Trajectory tracking for the magnetic ball levitation system via exact feedforward linearisation and GPI control

The output feedback control of the popular magnetic ball levitation system is addressed from a suitable combination of several complementary viewpoints. We use: first, recent developments on exact feedforward linearisation controllers for nonlinear flat systems to substantially reduce the linear feedback controller efforts through pre-compensation. Second, an on-line ball velocity estimation strategy is proposed by using a model-based integral reconstructor, which is a linear combination of iterated integrals of the input and the output of the system, thus avoiding the use of traditional observers or noisy derivative estimations. Finally, we use a generalised proportional integral (GPI) controller which compensates the errors in the integral reconstructor and further bestows the enhanced robustness on the closed-loop system via output tracking error iterated integration feedback. This methodology only requires the measurements of the position of the levitated ball and of the control input voltage. The proposed feedback regulation scheme is shown to locally guarantee an asymptotically exponentially stable behaviour of the controlled ball position and, definitely, allows for the possibilities of safely carrying out the rest-to-rest trajectory tracking tasks on the ball position. The proposed output feedback controller is actually implemented on a laboratory prototype with excellent experimental results for, both, stabilisation and trajectory tracking tasks.     

Model‐assisted extended state observer and dynamic surface control–based trajectory tracking for quadrotors via output‐feedback mechanism

In this paper, an output‐feedback trajectory tracking controller for quadrotors is presented by integrating a model‐assisted extended state observer (ESO) with dynamic surface control. The quadrotor dynamics are described by translational and rotational loops with lumped disturbances to promote the hierarchical control design. Then, by exploiting the structural property of the quadrotor, a model information–assisted high‐order ESO that relies only on position measurements is designed to estimate not only the unmeasurable states but also the lumped disturbances in the rotational loop. In addition, to account for the problem of “explosion of complexity” inherent in hierarchical control, the output feedback–based trajectory tracking and attitude stabilization laws are respectively synthesized by utilizing dynamic surface control and the corresponding estimated signals provided by the ESO. The stability analysis is given, showing that the output‐feedback trajectory tracking controller can ensure the ultimate boundedness of all signals in the closed‐loop system and make the tracking errors arbitrarily small. Finally, flight simulations with respect to an 8‐shaped trajectory command are performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed scheme in obtaining the stable and accurate trajectory tracking using position measurements only.     

Global trajectory tracking through output feedback for robot manipulators with bounded inputs

In this work, a globally stabilizing output feedback scheme for the trajectory tracking of robot manipulators with bounded inputs is proposed. It achieves the motion control objective avoiding input saturation and excluding velocity measurements. Moreover, it is not defined using a specific sigmoidal function, but any one on a set of saturation functions. Consequently, the proposed scheme actually constitutes a family of globally stabilizing output feedback bounded controllers. Furthermore, the control gains are not tied to satisfy any saturation‐avoidance inequality and may consequently take any positive value, which may be considered beneficial for performance adjustment/improvement purposes. Further, a class of desired trajectories that may be globally tracked avoiding input saturation and excluding velocity measurements is completely characterized. Global asymptotic stabilization of the closed‐loop system solutions towards the pre‐specified desired trajectory is proved through a strict Lyapunov function. The efficiency of the proposed scheme is corroborated through experimental results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society     

轮式移动机器人的位置量测输出反馈轨迹跟踪控制

针对机器人的姿态角难以精确测量的困难,本文研究基于位置测量的轮式移动机器人的轨迹跟踪问题.首先提出一种利用机器人的位置信息估计其姿态角的降维状态观测器,当机器人的线速度严格大于零时,可保证姿态角观测误差的指数收敛.然后给出一种新的状态反馈轨迹跟踪控制律,当参考轨迹满足一定的激励条件时,可以保证机器人的线速度严格大于零且跟踪误差全局渐近收敛.进一步结合姿态角观测器和状态反馈控制律,得到一种输出反馈轨迹跟踪控制算法.理论分析表明,当参考轨迹满足一定的激励条件时,所提出的输出反馈控制算法可以保证跟踪误差的全局渐近收敛.最后对所提出的姿态角观测器、状态反馈和输出反馈轨迹跟踪控制算法进行了仿真验证,证实了算法的有效性,并且当存在位置测量误差时,所提出的输出反馈轨迹跟踪控制算法仍可以保证机器人对参考轨迹的实际跟踪.     

Flatness-based linear output feedback control for disturbance rejection and tracking tasks on a Chua's circuit

A linear output feedback controller is developed for trajectory tracking problems defined on a modified version of Chua's circuit. The circuit modification considers the introduction of a flat input, i.e. a suitable external control input channel guided by (a) the induction of the flatness property on a measurable output signal of the circuit and (b) the physical viability of the control input. A linear active disturbance rejection control based on a high-gain linear disturbance observer, is implemented on a laboratory prototype. We show that the state-dependent disturbance can be approximately, but arbitrarily closely, estimated through a linear high-gain observer, called a generalised proportional integral (GPI) observer, which contains a linear combination of a sufficient number of extra iterated integrals of the output estimation error. Experimental results are presented in the output reference trajectory tracking of a signal generated by an unrelated chaotic system of the Lorenz type. Laboratory experiments illustrate the proposed linear methodology for effectively controlling chaos.     

Constrained predictive pole-placement control with linear models

Predictive pole-placement (PPP) control is a continuous-time MPC using a particular set of basis functions leading to pole-placement behaviour in the unconstrained case. This paper presents two modified versions of the PPP controller which are each shown to have desirable stability properties when controlling systems with input, output and state constraints.     

Adaptive control based on fast online algebraic identification and GPI control for magnetic levitation systems with time-varying input gain

This paper considers the position tracking problem of a voltage-controlled magnetic levitation system (MLS) in the presence of modelling errors caused by uncertainties in the system’s physical parameters. An adaptive control based on fast online algebraic parameter estimation and generalised proportional integral (GPI) output feedback control is considered as a control scheme candidate. The GPI controller guarantees an asymptotically exponentially stable behaviour of the controlled ball position and the possibilities of carrying out rest-to-rest trajectory tracking tasks. The nature of the control input gain in an MLS is that of a state-dependent time-varying gain, reflecting the nonlinear character of the magnetic force with regard to the distance and the properties of the metallic ball. The system gain has therefore been locally approximated using a periodically updated time polynomial function (of second degree), where the coefficients of the polynomial are estimated during a very short period of time. This estimation is achieved using the recently introduced algebraic online parameter estimation approach. The stability of the closed-loop system is demonstrated under the assumption that no external factors cause changes in the parameter during the time interval in which the stability is analysed. Finally, experimental results are presented for the controlled MLS demonstrating the excellent stabilisation and position tracking performance of the control system designed in the presence of significant nonlinearities and uncertainties of the underlying system.     

A Saturating Extension of an Output Feedback Controller for Internally Damped Euler‐Lagrange Systems

In this research, a novel extension of the passivity‐based output feedback trajectory tracking controller is developed for internally damped Euler‐Lagrange systems with input saturation. Compared with the previous output feedback controllers, this new design of a combined adaptive controller‐observer system will reduce the risk of actuator saturation effectively via generalized saturation functions. Semi‐global uniform ultimate boundedness stability of the tracking errors and state estimation errors is guaranteed by Lyapunov stability analysis. An application of the proposed saturated output feedback controller is the stabilization of a nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot with saturated actuators towards desired trajectories. Simulation results are provided to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed controller in dealing with the actuator saturation.     

垂直起降飞机的全局轨迹跟踪控制

研究垂直起降飞机在任意输入耦合作用下的轨迹跟踪控制问题．垂直起降飞机是具有3个自由度、2个控制输入的欠驱动系统．首先通过控制输入和坐标变换,使飞机的动力学方程变换成严格反馈形式;然后基于后推法的思想推导出保证系统渐近收敛于参考轨迹的时变反馈控制规律．该方法将系统分解为低阶子系统来处理,利用中间虚拟控制变量和部分Lyapunov函数筒化了控制器的设计．仿真结果表明所设计的控制器是有效的．     

Adaptive output feedback tracking control for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems using neural networks.

This correspondence addresses the problem of designing robust tracking control for a class of uncertain nonlinear MIMO second-order systems. An adaptive neural-network-based output feedback tracking controller is constructed such that all the states and signals involved are uniformly bounded and the tracking error is uniformly ultimately bounded. Only the output measurement is required for feedback. The implementation of the neural network basis functions depends only on the desired reference trajectory. Therefore, the intelligent adaptive output feedback controller developed here possesses the properties of computational simplicity and easy implementation. A simulation example of controlling mass-spring-damper mechanical systems is made to confirm the effectiveness and performance of the developed control scheme.     

On the design of approximate non‐linear parametric controllers

This paper focuses on the design of non‐linear parametric controllers, around a nominal input/output trajectory of a discrete‐time non‐linear system. The main result provided herein is a relationship between the tracking performance of the closed‐loop control system in the neighbourhood of a nominal trajectory, and some local features (the first‐order linear approximations about the nominal trajectory) of the non‐linear mappings which characterize the plant and the feedback controller. Such a result can be used to predict the dynamic behaviour of the control system, and to reduce the computational complexity of the optimization task associated with the tuning of the parametric feedback controller. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the sliding mode control of MIMO nonlinear systems: An input‐output approach

We address the sliding mode control design problem for output reference trajectory tracking problems in the special class of MIMO flat systems known as static feedback linearizable systems. We assume unavailable system state components but rely on available inputs and measurable flat outputs. Each controller will largely ignore state and control input couplings by adopting a standard sliding mode controller scheme derived from the SISO case and used this as decoupled input‐to‐flat‐output model. The standard controller arises from a vastly simplified pure integration, additively perturbed, system. The simplified pure integration system controlled trajectories are shown to be time‐scale homotopically equivalent to those of the nonlinear flat system. The basic sliding surface coordinate function design is approached from the perspective of structural integral reconstructors requiring only the inputs and the flat outputs of the system. Integral structural reconstructors were introduced by Fliess et al for the control of linear SISO and MIMO systems, giving rise to the generalized proportional integral control method. Simulations are presented for SISO and MIMO systems and experimental results are reported for a two‐degree‐of‐freedom fully actuated robotic manipulator.     

一种跟踪问题中的次优非线性预测控制算法

针对跟踪问题中无状态和输入约束的非线性预测控制最优解的求取问题,引入参考输入轨迹的概念,利用Ｓｔｉｒｌｉｎｇ插值公式,将非线性系统模型沿参考输入输出轨迹展开,取其一阶近似,处理成参数已知的线性模型．在此基础上,利用线性系统预测控制理论求解得到原系统的次优控制律．该方法不要求系统模型连续可导,且无需对线性化后的模型参数进行在线辨识,计算量小,易于实现．     

Robust optimal control during feedback disruption for nonlinear systems controlled by an observer-based output feedback controller

In this paper, a robust optimal control problem during feedback disruption is considered for a class of nonlinear systems which have been controlled by an observer-based output feedback controller. It is shown that during feedback disruption, there exists an optimal control input which keeps both system states and observer errors within a specified bound for the longest time. Then, it is shown that such an optimal control input can be practically implemented by using a bang-bang control input in terms of control performance. One numerical and one practical examples are given for clear illustration.     

一种带参考批次的线性时变系统迭代学习控制算法

针对线性时变系统的轨迹跟踪控制问题,提出一种带参考批次的迭代学习控制算法,并给出了算法的收敛性分析.该迭代学习控制算法不需要事先了解线性时变对象的太多知识,而是将当前批次输入轨迹的较小变化所引起的输出轨迹作为参考批次,并以当前批次与参考批次的输入变化与对应的输出变化之比作为学习律,从而实现目标轨迹的跟踪.以一个典型的线性时变系统为例进行仿真分析,验证了所提出算法的有效性.     

不确定状态滞后系统时滞相关鲁棒H∞控制

研究了不确定状态滞后系统的鲁棒H∞控制问题,假定参数不确定性时变未知但有 界.基于LMI方法,提出了一种新的鲁棒无记忆状态反馈H∞,控制器的设计方法,得出的结 论与时滞大小有关,相对于时滞无关的结论具有较少的保守性.     

对角CARIMA模型多变量广义预测控制改进算法

为了增强多变量广义预测控制算法(MGPC)的实用性,对其实现形式进行了进一步的简化.利用对角CARIMA模型的结构特点,先对系统中单个输出变量期望值的自由响应部分进行分解推导,将其表达成自由响应项系数与系统输入输出变量已知值乘积的形式,得到此输出变量的预测表达式,然后将系统所有输出变量的预测表达式代入目标函数中,得到的控制增量等于控制器系数与参考轨迹、过程输入输出历史数据的乘积.控制器系数只与模型参数及设计参数有关,求解控制量时不再需要进行模型输出预报,控制器结构简单,实现容易.对比实验结果表明了该方法保持了常规MGPC方法的优秀控制性能.     

Adaptive learning control of linear systems by output error feedback

This paper addresses the problem of designing an output error feedback tracking control for single-input, single-output uncertain linear systems when the reference output signal is smooth and periodic with known period T. The considered systems are required to be observable, minimum phase, with known relative degree and known high frequency gain sign. By developing in Fourier series expansion a suitable unknown periodic input reference signal, an output error feedback adaptive learning control is designed which ‘learns’ the input reference signal by identifying its Fourier coefficients: bounded closed-loop signals and global exponential tracking of both the input and the output reference signals are obtained when the Fourier series expansion is finite, while global exponential convergence of the input and output tracking errors into arbitrarily small residual sets is achieved otherwise. The structure of the proposed controller depends only on the relative degree, the reference signal period, the high frequency gain sign and the number of estimated Fourier coefficients.     

Output transient trajectory shaping control for a class of nonlinear systems

This paper presents a transient trajectory shaping (TTS) control method for the SISO strict feedback nonlinear systems. The TTS control refers to explicitly constraining the system output tracking error transient trajectories within predesigned time‐varying boundaries while they are converging to equilibrium. By this method, the boundaries of system output transient trajectories can be designed a priori according to the system transient control performance requirements in both symmetric and asymmetric ways. With a class of time‐varying boundary functions, control laws can be devised by utilizing the enhanced differential unbounded function techniques. Such control laws can ascertain that the system output tracking errors travel within their respectively predesigned time‐varying boundaries while converging to origin. To handle the control input exaggeration issue in TTS, input constraint control techniques are proposed to effectively reduce the required control input magnitude for second‐order systems. A numerical example is utilized to show the effectiveness of the proposed TTS control methods. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.