Global state and feedback equivalence of nonlinear systems

The problem of finding global state space transformations and global feedback of the form u(t)= α(x) + ν(t) to transform a given nonlinear system to a controllable linear system on Rⁿ or on an open subset of Rⁿ, is considered here. We give a complete set of differential geometric conditions which are equivalent to the existence of a solution to the above problem.     

On Local Structural Stability of Differential 1-Forms and Nonlinear Hypersurface Systems on a Manifold with Boundary

In this paper we consider smooth differential 1-forms and smooth nonlinear control-affine systems with (n−1)-inputs evolving on an n-dimensional manifold with boundary. These systems are called hypersurface systems under the additional assumption that the drift vector field and control vector fields span the tangent space to the manifold. We locally classify all structurally stable differential 1-forms on a manifold with boundary. We give complete local classification of structurally stable hypersurface systems on a manifold with boundary under static state feedback defined by diffeomorphisms, which preserve the manifold together with its boundary. Date received: March 30, 2000. Date revised: October 30, 2000.     

Normal forms for multi‐input flat systems of minimal differential weight

We present normal forms for nonlinear control systems that are the closest to static feedback linearizable ones, that is, for systems that become feedback linearizable via the simplest dynamic feedback, which is the one‐fold prolongation of a suitably chosen control. They form a particular class of flat systems, namely those of differential weight n + m + 1, where n is the number of states and m is the number of controls. We also show that the dynamic feedback may create singularities in the control space depending on the state and we discuss them. We also address the issue of the normalization of the system only versus that of the system together with a flat output. Finally, we illustrate our results by several examples.     

A classification of generic families of control-affine systems and their bifurcations

We study control-affine systems with n − 1 inputs evolving on an n-dimensional manifold for which the distribution spanned by the control vector fields is involutive and of constant rank (equivalently, they may be considered as 1-dimensional systems with n − 1 inputs entering nonlinearly). We provide a complete classification of such generic systems and their one-parameter families. We show that a generic family for n > 2 is equivalent (with respect to feedback or orbital feedback transformations) to one of nine canonical forms which differ from those for n = 2 by quadratic terms only. We also describe all generic bifurcations of 1-parameter families of systems of the above form.     

A‐Orbital feedback linearization of multiinput control affine systems

This article deals with transformations of multiinput nonlinear control systems into linear controllable systems. For multiinput control affine systems, the notion of A‐orbital feedback linearizability is introduced which generalizes the notion of orbital feedback linearizability and is based on input‐dependent time scalings. A necessary and sufficient condition for A‐orbital feedback linearizability is derived for multiinput control affine systems. On the basis of this condition, an A‐orbital feedback linearization algorithm is developed. It is revealed that the proposed concept extends the existing approaches to orbital feedback linearization. More precisely, it is proved that if a system is A‐orbitally feedback linearizable in a neighborhood of some point, the dimension of the state is greater than that of the input by at least three, and the time scaling essentially depends on the input, then the system cannot be orbitally feedback linearized around that point.     

Input-Output linearization using approximate process models

An approach to approximate feedback linearization is presented which utilizes an approximate input-output normal form model for the process. The approach is valid for minimjm phase systems, and yields a dynamic output feedback controller of order 2N − R + 1, where N is the dynamic approximation order and R is the relative degree of the approximation model. Conditions are presented under which local (linear) stability can be guaranteed despite the plant-model mismatch. Two reactor control case studies are presented to show how the approach can be used both when a fundamental process model is available and when only process input-output data are available.     

Immersion and invariance adaptive control of a class of nonlinear systems with unknown control direction

The goal of this article is to extend the adaptive control problem of parametric strict feedback form nonlinear systems, using immersion and invariance to the case of unknown, possibly, time-varying control direction. The idea is to immerse a target system in ? ^n?1, which is stabilised through the design of virtual controllers, into an extended system in ? ^n+p . The designed controller takes advantage of the well-known Nussbaum functions to deal with the unknown sign of input multiplier and is designed through the manifold dynamics belonging to ? ^p+1. The effectiveness of the proposed method is shown through a simulation example and is also compared to the classical adaptive backstepping approach with an unknown control direction.     

A note on reduced order stabilizing output feedback controllers

In this paper we show that if a certain class of nonlinear systems is globally asymptotically stabilizable through an n-dimensional output feedback controller then it can be always stabilized through an (n − p)-dimensional output feedback controller, where p is the number of outputs and n is the dimension of the state space. This result gives an alternative construction of reduced order controllers for linear systems, and recovers in a more general framework the concept of dirty derivative, used in the framework of rigid and elastic joint robots, and gives an alternative procedure for designing reduced-order controllers for nonlinear systems considered in the existing literature.     

Non-Lipschitz continuous stabilizers for nonlinear systems with uncontrollable unstable linearization

Without imposing any growth condition, we prove that every chain of odd power integrators perturbed by a C¹ triangular vector field is globally stabilizable via non-Lipschitz continuous state feedback, although it is not stabilizable, even locally, by any smooth state feedback because the Jacobian linearization may have uncontrollable modes whose eigenvalues are on the right half-plane. The proof is constructive and accomplished by developing a machinery – adding a power integrator – that enables one to explicitly design a C⁰ globally stabilizing feedback law as well as a C¹ control Lyapunov function which is positive definite and proper.     

Some remarks on static-feedback linearization for time-varying systems

This work summarizes some results about static state feedback linearization for time-varying systems. Three different necessary and sufficient conditions are stated in this paper. The first condition is the one by [Sluis, W. M. (1993). A necessary condition for dynamic feedback linearization. Systems & Control Letters, 21, 277–283]. The second and the third are the generalizations of known results due respectively to [Aranda-Bricaire, E., Moog, C. H., Pomet, J. B. (1995). A linear algebraic framework for dynamic feedback linearization. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, 40, 127–132] and to [Jakubczyk, B., Respondek, W. (1980). On linearization of control systems. Bulletin del’Academie Polonaise des Sciences. Serie des Sciences Mathematiques, 28, 517–522]. The proofs of the second and third conditions are established by showing the equivalence between these three conditions. The results are re-stated in the infinite dimensional geometric approach of [Fliess, M., Lévine J., Martin, P., Rouchon, P. (1999). A Lie–Bäcklund approach to equivalence and flatness of nonlinear systems. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, 44(5), 922–937].     

Feedback equivalence of constant linear systems

Two constant linear systems are said to be feedback equivalent if one can be transformed into the other via an element of the “feedback group”, which acts by state space feedback and by change of basis in the state and input spaces. Let C_n,m be the space of n-dimensional completely reachable systems with m-dimensional input (pairs of matrices, n × n and n × m). The action of the feedback group partitions the space C_n,m into finitely many orbits (equivalence classes), and the closure of each orbit is a union of orbits. If one views orbit closure as ‘deformation’, then orbit closure may be considered in terms of perturbations or system failure. In this paper we determine: (1) a classification of the orbits, and (2) the orbits contained in the closure of a given orbit. Both of these problems have been solved previously (see [1,4,6,3]); here we present simple proofs and point out a connection between this problem and the analogous problem for nilpotent matrices.     

Robust state feedback synthesis for control of non-square multivariable nonlinear systems

In this paper, a robust nonlinear controller is designed in the Input/Output (I/O) linearization framework, for non-square multivariable nonlinear systems that have more inputs than outputs and are subject to parametric uncertainty. A nonlinear state feedback is synthesized that approximately linearizes the system in an I/O sense by solving a convex optimization problem online. A robust controller is designed for the linear uncertain subsystem using a multi-model H₂/H_∞ synthesis approach to ensure robust stability and performance of non-square multivariable, nonlinear systems. This methodology is illustrated via simulation of a regulation problem in a continuous stirred tank reactor.     

A numerical method for deadbeat control of generalized state-space systems

In this paper we give a new numerical method for constructing a rank m correction BF to an n × n matrix A, such that the generalized eigenvalues of λE−(A+BF) are all at λ = 0. In the control literature, this problem is known as ‘deadbeat control’ of a generalized state-space system Ex_i+1 = Ax_i + Bu_i, whereby the matrix F is the ‘feedback matrix’ to be constructed.     

Nonlinear H∞ control around periodic orbits

In this paper, we study the nonlinear H_∞ control of systems with periodic orbits. We develop the notion of an induced L₂ gain (so-called nonlinear H_∞ norm) for systems where the no-disturbance behavior of the system is a periodic orbit and provide conditions under which the induced L₂ gain of the system (around the orbit) can be made less than a specified value by state feedback. This work is a natural extension of results on nonlinear H_∞ control of nonlinear systems in a neighborhood of a stable equilibrium point to the periodic orbit case. Synthesis of a nonlinear H_∞ state feedback controller is facilitated by the use of transverse coordinates and, in particular, the transverse linearization of the system.     

H∞-norm and invariant manifolds of systems with state delays

The problem of finding bounds on the H_∞-norm of systems with a finite number of point delays and distributed delay is considered. Sufficient conditions for the system to possess an H_∞-norm which is less or equal to a prescribed bound are obtained in terms of Riccati partial differential equations (RPDE’s). We show that the existence of a solution to the RPDE’s is equivalent to the existence of a stable manifold of the associated Hamiltonian system. For small delays the existence of the stable manifold is equivalent to the existence of a stable manifold of the ordinary differential equations that govern the flow on the slow manifold of the Hamiltonian system. This leads to an algebraic, finite-dimensional, criterion for systems with small delays.     

Stability analysis and robust composite controller synthesis for flexible joint robots

In this paper the control of flexible joint manipulators is studied in detail. The model of N-axis flexible joint manipulators is derived and reformulated in the form of singular perturbation theory and an integral manifold is used to separate fast dynamics from slow dynamics. A composite control algorithm is proposed for the flexible joint robots, which consists of two main parts. Fast control, u _f, guarantees that the fast dynamics remains asymptotically stable and the corresponding integral manifold remains invariant. Slow control, u _s, consists of a robust PID designed based on the rigid model and a corrective term designed based on the reduced flexible model. The stability of the fast dynamics and robust stability of the PID scheme are analyzed separately, and finally, the closed-loop system is proved to be uniformly ultimately bounded (UUB) stable by Lyapunov stability analysis. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control law is verified through simulations. The simulation results of single- and two-link flexible joint manipulators are compared with the literature. It is shown that the proposed control law ensures robust stability and performance despite the modeling uncertainties.     

A simple proof of the Pontryagin maximum principle on manifolds

Applying the tubular neighborhood theorem, we give a simple proof of the Pontryagin maximum principle on a smooth manifold. The idea is as follows. Given a control system on a manifold M, we embed it into some Rⁿ and extend the control system to Rⁿ. Then, we apply the Pontryagin maximum principle on Rⁿ to the extended system and project the consequence to M.     

Generic eigenvalue assignment by memoryless real output feedback

By extensive use of methods from algebraic geometry, X. Wang proved that arbitrary pole placement by static output feedback is generically possible for strictly proper plants with n states, m inputs, and p outputs, if n < mp. Here we show the same result using no more of algebraic geometry than the definition of genericity.     

The only stable normal forms of affine systems under feedback are linear

We consider the problem of existence of structurally stable normal forms of affine control systems with m inputs and n-dimensional state space, equipped with C^∞-Whitney topology and acted on by the static state feedback group. It is proved that structurally stable normal forms exist only if m = n or m =1 and n = 2, and are linear. There are no stable normal forms in any other range of dimensions (m, n).     

Feedback equivalence for general control systems

We discuss the solution to the problem of local equivalence of control systems with n states and p controls in a neighbourhood of a generic point, under the Lie pseudo-group of local time independent feedback transformations. We have shown earlier that this problem is identical with the problem of simple equivalence of the time optimal variational problem. Here we indicate the way in which this identification may be used to obtain closed loop time critical controls for general systems. We show that the classification of general nonlinear systems depends on the classification of all n−p dimensional affine subspaces of the space of symmetric forms in p variables and that the case of control linear systems depends on the classification of all n−p dimensional affine subspaces of the space of skew forms in p variables. We show that in the latter case the G-structure is the prolongation of one determined by a state space transformation group. We give a complete list of normal forms for control linear systems in the case p=n−1.