An improved non‐sequential multi‐input multi‐output quantitative feedback theory design methodology

This paper presents an improved non‐sequential multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) design methodology for uncertain systems. A non‐sequential MIMO QFT stability theorem is derived that serves as the basis for an improvement of the design methodology, whereby it can be successfully applied to non‐minimum phase systems, albeit with a degree of conservatism partially inherent in independent and decentralized design methodologies. The results reduce the conservatism in a non‐sequential MIMO QFT design and provide insight into the plant cases for which the methodology can be successfully applied. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Robust control of a family of uncertain nonminimum‐phase systems via continuous‐time and sampled‐data output feedback

The problem of global robust stabilization is studied by both continuous‐time and sampled‐data output feedback for a family of nonminimum‐phase nonlinear systems with uncertainty. The uncertain nonlinear system considered in this paper has an interconnect structure consisting of a driving system and a possibly unstable zero dynamics with uncertainty, ie, the uncertain driven system. Under a linear growth condition on the uncertain zero dynamics and a Lipschitz condition on the driving system, we show that it is possible to globally robustly stabilize the family of uncertain nonminimum‐phase systems by a single continuous‐time or a sampled‐data output feedback controller. The sampled‐data output feedback controller is designed by using the emulated versions of a continuous‐time observer and a state feedback controller, ie, by holding the input/output signals constant over each sampling interval. The design of either continuous‐time or sampled‐data output compensator uses only the information of the nominal system of the uncertain controlled plant. In the case of sampled‐data control, global robust stability of the hybrid closed‐loop system with uncertainty is established by means of a feedback domination method together with the robustness of the nominal closed‐loop system if the sampling time is small enough.     

Adaptive Dynamic Output Feedback Stabilisation of Nonlinear Systems

An adaptive dynamical output feedback controller is introduced for a class of nonlinear non‐minimum phase systems. This adaptive controller achieves practical stabilisation, that means the output will asymptotically tend to a pre‐specified neighbourhood of the origin. In case of linear systems, we can even prove adaptive stabilisation.     

Stabilization of uncertain chained nonholonomic systems using adaptive output feedback

In this paper, adaptive output feedback control is presented to solve the stabilization problem of nonholonomic systems in chained form with strong nonlinear drifts and uncertain parameters using output signals only. The objective is to design adaptive nonlinear output feedback laws which can steer the closed‐loop systems to globally converge to the origin, while the estimated parameters remain bounded. The proposed systematic strategy combines input‐state scaling with backstepping technique. Motivated from a special case, adaptive output feedback controllers are proposed for a class of uncertain chained systems. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controllers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society     

Robust adaptive learning control for nonlinear systems with extended matching unstructured uncertainties

The exponential output tracking problem for a class of single‐input, single‐output uncertain nonlinear systems, including systems with extended matching unstructured uncertainties and without a well‐defined global relative degree, is addressed. Conditions on the uncertain system dynamics are derived, which allow us to design a state‐feedback learning control achieving semi‐global exponential output tracking of sufficiently smooth and periodic reference signals of known period, while guaranteeing ??₂ and ??_∞ transient performances during the learning phase. The application of the proposed learning approach to the position tracking control problem for uncertain permanent magnet step motors with non‐sinusoidal flux distribution and uncertain position‐dependent load torque allows us to provide a solution to a yet unsolved problem. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Robust output regulation of minimum phase nonlinear systems using conditional servocompensators

We consider the design of a robust continuous sliding mode controller for the output regulation of a class of minimum‐phase nonlinear systems. Previous work has shown how to do this by incorporating a linear servocompensator in the sliding mode design, but the transient performance is degraded when compared to ideal sliding mode control. Extending previous ideas from the design of ‘conditional integrators’ for the case of asymptotically constant references and disturbances, we design the servocompensator as a conditional one that provides servocompensation only inside the boundary layer; achieving asymptotic output regulation, but with improved transient performance. We give both regional as well as semi‐global results for error convergence, and show that the controller can be tuned to recover the performance of an ideal sliding mode control. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Global output‐feedback stabilization for a class of stochastic nonlinear systems via sampled‐data control

In this paper, the global sampled‐data output‐feedback stabilization problem is considered for a class of stochastic nonlinear systems. First, based on output‐feedback domination technique and emulation approach, a systematic design procedure for sampled‐data output‐feedback controller is proposed for a class of stochastic lower‐triangular nonlinear systems. It is proved that the proposed sampled‐data output‐feedback controller will stabilize the given stochastic nonlinear system in the sense of mean square exponential stability. Because of the domination nature of the proposed control approach, it is shown that the proposed control approach can also be used to handle the global sampled‐data output‐feedback stabilization problems for a more general class of stochastic non‐triangular nonlinear systems. Finally, simulation examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A homotopy method for exact output tracking of some non‐minimum phase nonlinear control systems

This paper presents a method for non‐causal exact dynamic inversion for a class of non‐minimum phase nonlinear systems, which seems to be an alternative to those existing in the literature. This method is based on a homotopy procedure that allows to find a ‘small’ periodic solution of a desired equation by a continuous deformation of a known periodic solution of a simpler auxiliary system. This method allows to face the exact output tracking problem for some non‐minimum phase systems that are well known in the literature, such as the inverted pendulum, the motorcycle and the CTOL aircraft. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Robust H∞ Control for Non‐Minimum Phase Switched Cascade Systems with Time Delay

The H_∞ control of a class of the uncertain switched nonlinear cascaded systems with time delay is explored in this paper via the multiple Lyapunov functions. The considered systems are assumed to comprise an inherently nonlinear and a linearizable nonlinear dynamic system that may be non‐minimum phase. A group of partial differential inequalities containing adjustable functions are used in the control design task. The state feedback controllers and a suitable switching law are designed simultaneously so as to achieve the desired disturbance attenuation while preserving asymptotic stability for all admissible uncertainties. The partial differential inequalities are of lower dimension than general Hamilton–Jacobi inequalities, and therefore the solving process is feasible. This particular technique is applicable even if no subsystem is asymptotically stable. The non‐minimum phase property is compensated for by means of an appropriate switching mechanism. A robust H_∞ control for non‐switched cascade system with time delay is obtained in addition. An illustrative example is given to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed design method.     

Cooperative robust output regulation of a class of heterogeneous linear uncertain multi‐agent systems

The cooperative output regulation of a linear multi‐agent system can be viewed as a generalization of the leader‐following consensus problem and was studied recently for the case where the system uncertain parameters vary in a sufficiently small neighborhood of their nominal value. This case was handled by the internal model design which converts the problem into a simultaneous eigenvalue placement problem of an augmented multi‐agent system. In this paper, we further consider the cooperative robust output regulation problem for a class of minimum phase linear multi‐agent systems in the sense that the controller allows the system uncertain parameters to vary in an arbitrarily prescribed compact subset. For this purpose, we introduce a new type of internal model that allows the cooperative robust output regulation problem of the given plant to be converted into a robust stabilization problem of an augmented multi‐agent system. We then solve our problem by combining a simultaneous high‐gain state feedback control technique and a distributed high‐gain observer technique. A special case of our result leads to the solution of the leader‐following robust consensus problem for a class of uncertain multi‐agent systems. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Global nonlinear output regulation: Convergence-based controller design

In this paper we present output-feedback controllers solving the global output regulation problem for a class of nonlinear systems. The proposed controllers are based on the notion of convergent systems. The presented solution extends well-established results on the linear output regulation problem and the local nonlinear output regulation problem to the global case. For Lur’e systems, which are not necessarily in the output-feedback form, the proposed controllers can be found by solving the regulator equations and certain linear matrix inequalities. For systems in the output-feedback form with uncertain parameters and uncertain nonlinearities we provide a robust regulator that does not rely on the minimum phaseness assumption on the system, which is crucial in the previous regulator designs for output-feedback systems. The results are illustrated by examples.     

Semi‐global stabilization via linear sampled‐data output feedback for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems

This paper develops a systematic design scheme to construct a linear sampled‐data output feedback controller that semi‐globally asymptotically stabilizes a class of uncertain systems with both higher‐order and linear growth nonlinearities. To deal with the uncertain coefficients in the systems, a robust state feedback stabilizer and a reduced‐order sampled‐data observer, both in the linear form, are constructed and then integrated together. The semi‐global attractivity and local stability are delicately proved by carefully selecting a scaling gain using the output feedback domination approach and a sampling period sufficiently small to restrain the state growth under a zero‐order‐holder input. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A robust adaptive control method for Wiener nonlinear systems

This paper proposes a new robust adaptive control method for Wiener nonlinear systems with uncertain parameters. The considered Wiener systems are different from the previous ones in the sense that we consider nonlinear block approximation error, process noise, and measurement noise. The parameterization model is obtained based on the inverse of the nonlinear function block. The adaptive control method is derived from a modified criterion function that can overcome non‐minimum phase property of the linear subsystem. The parameter adaptation is performed by using a robust recursive least squares algorithm with a deadzone weighted factor. The control law compensates the model error by incorporating the unmodeled dynamics estimation. Theoretical analysis indicates that the closed‐loop system stability can be guaranteed under mild conditions. Numerical examples including an industrial problem are studied to validate the results. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

ROBUST GAIN‐SCHEDULED CONTROL OF A VERTICAL TAKEOFF AIRCRAFT WITH ACTUATOR SATURATION VIA THE LMI METHOD

This paper presents a robust gain‐scheduled approach for the control of a vertical/short takeoff. and landing (V/STOL) aircraft. The nonlinear aircraft dynamics exhibit non‐minimum phase characteristics arising from the parasitic coupling effect between the aircraft's lateral force and rolling moment. The undesired coupling effect also causes modelling uncertainy of the aircraft dynamics. The nonlinear aircraft dynamics are considered to be composed of a nominal linear parameter varying (LPV) system and a linear system with a norm bounded uncertainy matrix multiplied by the parasitic uncertain non‐minimum phase coupling parameter. The nominal LPV system is considered to be affinely dependent on a measurable varying parameter. The ranges of the varying parameter and its variation as well as its parasitic induced uncertain matrix are addressed by introducing the parameter‐dependent invariant ellipsoid interpretation for dealing with the issue of affinely quadratic stabilization. In this paper, the relations among the magnitude of actuator saturation, the maximum achievable relative stability, and the sustainable coupling uncertainty are investigated for the considered robust gain‐scheduled design.     

p‐Times differentiable unbounded functions for robust control of uncertain switched nonlinear systems with tracking constraints

This paper investigates the problem of robust controller design for output‐constrained and state‐constrained uncertain switched nonlinear systems. By using the idea of p‐times differentiable unbounded functions and the backstepping technique, a constructive method is proposed to design effective controllers such that the output of a class of uncertain switched nonlinear systems in lower triangular form can asymptotically track a constant reference signal without violation of the output tracking error constraint. Furthermore, the explored method is applied to the state‐constrained robust stabilization problem for a class of general uncertain switched nonlinear systems. Finally, a simulation example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Output regulation by postprocessing internal models for a class of multivariable nonlinear systems

In this paper we propose a new design paradigm, which employs a postprocessing internal model unit, to approach the problem of output regulation for a class of multivariable minimum‐phase nonlinear systems possessing a partial normal form. Contrary to previous approaches, the proposed regulator handles control inputs of dimension larger than the number of regulated variables, provided that a controllability assumption holds, and can employ additional measurements that need not to vanish at the ideal error‐zeroing steady state, but that can be useful for stabilization purposes or to fulfill the minimum‐phase requirement. Conditions for practical and asymptotic output regulation are given, underlying how in postprocessing schemes the design of internal models is necessarily intertwined with that of the stabilizer.     

Global sampled-data output feedback stabilisation for a class of nonlinear systems with unknown output function

This paper discusses the problem of global sampled-data output feedback stabilisation for a class of nonlinear systems whose output function is unknown. A systematic design scheme is developed to construct a linear output feedback control law in sampled-data form. An explicit formula for the maximum allowable sampling period is computed to guarantee global stability of the uncertain nonlinear systems under the proposed controller with appropriate gains. Two examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design procedure.     

Robust practical output regulation for a class of uncertain linear minimum‐phase systems by output‐based event‐triggered control

In this paper, we consider the robust practical output regulation problem for a class of SISO uncertain linear minimum‐phase systems subject to external disturbances by an output‐based event‐triggered control law, where the reference inputs and the external disturbances are both generated by a so‐called exosystem with known dynamics. Our approach consists of two steps. First, on the basis of the internal model principle, we convert the problem into the robust practical stabilization problem of a well‐defined augmented system. Second, we design an output‐based event‐triggered mechanism and an output‐based event‐triggered control law to solve the stabilization problem, which in turn leads to the solvability of the original problem. What is more, we show that the event‐triggered mechanism prevents the Zeno behavior from happening. A numerical example is given to illustrate the design. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

H∞ Control of Linear Discrete‐Time Systems With Norm‐Bounded Nonlinear Uncertainties

In this paper, robust H_∞ control of a class of discrete‐time uncertain systems in state‐space form with linear nominal parts and norm‐bounded nonlinear uncertainties in both state and output equations is discussed. Such systems have a unique characterisic; that is, the two norm‐bounded nonlinear uncertainties have the equivalent representation by means of time‐varying and norm‐bounded linear uncertainties. To overcome the conservativenss of [5], the two nonlinear uncertainty sets are considered to be different. Then, by converting such systems into related discrete‐time linear systems with time‐varying and norm‐bounded linear uncertainties, we obtain that a sufficient condition for robust H_∞ control of such systems is equivalent to the solvability of the same problem of the related linear uncertain systems, which is solvable by means of a linear algebraic Riccati inequality.     

Global tracking sliding mode control for a class of nonlinear systems via variable gain observer

A novel output‐feedback sliding mode control strategy is proposed for a class of single‐input single‐output (SISO) uncertain time‐varying nonlinear systems for which a norm state estimator can be implemented. Such a class encompasses minimum‐phase systems with nonlinearities affinely norm bounded by unmeasured states with growth rate depending nonlinearly on the measured system output and on the internal states related with the zero‐dynamics. The sliding surface is generated by using the state of a high gain observer (HGO) whereas a peaking free control amplitude is obtained via a norm observer. In contrast to the existing semi‐global sliding mode control solutions available in the literature for the class of plants considered here, the proposed scheme is free of peaking and achieves global tracking with respect to a small residual set. The key idea is to design a time‐varying HGO gain implementable from measurable signals. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.