunov function (RCLF)-based predictive control strategy is proposed. Second, the approximate dynamic programming (ADP) is employed to further improve regulation performance. Finally, the ADP and RCLF-MPC are combined to provide a switching control scheme, which is illustrated on a CSTR example to show its effectiveness.     

A robust distributed model predictive control algorithm

Although distributed model predictive control (DMPC) has received significant attention in the literature, the robustness of DMPC with respect to model errors has not been explicitly addressed. In this paper, a novel online algorithm that deals explicitly with model errors for DMPC is proposed. The algorithm requires decomposing the entire system into N subsystems and solving N convex optimization problems to minimize an upper bound on a robust performance objective by using a time-varying state-feedback controller for each subsystem. Simulations examples were considered to illustrate the application of the proposed method.     

离线鲁棒预测控制器综合方法的改进方案

对离线鲁棒预测控制器综合方法进行改进.离线鲁棒预测控制算法离线确定一个控制律序列,对应一组吸引域;在线根据当前状态位于哪个吸引域内部(或哪两个吸引域之间)选择相应的一个控制律(或相邻的两个控制律的线性插值).引入参数Lyapunov函数得到多包椭圆型吸引域和多包二次稳定的离线控制律,改进了控制器的可行性和最优性.改进的控制器保持了稳定性以及控制律关于系统状态的连续性.     

Tube‐based robust nonlinear model predictive control

This paper extends tube‐based model predictive control of linear systems to achieve robust control of nonlinear systems subject to additive disturbances. A central or reference trajectory is determined by solving a nominal optimal control problem. The local linear controller, employed in tube‐based robust control of linear systems, is replaced by an ancillary model predictive controller that forces the trajectories of the disturbed system to lie in a tube whose center is the reference trajectory thereby enabling robust control of uncertain nonlinear systems to be achieved. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Realization of robust nonlinear model predictive control by offline optimisation

This paper describes a new method for increasing the computational efficiency of nonlinear robust model-based predictive control. It is based on the application of neuro-fuzzy networks and improves the computation efficiency by arranging the online optimisation to be done offline. The offline optimisation is realized by offline training a neuro-fuzzy network, consisting of zero-order T–S fuzzy rules, which is designed to approximate the input–output relationship of a robust model-based predictive controller. The design and the training of the neuro-fuzzy network are described, and the corresponding control algorithm is developed. Experiment results performed on the temperature control loop of an experimental air-handling unit (AHU) demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach.     

Dynamic output feedback robust model predictive control

The synthesis approach for dynamic output feedback robust model predictive control is considered. The notion of quadratic boundedness is utilised to characterise the stability properties of the augmented closed-loop system. A finite horizon performance cost, which corresponds to the worst case of both the polytopic uncertainty and the bounded disturbance/noise, is utilised. It is not required to specify the horizon length. A numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.     

H∞ model predictive control for constrained discrete‐time piecewise affine systems

This paper investigates stability analysis for piecewise affine (PWA) systems and specifically contributes a new robust model predictive control strategy for PWA systems in the presence of constraints on the states and inputs and with l₂ or norm‐bounded disturbances. The proposed controller is based on piecewise quadratic Lyapunov functions. The problem of minimization of the cost function for model predictive control design is changed to minimization of the worst case of the cost function. Then, this objective is reduced to minimization of a supremum of the cost function subject to a terminal inequality by considering the induced l₂‐norm. Finally, the predictive controller design problem is turned into a linear matrix inequality feasibility exercise with constraints on the input signal and state variables. It is shown that the closed‐loop system is asymptotically stable with guaranteed robust performance. The validity of the proposed method is verified through 3 well‐known examples of PWA systems. Simulation results are provided to show good convergence properties along with capability of the proposed controller to reject disturbances.     

Improved robust model predictive control with structured uncertainty

In this paper, a dilation of the LMI characterization is presented to address constrained robust model predictive control (MPC) for a class of uncertain linear systems with structured time-varying uncertainties. The uncertainty is described in linear fractional transformation (LFT) form. By introducing slack variables and using parameter dependent Lyapunov functions, the design conservativeness is reduced compared with other existing MPC approaches. The proposed approach is applied to an industrial CSTR benchmark system to demonstrate the merits of our proposed solution.     

A robust/cautious model predictive controller

In process control, a significant number of problems are encountered where there are hard and soft constraints on the measured process variables and/or on the value and rate of change of the manipulated variables. On-line implementation of traditional control strategies becomes unfeasible since they cannot explicitly deal with process constraints. Model predictive control offers a viable alternative; however, a prominent issue is the behaviour of these algorithms when the prediction model does not match the actual plant. A possible solution is to formulate the problem in a linear/non-linear programming framework, using the cutting plane technique to locate the ‘worst’ plant/model mismatch at every time interval. This results in a very practical cautious predictive controller that computes the next controller action based on expected model/plant mismatch. Control of a stirred tank reactor illustrates the method, using a one-step ahead predictive controller.     

Design of robust model predictive control with input constraints

This article addresses the problem of designing a robust output feedback model predictive control (MPC) with input constraints, which ensures a parameter-dependent quadratic stability and guaranteed cost for the case of linear polytopic systems. A new heuristic method is introduced to guarantee input constraints for the MPC. To reject disturbances and maintain the process at the optimal operating conditions or setpoints, the integrator is added to the controller design procedure. Finally, some numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

A new robust model predictive control method I: theory and computation

The success of the single-model MPC (SMPC) controller depends on the accuracy of the process model. Modeling errors cause sub-optimal control performance and may cause the control system to become closed-loop unstable. The goal of this paper is to examine the control performance of the robust MPC (RMPC) method proposed by Wang and Rawlings [34] on several illustrative examples. In this paper, we show the RMPC method successfully controls systems with time-varying uncertainties in the process gain, time constant and time delay and achieves offset-free non-zero set point tracking and non-zero disturbance rejection subject to input and output constraints.     

Plug-and-play model predictive control based on robust control invariant sets

We consider the problem of designing decentralized controllers for large-scale linear constrained systems composed by a number of interacting subsystems. As in Riverso et al. (2013b), (i) the design of local controllers requires limited transmission of information from other subsystems and (ii) the addition/removal of a subsystem triggers the design of local controllers for child subsystems only. These properties enable Plug-and-Play (PnP) operations, and we show how to perform them while preserving global stability of the origin and constraint satisfaction. We improve several aspects of the PnP design procedure proposed in Riverso et al. (2013b) and, using recent results in the computation of Robust Control Invariant (RCI) sets, we show that all critical steps in the design of a local controller can be solved through Linear Programming (LP). Finally, an application of the proposed design procedure to a large-scale mechanical system is presented.     

基于多面体不变集的离线鲁棒预测控制器综合

提出一种基于多面体不变集的离线鲁棒预测控制器综合算法.该算法离线确定一组反馈控制律及其对应的不变集,在线控制时根据当前状态所处的位置选择相应的控制律,不仅扩大了初始可行域,还能在一定程度上改善控制性能.仿真结果表明了采用多面体不变集的优越性.     

基于状态观测器的直接约束鲁棒预测控制

针对多包描述线性离散不确定系统,提出一种在系统状态不可测时的直接约束鲁棒预测控制算法.将控制器与观测器综合设计,利用观测状态直接构造性能指标,通过求解无穷时域性能指标的最小最大优化问题,得到系统的最优状态反馈控制律.采用参数依赖Lyapunov函数,在满足输入和状态约束的情况下保证闭环系统稳定.仿真结果验证了算法的有效性.