Observer‐based cooperative distributed fault‐tolerant model predictive control with imperfect network communication and asynchronous measurements

Intermittent actuator and sensor faults tolerant are simultaneously considered in a distributed control system with imperfect communication network. The asynchronous measurements of different output variables in one sampling period are synchronized through a novel two‐stage model‐based projection method. Different from centralized control network, in both layer‐to‐layer and in‐layer communication, the packet delay, loss and disordering are corrected by the predicted data from model predictive control. Moreover, a completely distributed state observer is established for both system states and sensor faults problem with bounded noise uncertainties. For the intermittent actuator faults, actuator plug‐and‐play design methods based on model predictive control has been introduced, making the actuator faults estimation omitted. The distributed stability conditions are derived for the proposed fault‐tolerant controller, and the online feasibility is explained in detail. Numerical simulation is given to verify the design procedure.     

Adaptive fault‐tolerant control for a nonlinear flexible aircraft wing system

Fault‐tolerant control problems have been extensively studied in all kinds of control systems. However, there is little work on fault‐tolerant control for distributed parameter systems. In this paper, a novel adaptive fault‐tolerant boundary control scheme is proposed for a nonlinear flexible aircraft wing system against actuator faults. The whole system is regarded as a distributed parameter system, and the dynamic model of the flexible wing system is described by a set of partial differential equations (PDEs) and ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The proposed controller is designed by using the Lyapunov's direct method and adaptive control strategies. Based on the online estimation of actuator faults, the adaptive controller parameters can update automatically to compensate the actuator faults of the system. Besides, a fault‐tolerant controller is also developed for this system in the presence of external disturbances. Differing from existing works about adaptive fault‐tolerant control, the adaptive controller presented in this paper is designed for a distributed parameter system. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.     

Stabilization of linear discrete‐time networked control systems via protocol and controller co‐design

This paper investigates the stabilization problem for networked control systems (NCSs) with communication constraint and packet loss. The communication constraint considered is that only one network node is allowed to access a shared communication channel during one time‐slot, and a feedback control is performed with only partially available measurements and control inputs. By taking random packet loss into consideration, a stochastic switched system model is presented to describe the NCS. A sufficient condition is derived for the NCS to be mean‐square exponentially stable, and it is shown that the system performance specified by the exponential decay rate critically depends on the network accessing rates (NARs) of the network nodes and the packet loss probability. The state feedback controller and scheduling protocol, which allocates the NARs, are co‐designed such that the NCS achieves a minimal decay rate. Finally, an illustrative example is given to show the effectiveness of the proposed design approach. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Retrofit fault‐tolerant tracking control design of an unmanned quadrotor helicopter considering actuator dynamics

This paper presents a retrofit fault‐tolerant tracking control (FTTC) design method with application to an unmanned quadrotor helicopter (UQH). The proposed retrofit fault‐tolerant tracking controller is developed to accommodate loss‐of‐effectiveness faults in the actuators of UQH. First, a state feedback tracking controller acting as the normal controller is designed to guarantee the stability and satisfactory performance of UQH in the absence of actuator faults, while actuator dynamics of UQH are also considered in the controller design. Then, a retrofit control mechanism with integration of an adaptive fault estimator and an adaptive fault compensator is devised against the adverse effects of actuator faults. Next, the proposed retrofit FTTC strategy, which is synthesized by the normal controller and an additional reconfigurable fault compensating mechanism, takes over the control of the faulty UQH to asymptotically stabilize the closed‐loop system with an acceptable performance degradation in the presence of actuator faults. Finally, both numerical simulations and practical experiments are conducted in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed FTTC methodology on the asymptotic convergence of tracking error for several combinations of loss‐of‐effectiveness faults in actuators.     

Actuator fault‐tolerant control (FTC) design with post‐fault transient improvement for application to aircraft control

A robust fault‐tolerant control scheme is proposed for uncertain nonlinear systems with zero dynamics, affected by actuator faults and lock‐in‐place and float failures. The proposed controller utilizes an adaptive second‐order sliding mode strategy integrated with the backstepping procedure, retaining the benefits of both the methodologies. A Lyapunov stability analysis has been conducted, which unfolds the advantages offered by the proposed methodology in the presence of inherent modeling errors and strong eventualities of faults and failures. Two modified adaptive laws have been formulated, to approximate the bounds of uncertainties due to modeling and to estimate the fault‐induced parametric uncertainties. The proposed scheme ensures robustness towards linearly parameterized mismatched uncertainties, in addition to parametric and nonparametric matched perturbations. The proposed controller has been shown to yield an improved post‐fault transient performance without any additional expense in the control energy spent. The proposed scheme is applied to the pitch control problem of a nonlinear longitudinal model of Boeing 747‐100/200 aircraft. Simulation results support theoretical propositions and confirm that the proposed controller produces superior post‐fault transient performance compared with already existing approaches designed for similar applications. Besides, the asymptotic stability of the overall controlled system is also established in the event of such faults and failures. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Delay‐ and Packet‐Disordering‐Dependent H∞ Output Tracking Control for Networked Control Systems

This paper is concerned with the problem of H_∞ output tracking control for networked control systems (NCSs) with network‐induced delay and packet disordering. Different from the results in existing literature, the controller design in this paper is both delay‐ and packet‐disordering‐dependent. Based on the different cases of consecutive predictions, the networked output tracking system is modeled into a switched system. Moreover, by the corresponding switching‐based Lyapunov functional approach, a linear matrix inequality (LMI)‐based procedure is proposed for designing state‐feedback controllers, which guarantees that the output of the closed‐loop NCSs tracks the output of a given reference model well in the H_∞ sense. In addition, the proposed method can be applied variously due to all kinds of prediction numbers of the consecutive disordering packet have been considered, and the designed controller is based on the prediction case in the last transmission interval, which brings about less conservatism. Finally numerical examples and simulations are used to illustrate the effectiveness and validity of the proposed switching‐based method and the delay‐ and packet‐disordering‐dependent H_∞ output tracking controller design.     

Distributed fault‐tolerant control design for spacecraft finite‐time attitude synchronization

This paper develops two distributed finite‐time fault‐tolerant control algorithms for attitude synchronization of multiple spacecraft with a dynamic virtual leader in the presence of modeling uncertainties, external disturbances, and actuator faults. The leader gives commands only to a subset of the followers, and the communication flow between followers is directed. By employing a novel distributed nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode and adaptive mechanism, a distributed finite‐time fault‐tolerant control law is proposed to guarantee all the follower spacecraft that finite‐time track a dynamic virtual leader. Then utilizing three distributed finite‐time sliding mode estimators, an estimator‐based distributed finite‐time fault‐tolerant control law is proposed using only the followers' estimates of the virtual leader. Both of them do not require online identification of the actuator faults and provide robustness, finite‐time convergence, fault‐tolerant, disturbance rejection, and high control precision. Finally, numerical simulations are presented to evaluate the theoretical results. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Integrated fault estimation and fault‐tolerant control for stochastic systems with Brownian motions

This paper presents an integrated robust fault estimation and fault‐tolerant control technique for stochastic systems subjected to Brownian parameter perturbations. The augmented system approach, unknown input observer method, and optimization technique are integrated to achieve robust simultaneous estimates of the system states and the means of faults concerned. Meanwhile, a robust fault‐tolerant control strategy is developed by using actuator and sensor signal compensation techniques. Stochastic linear time‐invariant systems, stochastic systems with Lipschitz nonlinear constraint, and stochastic systems with quadratic inner‐bounded nonlinear constraint are respectively investigated, and the corresponding fault‐tolerant control algorithms are addressed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed fault‐tolerant control techniques is demonstrated via the drivetrain system of a 4.8 MW benchmark wind turbine, a 3‐tank system, and a numerical nonlinear model.     

Fault‐tolerant RT‐Mach (FT‐RT‐Mach) and an application to real‐time train control

Even though real‐time systems have the stringent constraint of completing tasks before their deadlines, many existing real‐time operating systems do not implement fault tolerance capabilities. In this paper we summarize fault tolerant real‐time scheduling policy for dynamic tasks with ready times and deadlines. Our focus in this paper is the implementation, which includes fault‐tolerant scheduling, re‐scheduling, and recovery mechanisms in the FT‐RT‐Mach operating system, a fault‐tolerant version of RT‐Mach. A real‐time train control application is then implemented using the FT‐RT‐Mach operating system. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Event‐triggered adaptive backstepping control for parametric strict‐feedback nonlinear systems

This paper proposes a novel adaptive backstepping control method for parametric strict‐feedback nonlinear systems with event‐sampled state and input vectors via impulsive dynamical systems tools. In the design procedure, both the parameter estimator and the controller are aperiodically updated only at the event‐sampled instants. An adaptive event sampling condition is designed to determine the event sampling instants. A positive lower bound on the minimal intersample time is provided to avoid Zeno behavior. The closed‐loop stability of the adaptive event‐triggered control system is rigorously proved via Lyapunov analysis for both the continuous and jump dynamics. Compared with the periodic updates in the traditional adaptive backstepping design, the proposed method can reduce the computation and the transmission cost. The effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated using 2 simulation examples.     

Fast adaptive fault estimation and accommodation for nonlinear time‐varying delay systems

This paper studies the problem of fault estimation and accommodation for a class of nonlinear time‐varying delay systems using adaptive fault diagnosis observer (AFDO). A novel fast adaptive fault estimation algorithm that does not need the derivative of the output vector is proposed to enhance the performance of fault estimation. Meanwhile, a delay‐dependent criteria is obtained based on free weighting matrix method with the purpose of reducing the conservatism of the AFDO design. On the basis of fault estimation, an observer‐based fault‐tolerant controller is designed to guarantee the stability of the closed‐loop system. In terms of matrix inequality, we derive sufficient conditions for the existence of the adaptive observer and fault‐tolerant controller. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed method. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society     

Observer‐Based Adaptive Output Feedback Fault Tolerant Control for Nonlinear Hydro‐Turbine Governing System with State Delay

This paper focuses on the problem of adaptive output feedback fault tolerant control for a nonlinear hydro‐turbine governing system. A dynamic mathematical model of the system is established, which aims to investigate the dynamic performance of the model under servomotor delay and actuator faults. Then, a fault estimation adaptive observer is proposed to achieve online real‐time diagnosis of system faults. Based on the online fault estimation information, an observer‐based adaptive output feedback fault tolerant controller is designed. Furthermore, under reasonable assumptions, the results demonstrate that the closed‐loop control system can achieve global asymptotic stability by Lyapunov function. Finally, the numerical simulation results are presented to indicate the satisfaction control effectiveness of the proposed scheme.     

Model‐based event‐triggered predictive control for networked systems with communication delays compensation

This paper addresses the model‐based event‐triggered predictive control problem for networked control systems (NCSs). Firstly, we propose a discrete event‐triggered transmission scheme on the sensor node by introducing a quadratic event‐triggering function. Then, on the basis of the aforementioned scheme, a novel class of model‐based event‐triggered predictive control algorithms on the controller node is designed for compensating for the communication delays actively and achieving the desired control performance while using less network resources. Two cases, that is, the value of the communication delay of the first event‐triggered state is less or bigger than the sampling period, are considered separately for certain NCSs, regardless of the communication delays of the subsequent event‐triggered states. The codesign problems of the controller and event‐triggering parameter for the two cases are discussed by using the linear matrix inequality approach and the (switching) Lyapunov functional method. Furthermore, we extended our results to the NCSs with systems uncertainties. Finally, a practical ball and beam system is studied numerically to demonstrate the compensation effect for the communication delays with the proposed novel model‐based event‐triggered predictive control scheme. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distributed adaptive fault‐tolerant leader‐following formation control of nonlinear uncertain second‐order multi‐agent systems

This paper presents a distributed integrated fault diagnosis and accommodation scheme for leader‐following formation control of a class of nonlinear uncertain second‐order multi‐agent systems. The fault model under consideration includes both process and actuator faults, which may evolve abruptly or incipiently. The time‐varying leader communicates with a small subset of follower agents, and each follower agent communicates to its directly connected neighbors through a bidirectional network with possibly asymmetric weights. A local fault diagnosis and accommodation component are designed for each agent in the distributed system, which consists of a fault detection and isolation module and a reconfigurable controller module comprised of a baseline controller and two adaptive fault‐tolerant controllers, activated after fault detection and after fault isolation, respectively. By using appropriately the designed Lyapunov functions, the closed‐loop stability and asymptotic convergence properties of the leader‐follower formation are rigorously established under different modes of the fault‐tolerant control system.     

Stabilization of nonlinear uncertain systems with stochastic actuator failures and time‐varying delay

In this paper, we investigate the adaptive state‐feedback stabilization problem for a class of nonlinear systems subject to parametric uncertainties, time‐varying delay, and Markovian jumping actuator failures. First, some fundamental results, including the infinitesimal generator and conditions for the existence and uniqueness of the solution, are established for nonlinear systems w.r.t. Markovian vector and time‐varying delay. Subsequently, corresponding stability criterion is generalized to the considered systems. By employing the backstepping method and the tuning function technique, a systematic adaptive fault‐tolerant control scheme is proposed, which guarantees the boundedness in probability of all the closed‐loop signals. It is noted that no fault detection and diagnostic block are needed, and the control law can be adapted automatically by taking account of the innovative state information. The efficiency of the designed controller is demonstrated by an illustrative example. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multiobjective optimization–based fault‐tolerant flight control system design

The loss of measurements used for controller scheduling or envelope protection in modern flight control systems due to sensor failures leads to a challenging fault‐tolerant control law design problem. In this article, an approach to design such a robust fault‐tolerant control system, including full envelope protections using multiobjective optimization techniques, is proposed. The generic controller design and controller verification problems are derived and solved using novel multiobjective hybrid genetic optimization algorithms. These algorithms combine the multiobjective genetic search strategy with local, single‐objective optimization to improve convergence speed. The proposed strategies are applied to the design of a fault‐tolerant flight control system for a modern civil aircraft. The results of an industrial controller verification and validation campaign using an industrial benchmark simulator are reported.     

Fuzzy adaptive nonlinear sensor‐fault tolerant control for a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle

In this paper, a novel fuzzy adaptive nonlinear fault tolerant control design scheme is proposed for attitude dynamics of quadrotor UAV subjected to four sensor faults (bias, drift, loss of accuracy, loss of effectiveness). The sensor faults in Euler angle loop are transformed equivalently into a mismatched uncertainty vector, and other unknown items involving faults, uncertain parameters and external disturbances in angular velocity loop are lumped into an unknown nonlinear function vector. Fuzzy logic systems with adaptive parameters are used to approximate the mismatched uncertainty and lumped nonlinear function vectors. Dynamic surface control is applied to design the fault tolerant controller, and sliding mode control is introduced to improve the control accuracy. All signals of the closed‐loop control system are proved to be semi‐global uniformly ultimately bounded. Simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach for sensor faults.     

Actuator fault‐tolerant control of ocean surface vessels with input saturation

In this paper, an actuator robust fault‐tolerant control is proposed for ocean surface vessels with parametric uncertainties and unknown disturbances. Using the backstepping technique and Lyapunov synthesis method, the adaptive tracking control is first developed by incorporating the actuator configuration matrix and considering actuator saturation constraints. The changeable actuator configuration matrix caused by rotatable propulsion devices is considered. Next, the actuator fault‐tolerant control is developed for the case when faults occur in propulsion devices of the ocean surface vessel. Rigorous stability analysis is carried out to show that the proposed fault‐tolerant control can guarantee the stability of the closed‐loop system under certain actuator failure. Finally, simulation studies are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive tracking control and fault‐tolerant control. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adaptive backstepping‐based control design for uncertain nonlinear active suspension system with input delay

This paper addresses the control problem of adaptive backstepping control for a class of nonlinear active suspension systems considering the model uncertainties and actuator input delays and presents a novel adaptive backstepping‐based controller design method. Based on the established nonlinear active suspension model, a projector operator–based adaptive control law is first developed to estimate the uncertain sprung‐mass online, and then the desirable controller design and stability analysis are conducted by combining backstepping technique and Lyapunov stability theory, which can not only deal with the actuator input delay but also achieve better dynamics performances and safety constraints requirements of the closed‐loop control system. Furthermore, the relationship between the input delay and the state variables of this vehicle suspension system is derived to present a simple and effective method of calculating the critical input delay. Finally, a numerical simulation investigation is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.