Static anti‐windup design for a class of nonlinear systems

This paper focuses on the problem of static anti‐windup design for a class of multivariable nonlinear systems subject to actuator saturation. The considered class regards all systems that are rational on the states or that can be conveniently represented by a rational system with algebraic constraints considering some variable changes. More precisely, a method is proposed to compute a static anti‐windup gain which ensures regional stability for the closed‐loop system assuming that a dynamic output feedback controller is previously designed to stabilize the nonlinear system. The results are based on a differential algebraic representation of rational systems. The control saturation effects are taken into account by the application of a generalized sector bound condition. From these elements, LMI‐based conditions are devised to compute an anti‐windup gain with the aim of enlarging the closed‐loop region of attraction. Several numerical examples are provided to illustrate the application of the proposed method. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Three‐dimensional nonlinear H∞ guidance law

This paper proposes a novel three‐dimensional missile guidance law design based on nonlinear H_∞ control. The complete nonlinear kinematics of pursuit–evasion motion is considered in the three‐dimensional spherical co‐ordinates system; neither linearization nor small angle assumption is made here. The nonlinear H_∞ guidance law is expressed in a simple form by solving the associated Hamilton–Jacobi partial differential inequality analytically. Unlike adaptive guidance laws, the implement of the proposed robust H_∞ guidance law does not require the information of target acceleration, while ensuring acceptable interceptive performance for arbitrary target with finite acceleration. The resulting pursuit–evasion trajectories for both the H_∞‐guided missile and the worst‐case target are determined in closed form, and the performance robustness against variations in target acceleration, in engagement condition, and in control loop gain, is verified by numerical simulations. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distributed plantwide control based on differential dissipativity

Modern chemical plants are becoming very complex, often consisting of a number of nonlinear process units (subsystems) with strong interactions due to material recycle and energy integration. The operation setpoint may need to be adjusted from time to time based on the market demand. To address the aforementioned challenges, a plantwide distributed nonlinear control scheme based on differential dissipativity is proposed in this paper, which can ensure plantwide incremental exponential stability and achieve bounded incremental L₂ gain performance. As a non‐unique property, the differential dissipativity of individual subsystem is shaped by a setpoint‐independent control structure – differential state feedback control. The dissipativity properties of subsystems and individual controllers are determined simultaneously as a large‐scale feasibility problem to ensure the plantwide stability and performance. It is converted into an LMI condition for plantwide supply rate planning and small‐scale sum‐of‐squares programming problems for individual subsystem dissipativity shaping, by using the alternating direction method of multipliers method. The proposed approach is illustrated using a chemical reactor network with a recycle stream. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design of a memory‐based prefilter supplementing a robust PID control system

For systems with uncertainties, lots of PID parameter tuning methods have been proposed from the view point of the robust stability theory. However, the control performance becomes conservative using robust PID controllers. In this paper, a new two‐degree‐of‐freedom (2DOF) controller, which can improve the tracking properties, is proposed for nonlinear systems. According to the proposed method, the prefilter is designed as the PD compensator whose control parameters are tuned by the idea of a memory‐based modeling (MBM) method. Since the MBM method is a type of local modeling methods for nonlinear systems, PD parameters can be tuned adequately in an online manner corresponding to nonlinear properties. Finally, the effectiveness of the newly proposed control scheme is numerically evaluated on a simulation example. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society     

Delay‐range‐dependent control of nonlinear time‐delay systems under input saturation

This paper describes a delay‐range‐dependent local state feedback controller synthesis approach providing estimation of the region of stability for nonlinear time‐delay systems under input saturation. By employing a Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, properties of nonlinear functions, local sector condition and Jensen's inequality, a sufficient condition is derived for stabilization of nonlinear systems with interval delays varying within a range. Novel solutions to the delay‐range‐dependent and delay‐dependent stabilization problems for linear and nonlinear time‐delay systems, respectively, subject to input saturation are derived as specific scenarios of the proposed control strategy. Also, a delay‐rate‐independent condition for control of nonlinear systems in the presence of input saturation with unknown delay‐derivative bound information is established. And further, a robust state feedback controller synthesis scheme ensuring L₂ gain reduction from disturbance to output is devised to address the problem of the stabilization of input‐constrained nonlinear time‐delay systems with varying interval lags. The proposed design conditions can be solved using linear matrix inequality tools in connection with conventional cone complementary linearization algorithms. Simulation results for an unstable nonlinear time‐delay network and a large‐scale chemical reactor under input saturation and varying interval time‐delays are analyzed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Active Disturbance Rejection Control System Design for a Morphing Wing Structure

Control system design for a morphing wing structure, which is proposed by NextGen Aeronautics, Inc., is investigated in this paper. The dynamic model of the morphing wing, developed based on the Euler‐Lagrange equation, is nonlinear, multivariable coupled, over‐actuated and uncertain. The allocation‐decoupling controller is designed based on control efficiency and decoupling matrices. For each decoupled subsystem, nonlinear and linear active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) systems are designed and compared. The time‐optimal property and the convergence of nonlinear ADRC are analyzed theoretically based on the isochronic region and Lyapunov theories. The simulation results of the developed control systems show satisfactory performances of decoupling and extreme tolerance of internal uncertainty and external disturbance. The comparison of nonlinear and linear ADRC systems demonstrate that the nonlinear system can provide a little better performance while the linear system can greatly simplify the design procedure. The results indicate that, the methods of control system design proposed in this paper are practical and effective for motion control of complex uncertain dynamical systems.     

Subdivision algorithm for optimal control

We present a novel algorithm for optimal control of nonlinear systems based on a subdivision algorithm. The algorithm presented in this paper is an alternative to a set‐oriented approach for optimal feedback stabilization. We compare the proposed algorithm to the set‐oriented approach, contrast these two approaches, and use examples to show that the new algorithm produces comparable results. Also, we demonstrate by example that we receive a precomputed optimal solution. The main contribution of the paper is understanding how cost function improves with further subdivision of state space and smaller memory footprint of the final solution in comparison with set‐oriented approach. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design of nonlinear terminal guidance/autopilot controller for missiles with pulse type input devices

This investigation addresses a nonlinear terminal guidance/autopilot controller with pulse‐type control inputs for intercepting a theater ballistic missile in the exoatmospheric region. Appropriate initial conditions on the terminal phase are assumed to apply after the end of the midcourse operation. Accordingly, the terminal controller seeks to minimize the distance between the commanded missile and the target missile to ensure a hit‐to‐kill interception. In particular, a 3D terminal guidance law is initially developed to eliminate the so‐called “sliding velocity, ” thus, constraining the relative motion between the missile and the target along the line of sight. Sliding mode control is adopted to design stable pulse‐type control systems. Then, a quaternion‐based attitude controller is used to orient appropriately the commanded missile, taking into account the fact that the missile is a rigid body, to realize interceptability. The stability of the overall integrated terminal guidance/autopilot system is then analyzed thoroughly, based on Lyapunov stability theory. Finally, extensive simulations are conducted to verify the validity and effectiveness of the integrated controller with the pulse type inputs developed herein. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society     

Robust IDA‐PBC for underactuated mechanical systems subject to matched disturbances

The problem of robustification of interconnection and damping assignment passivity‐based control for underactuated mechanical system vis‐à‐vis matched, constant, and unknown disturbances is addressed in the paper. This is achieved adding an outer‐loop controller to the interconnection and damping assignment passivity‐based control. Three designs are proposed, with the first one being a simple nonlinear PI, while the second and the third ones are nonlinear PIDs. While all controllers ensure stability of the desired equilibrium in spite of the presence of the disturbances, the inclusion of the derivative term allows us to inject further damping enlarging the class of systems for which asymptotic stability is ensured. Numerical simulations of the Acrobot system and experimental results on the disk‐on‐disk system illustrate the performance of the proposed controller. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Integrated Game Based Guidance with Nonlinear Autopilot Design for Maneuvering Target Interception

The integrated game theory based guidance law with nonlinear autopilot (GGNA) system is presented in this paper. The guidance law is designed based on linear differential game theory while considering the motion of the target in 3‐D space such that the distance between the missile and the target is minimized faster than before. The autopilot system based on quaternion representation is developed using sliding mode control method to generate the attitude command. The stability of the integrated guidance and nonlinear autopilot system is analyzed with Lyapunov stability theory. In addition, this research assumes wingless missiles in our context in order to reduce the nonlinear effect from the aerodynamics. Furthermore, in order to extend the operation range of missiles from endo‐atmosphere to exo‐atmosphere, the missiles are equipped with Thrust Vector Control (TVC) mechanisms and Divert Control System (DCS). Finally, extensive simulations incorporating aerodynamic models are demonstrated to verify the validity of the proposed integrated guidance/autopilot systems. Moreover, the simulation results reveal that the mission of intercepting a maneuvering target is successfully accomplished.     

Performance‐based near‐optimal vibration control for nonlinear offshore platforms with delayed input

This paper investigates the vibration control problem for offshore platform, where the nonlinear characteristics, delayed input and external wave force are considered in time domain. By introducing a delay‐free reconstructional vector and applying the maximum principle, the original vibration problem for offshore platform is formulated as a nonlinear two‐point‐boundary‐value (TPBV) problem with delayed items. The major contribution of this paper is that a performance‐based near‐optimal vibration control strategy is proposed by solving this nonlinear TPBV problem, which includes a feedback item with offshore platform system state, a feedforward item with wave force state, and a compensator for nonlinear and delayed items with infinite supersensitive component. In particular, the designed compensator is calculated from two group series of linear differential equations by introducing a parameter for expending the Maclaurin series of nonlinear and delay items. Meanwhile, an iterative algorithm is designed to make the proposed vibration control scheme computable based on the control performance in each iterative procedure. Finally, experimental results show that the displacement, velocity and performance index of an employed offshore platform achieved small values under the proposed control strategy and designed algorithm.     

Composite stratified anti‐disturbance control for a class of MIMO discrete‐time systems with nonlinearity

Anti‐disturbance control and estimation problem are investigated for nonlinear system subject to multi‐source disturbances. The disturbances classified model is proposed based on the error and noise analysis of priori knowledge. The disturbance observers are constructed separately from the controller design to estimate the disturbance with partial known information. By integrating disturbance‐observer‐based control with discrete‐time sliding‐mode control (DSMC), a novel type of composite stratified anti‐disturbance control scheme is presented for a class of multiple‐input–multiple‐output discrete‐time systems with known and unknown nonlinear dynamics, respectively. Simulations for a flight control system are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the results compared with the previous schemes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adaptive guidance law design based on characteristic model for reentry vehicles

In this paper an adaptive guidance law based on the characteristic model is designed to track a reference drag acceleration for reentry vehicles like the Shuttle. The characteristic modeling method of linear constant systems is extended for single-input and single-output （SlSO） linear time-varying systems so that the characteristic model can be established for reentry vehicles. A new nonlinear differential golden-section adaptive control law is presented. When the coefficients belong to a bounded closed convex set and their rate of change meets some constraints, the uniformly asymptotic stability of the nonlinear differential golden-section adaptive control system is proved. The tracking control law, the nonlinear differential golden-section control law, and the revised logical integral control law are integrated to design an adaptive guidance law based on the characteristic model. This guidance law overcomes the disadvantage of the feedback linearization method which needs the precise model. Simulation results show that the proposed method has better performance of tracking the reference drag acceleration than the feedback linearizaUon one.     

Adaptive neural control for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with unknown time delay

A neural network (NN)‐based robust adaptive control design scheme is developed for a class of nonlinear systems represented by input–output models with an unknown nonlinear function and unknown time delay. By approximating on‐line the unknown nonlinear functions with a three‐layer feedforward NN, the proposed approach does not require the unknown parameters to satisfy the linear dependence condition. The control law is delay independent and possible controller singularity problem is avoided. It is proved that with the proposed neural control law, all the signals in the closed‐loop system are semiglobally bounded in the presence of unknown time delay and unknown nonlinearity. A simulation example is presented to demonstrate the method. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Operator‐based robust control for nonlinear plants with uncertain non‐symmetric backlash

This paper presents an operator‐based robust nonlinear control method for nonlinear plants with uncertain non‐symmetric backlash. The control design is achieved by introducing operator‐based robust right coprime factorization. In more detail, using an operator‐theoretic approach, the uncertain non‐symmetric backlash is described as a generalized Lipschitz operator and a bounded parasitic term. Since the generalized Lipschitz operator is unknown, a new robust condition using robust right coprime factorization is proposed to guarantee robust stability of the controlled plant with the uncertain backlash. As a result, based on the proposed robust condition, a stabilized plant is obtained. For eliminating the effect from the parasitic term to ensure the output tracking performance, a nonlinear tracking controller is designed. Simulation results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control design method. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society     

Robust consensus tracking for a class of heterogeneous second‐order nonlinear multi‐agent systems

This paper deals with the robust consensus tracking problem for a class of heterogeneous second‐order nonlinear multi‐agent systems with bounded external disturbances. First, a distributed adaptive control law is proposed based on the relative position and velocity information. It is shown that for any connected undirected communication graph, the proposed control law solves the robust consensus tracking problem. Then, by introducing a novel distributed observer and employing backstepping design techniques, a distributed adaptive control law is constructed based only on the relative position information. Compared with the existing results, the proposed adaptive consensus protocols are in a distributed fashion, and the nonlinear functions are not required to satisfy any globally Lipschitz or Lipschitz‐like condition. Numerical examples are given to verify our proposed protocols. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Control of Selective Catalytic Reduction Systems Using Feedback Linearisation

This paper discusses the identification and control of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. SCR after‐treatment systems form an important technology for reducing the nitrogen oxides, NO_x, produced by diesel engines. To be able to control the system, i.e. reducing the output NO_x, good models of the after‐treatment system are essential. In this paper a nonlinear black‐box model is identified using a recursive prediction error method. The nonlinear model is applied for design of a controller using feedback linearization techniques including an adaptive strategy. A linear quadratic Gaussian controller is used for the control of the linearized system. A total of 17 parameters were estimated for the nonlinear model. The results indicate that output NO_x control using feedback linearization based on a second order black‐box nonlinear model is feasible, provided that identification or adaptivity is used for model tuning. The latter requirement is a result of a study of the robustness. In summary, the paper indicates that significant improvements as compared to linear control can be obtained with the proposed strategy.     

A nonlinear state‐feedback state‐feedforward tracking control strategy for a boiler‐turbine unit

A boiler‐turbine unit is a primary module for coal‐fired power plants, and an effective automatic control system is needed for the boiler‐turbine unit to track the load changes with the drum water level kept within an acceptable range. The aim of this paper is to develop a nonlinear tracking controller for the Bell‐Åström boiler‐turbine unit. A Takagi‐Sugeno fuzzy control system is introduced for the nonlinear modeling of the Bell‐Åström boiler‐turbine unit. Based on the Takagi‐Sugeno fuzzy models, a nonlinear tracking controller is developed, and the proposed control law is comprised of a state‐feedforward term and a state‐feedback term. The stability of the closed‐loop control system is analyzed on the basis of Lyapunov stability theory via the linear matrix inequality approach and Schur complement. Moreover, model uncertainties are also considered, and it is proved that with the proposed control law the tracking error converges to zero. To assess the performance of the proposed nonlinear state‐feedback state‐feedforward control strategy, a nonlinear model predictive control strategy and a linear strategy are presented as comparisons. The effectiveness and the advantages of the proposed nonlinear state‐feedback state‐feedforward control strategy are demonstrated by simulations.     

Composite antidisturbance control for nonlinear systems via nonlinear disturbance observer and dissipative control

This paper investigates the design problem of composite antidisturbance control for a class of nonlinear systems with multiple disturbances. First, a novel nonlinear disturbance observer‐based control scheme is constructed to estimate and compensate the disturbance modeled by the nonlinear exosystem. Then, by combining the dissipative control theory, a linear matrix inequality‐based design method of composite antidisturbance control is developed such that the augmented system is exponentially stable in the absence of unmodeled disturbances, and is dissipative in the presence of unmodeled disturbances. In this case, the original closed‐loop system is exponentially stable in the presence of modeled disturbances. Subsequently, two special cases of composite antidisturbance control are derived with H_∞ performance and passivity, respectively. Finally, the proposed method is applied to control A4D aircraft to show its effectiveness.     

Sampled‐data control of networked nonlinear systems with variable delays and drops

This paper investigates the stabilization problem of the nonlinear networked control systems (NCSs) with drops and variable delays. The NCS is modeled as a sampled‐data system. For such a sampled‐data NCS, the stability properties are studied for delay that can be both shorter and longer than one sampling period, respectively. The exponential stability conditions are derived in terms of the parameters of the plant and time delay. On the other hand, a model‐based control scheme based on an approximate discrete‐time model of the plant is presented to guarantee the stability of the closed‐loop system subject to variable time delays and packet losses. The performance of the proposed control schemes are examined through numerical simulations of an automated rendezvous and docking of spacecraft system. Moreover, the simulations show that by employing the model‐based controller, a higher closed‐loop control performance can be achieved. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.