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.     

Semi‐global stabilization of nonlinear systems by nonsmooth output feedback

Semi‐global stabilization by output feedback is studied for a class of nonuniformly observable and nonsmoothly stabilizable nonlinear systems. The contribution of this paper is to point out that most of the restrictive growth conditions required in the previous work can be relaxed or removed if a less demanding control objective, namely, semi‐global instead of global stabilization is sought. In particular, it is proved that without imposing restrictive conditions, semi‐global stabilization by nonsmooth output feedback can be achieved for a chain of odd power integrators perturbed by a smooth triangular vector field, although it is neither smoothly stabilizable nor uniformly observable. Extensions to nonstrictly triangular systems are also discussed in the two‐dimensional case. Several examples are provided to illustrate the key features of the proposed semi‐global output feedback controllers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Semi‐global bipartite output consensus of heterogeneous multi‐agent systems subject to input saturation by finite‐time observer

In this paper, the semi‐global bipartite output consensus problem of heterogeneous linear multi‐agent systems is studied. Compared with related works, both cooperative interactions and antagonistic interactions between agents are considered, and the input saturation on each follower is taken into account. First, two distributed finite‐time observers are designed to recover the leader's state. Particularly, the setting time can be independent of any initial states. Due to the antagonistic interactions, estimation values are the same as the leader's state in modulus but may not in sign. Then, the low‐gain feedback technique is used to develop the distributed control law for each follower. Moreover, we summarize a framework for solving the semi‐global bipartite output consensus problem of heterogeneous multi‐agent systems subject to input saturation. Finally, examples are given to illustrate the results.     

Finite‐time output feedback stabilization of nonlinear high‐order feedforward systems

This paper considers the global finite‐time output feedback stabilization of a class of nonlinear high‐order feedforward systems. By using the homogeneous domination method together with adding a power integrator method and overcoming several troublesome obstacles in the design and analysis, a global finite‐time output feedback controller with reduced‐order observer is recursively designed to globally finite‐time stabilize nonlinear high‐order feedforward systems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A dual‐observer approach for global output feedback stabilization of planar nonlinear systems with output‐dependent growth rates

In this paper, we investigate the problem of global output feedback stabilization for a class of planar nonlinear systems under a more general growth condition, which encompasses both lower‐order and higher‐order state growths with output‐dependent rates. For more accurate estimation, two new observers with nonlinear gains are constructed to estimate the states on the lower‐order and higher‐order scales, respectively. The estimates produced from the dual‐observer are used delicately in the output feedback control law with both lower‐order and higher‐order modes. The overall stability of the system is guaranteed by rigorously choosing these nonlinear gains in the control law and the dual‐observer.     

Semi‐global output consensus of a group of linear systems in the presence of external disturbances and actuator saturation: An output regulation approach

This paper studies the problem of semi‐global leader‐following output consensus of a multi‐agent system. The output of each follower agent in the system, described by a same general linear system subject to external disturbances and actuator saturation, is to track the output of the leader, described by a linear system, which also generates disturbances as the exosystem does in the classical output regulation problem. Conditions on the agent dynamics are identified, under which a low‐gain feedback‐based linear state‐control algorithm is constructed for each follower agent such that the output consensus is achieved when the communication topology among the agents is a digraph containing no loop, and the leader is reachable from any follower agent. We also extend the results to the non‐identical disturbance case. In this case, conditions based on both the agent dynamics and the communication topology are identified, under which a low‐gain feedback‐based linear state‐control algorithm is constructed for each follower agent such that the leader‐following output consensus is achieved when the communication topology among the follower agents is a strongly connected and detailed balanced digraph, and the leader is a neighbor of at least one follower. In addition, under some further conditions on the agent dynamics, the control algorithm is adapted so as to achieve semi‐global leader‐following output consensus for a jointly connected undirected graph and the leader reachable from at least one follower. Copyright © 2015 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.     

Global output feedback sampled‐data stabilization for upper‐triangular nonlinear systems with improved maximum allowable transmission delay

This paper addresses the problem of output feedback sampled‐data stabilization for upper‐triangular nonlinear systems with improved maximum allowable transmission delay. A class of hybrid systems are firstly introduced. The transmission delay may be larger than the sampling period. Then, sufficient conditions are proposed to guarantee global exponential stability of the hybrid systems. Based on these sufficient conditions and a linear continuous‐discrete observer, an output feedback control law is presented to globally exponentially stabilize the feedforward nonlinear system. The improved maximum allowable transmission delay is also given. The results are also extended to output feedback sampled‐data stabilization for lower‐triangular nonlinear systems. Finally, illustrative examples are used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed design methods. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Semi‐global finite‐time observers for multi‐output nonlinear systems

Finite‐time stability is investigated for nonlinear systems, which satisfy uniqueness of solution. First, a new sufficient condition for local finite‐time stability is presented. Next, by using the high‐gain observers and carefully selecting the homogeneity powers and weights, the problem of semi‐global and finite‐time stable observers is studied for multi‐output nonlinear systems with uniform observability and a triangular structure. Then, a design procedure is worked out for such observers. Finally, two numerical examples further verify the validity of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A delay‐independent output feedback for linear systems with time‐varying input delay

It is well known that a delay‐dependent or delay‐independent truncated predictor feedback law stabilizes a general linear system in the presence of a certain amount of input delay. Results also exist on estimating the maximum delay bound that guarantees stability. In the face of a time‐varying or unknown delay, delay‐independent feedback laws are preferable over delay‐dependent feedback laws as the former provide robustness to the uncertainties in the delay. In the light of few results on the construction of delay‐independent output feedback laws for general linear systems with input delay, we present in this paper a delay‐independent observer–based output feedback law that stabilizes the system. Our design is based on the truncated predictor feedback design. We establish an estimate of the maximum allowable delay bound through the Razumikhin‐type stability analysis. An implication of the delay bound result reveals the capability of the proposed output feedback law in handling an arbitrarily large input delay in linear systems with all open‐loop poles at the origin or in the open left‐half plane. Compared with that of the delay‐dependent output feedback laws in the literature, this same level of stabilization result is not sacrificed by the absence of the prior knowledge of the delay.     

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.     

Global robust practical output regulation for nonlinear systems in output feedback form by output‐based event‐triggered control

In this paper, we study the event‐triggered global robust practical output regulation problem for a class of nonlinear systems in output feedback form with any relative degree. Our approach consists of the following three steps. First, we design an internal model and an observer to form the so‐called extended augmented system. Second, we convert the original problem into the event‐triggered global robust practical stabilization problem of the extended augmented system. Third, we design an output‐based event‐triggered control law and a Zeno‐free output‐based event‐triggered mechanism to solve the stabilization problem, which, in turn, leads to the solvability of the original problem. Finally, we apply our result to the controlled hyperchaotic Lorenz systems.     

Disturbance attenuation of a class of non‐linear systems via output feedback

This paper studies the problem of disturbance attenuation with internal stability via output feedback for a family of non‐linear systems. Using a feedback domination design which substantially differs from the separation principle, we explicitly construct a dynamic output compensator attenuating the disturbance's effect on the output to an arbitrary degree of accuracy in the L₂‐gain sense, and achieving global asymptotic stability in the absence of disturbance. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Global asymptotic tracking for nonminimum‐phase nonlinear systems in output feedback form

The problem of global asymptotic tracking by output feedback is studied for a class of nonminimum‐phase nonlinear systems in output feedback form. It is proved that the problem is solvable by an n‐dimensional output feedback controller under the two conditions: (a) the nonminimum‐phase nonlinear system can be rendered minimum‐phase by a virtual output; and (b) the internal dynamics of the nonlinear system driven by a desired signal and its derivatives has a bounded solution trajectory. With the help of a new coordinate transformation, a constructive method is presented for the design of a dynamic output tracking controller. An example is given to validate the proposed output feedback tracking control scheme.     

Global output feedback stabilization of upper‐triangular nonlinear systems using a homogeneous domination approach

This paper addresses the problem of global output feedback stabilization for a class of upper‐triangular systems with perturbing nonlinearities that are higher‐order in the unmeasurable states. A new design method based on the homogeneous domination approach and finite‐time stabilization technique is developed, which leads to global output feedback stabilizers for the upper‐triangular nonlinear systems under a homogeneous growth condition. A new perspective shown in this paper is that the finite‐time stabilization, in addition to its faster convergence rate, can also be utilized to handle control problems that were previously unresolved under asymptotic stabilization. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Semi‐global cooperative output regulation of a class of nonlinear uncertain multi‐agent systems under switching networks

In this paper, we consider the semi‐global cooperative output regulation problem for a class of nonlinear uncertain multi‐agent systems under switching networks. At first, we study the nonadaptive case when the exosystem has no parametric uncertainties and construct a common Lyapunov function to achieve the output regulation for general switching connected networks. Next, we study the case when the exosystem contains some parametric uncertainties. To solve the problem, we establish a stability result for a class of time‐varying system, which is then used in the design of distributed adaptive internal model‐based control. Then we construct multiple Lyapunov functions for the switching signal with its average dwell time lower bounded by a given constant. Throughout the paper, we treat the closed‐loop multi‐agent system from the viewpoint of singular perturbation. In fact, the singular perturbation‐based method provides an effective tool to handle the multi‐agent system under switching networks. Finally, we give numerical simulations based on Duffing systems and flexible manipulator systems to illustrate the effectiveness of our method. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Event‐triggered practical finite‐time output feedback stabilization of a class of uncertain nonlinear systems

This paper studies the event‐triggered practical finite‐time output feedback stabilization problem for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with unknown control gains. First, a reduced‐dimensional observer is employed to implement the reconstruction of the unavailable states. Furthermore, a novel event‐triggered output feedback control strategy is proposed based on the idea of backstepping design and sign function techniques. It is shown that the practical finite‐time stability of the closed‐loop systems is ensured by Lyapunov analysis and related stability criterion. Compared with the existing methods, the main advantage of this strategy is that the observer errors and event‐trigger errors can be processed simultaneously to achieve the practical finite‐time stability. Finally, an example is adopted to demonstrate the validity of the proposed scheme.     

Approaches to robust ℋ︁∞ static output feedback control of discrete‐time piecewise‐affine systems with norm‐bounded uncertainties

This paper investigates the problem of robust ??_∞ static output feedback controller design for a class of discrete‐time piecewise‐affine systems with norm‐bounded time‐varying parametric uncertainties. The objective is to design a piecewise‐linear static output feedback controller guaranteeing the asymptotic stability of the resulting closed‐loop system with a prescribed ??_∞ disturbance attenuation level. Based on a piecewise Lyapunov function combined with S‐procedure, Projection lemma, and some matrix inequality convexifying techniques, several novel approaches to the static output feedback controller analysis and synthesis are developed for the underlying piecewise‐affine systems. It is shown that the controller gains can be obtained by solving a set of strict linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) or a family of LMIs parameterized by one or two scalar variables, which are numerically efficient with commercially available software. Finally, three simulation examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Robust Adaptive Output‐Feedback Dynamic Surface Control of a Class of Nonlinear Systems with Unmodeled Dynamics

This paper presents a robust adaptive output‐feedback dynamic surface control (DSC) for a class of nonlinear systems with unmodeled dynamics or/and uncertain time‐varying disturbances. Based on traditional K‐filters, the proposed adaptive DSC scheme is able to guarantee semi‐global stability of the closed‐loop system without applying any approximation techniques. The adaptive law is necessary only at the first design step, which, together with the introduction of a first‐order filter at each design step, makes the control law easy to implement. Moreover, it is shown that the tracking error can converge to an arbitrarily small residual set by adjusting only one design parameter.     

Output regulation of discrete‐time linear plants subject to state and input constraints

Discrete‐time output regulation of linear systems with state and/or input constraints on magnitude is considered. Structural properties of linear plants are identified under which the so‐called constrained semi‐global and global output regulation problems are solvable. As in the case of continuous‐time systems, an important aspect of our development is a taxonomy of constraints showing a clear relationship between the constraint types and the output regulation results. Solvability conditions are developed for semi‐global and global output regulation problems. Appropriate regulators are constructed for problems that are solvable. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.