Robust output feedback model predictive control using off-line linear matrix inequalities

A fundamental question about model predictive control (MPC) is its robustness to model uncertainty. In this paper, we present a robust constrained output feedback MPC algorithm that can stabilize plants with both polytopic uncertainty and norm-bound uncertainty. The design procedure involves off-line design of a robust constrained state feedback MPC law and a state estimator using linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Since we employ an off-line approach for the controller design which gives a sequence of explicit control laws, we are able to analyze the robust stabilizability of the combined control laws and estimator, and by adjusting the design parameters, guarantee robust stability of the closed-loop system in the presence of constraints. The algorithm is illustrated with two examples.     

基于多面体不变集的离线鲁棒预测控制器综合

提出一种基于多面体不变集的离线鲁棒预测控制器综合算法.该算法离线确定一组反馈控制律及其对应的不变集,在线控制时根据当前状态所处的位置选择相应的控制律,不仅扩大了初始可行域,还能在一定程度上改善控制性能.仿真结果表明了采用多面体不变集的优越性.     

Output feedback MPC with guaranteed robust stability

This paper focuses on the issues of robust stability of model predictive control (MPC). The control problem is formulated as linear matrix inequalities (LMI) optimization problem. A suboptimal solution for the output feedback control problem is proposed. The size of the resulting MP controller is reduced by using a suitable state-space representation of the process. Guaranteed stability conditions for the output feedback MPC are enforced via a Lyapunov type constraint. An iterative algorithm is developed resulting in a pair of coupled LMI optimization problems which provide a robustly stable output feedback gain. Model uncertainties are considered via a polytopic set of process models. The methodology is illustrated with the simulation of the control problem of two chemical processes. The results show that the proposed strategy eliminates the need to detune the MP controller improving the performance for most of the cases considered.     

多面体不确定系统时滞依赖鲁棒预测控制

将线性状态变换引入连续时间多面体不确定时滞系统中,利用线性矩阵不等式(LMI)方法,设计时滞相关型鲁棒预测控制器;通过适当选择Lyapunov函数,推导出闭环系统渐近稳定的充分条件,并且该条件是时滞相关的.仿真算例验证了该方法的有效性.     

A robust distributed model predictive control algorithm

Although distributed model predictive control (DMPC) has received significant attention in the literature, the robustness of DMPC with respect to model errors has not been explicitly addressed. In this paper, a novel online algorithm that deals explicitly with model errors for DMPC is proposed. The algorithm requires decomposing the entire system into N subsystems and solving N convex optimization problems to minimize an upper bound on a robust performance objective by using a time-varying state-feedback controller for each subsystem. Simulations examples were considered to illustrate the application of the proposed method.     

A tool to analyze robust stability for constrained nonlinear MPC

A sufficient condition for robust asymptotic stability of nonlinear constrained model predictive control (MPC) is derived with respect to plant/model mismatch. This work is an extension of a previous study on the unconstrained nonlinear MPC problem, and is based on nonlinear programming sensitivity concepts. It addresses the discrete time state feedback problem with all states measured. A strategy to estimate bounds on the plant/model mismatch is proposed that can be used off-line as a tool to assess the extent of model mismatch that can be tolerated to guarantee robust stability.     

Output feedback robust MPC with one free control move for the linear polytopic uncertain system with bounded disturbance

In this paper a previous approach, for the robust model predictive control (MPC) for a linear polytopic uncertain system, is extended to the case with bounded disturbance and unmeasurable state. The controller on-line optimizes a free control move followed by an output feedback control law based on the pre-specified state estimator. A key technique for this controller is an appropriate formulation of the estimation error bound which accounts for recursive feasibility of the optimization problem. The quadratic boundedness (QB) of the augmented state is guaranteed by the proposed approach. A numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.     

Constrained linear MPC with time-varying terminal cost using convex combinations

Recent papers (IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control 48(6) (2003) 1092-1096, Automatica 38 (2002) 1061-1068, Systems and Control Letters 48 (2003) 375-383) have introduced dual-mode MPC algorithms using a time-varying terminal cost and/or constraint. The advantage of these methods is the enlargement of the admissible set of initial states without sacrificing local optimality of the controller, but this comes at the cost of a higher computational complexity. This paper delivers two main contributions in this area. First, a new MPC algorithm with a time-varying terminal cost and constraint is introduced. The algorithm uses convex combinations of off-line computed ellipsoidal terminal constraint sets and uses the associated cost as a terminal cost. In this way, a significant on-line computational advantage is obtained. The second main contribution is the introduction of a general stability theorem, proving stability of both the new MPC algorithm and several existing MPC schemes (IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control 48(6) (2003) 1092-1096, Automatica 38 (2002) 1061-1068). This allows a theoretical comparison to be made between the different algorithms. The new algorithm using convex combinations is illustrated and compared with other methods on the example of an inverted pendulum.     

一种改进的鲁棒约束预测控制器的综合设计方法

针对多包描述的不确定系统,提出一种新的鲁棒约束预测控制器.高线设计多包系统worst-case情况下性能最优的不变集,在线求解多包系统无穷时域性能指标的rain-max优化问题.设计方法采用了时变的终端约束集,扩大了初始可行域,并能获得较优的控制性能.仿真结果验证了该方法的有效性.     

Robust reliability method for non-fragile guaranteed cost control of parametric uncertain systems

The problem of non-fragile guaranteed cost control of uncertain systems is studied from a new point of view of reliability against uncertainties. An efficient robust reliability method for the analysis and design of non-fragile guaranteed cost controller of parametric uncertain systems is presented systematically. By the method, a robust reliability measure of an uncertain control system satisfying required robust performance can be obtained, and the robustness bounds of uncertain parameters such that the control cost of a system is guaranteed can be provided. The optimal non-fragile guaranteed cost controller obtained in the paper may possess optimal guaranteed cost performance satisfying the precondition that the system is robustly reliable with respect to uncertainties occurring in both the controlled plant and controller gain. The presented formulations are in the framework of linear matrix inequality and thus can be carried out conveniently. The presented method provides an essential basis for the tradeoff between reliability and control cost in controller design of uncertain systems. Two numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the efficiency and feasibility of the presented method. It is shown that the coordination and simultaneous realization of the system performance, control cost, and robust reliability in control design of uncertain systems are significant.     

An LMI approach to robust H-infinity control for uncertain singular time-delay systems

The problem of robust H-infinity control for a class of uncertain singular time-delay systems is studied in this paper. A new approach is proposed to describe the relationship between slow and fast subsystems of singular time- delay systems, based on which, a sufficient condition is presented for a singular time-delay system to be regular, impulse free and stable with an H-infinity performance. The robust H-infinity control problem is solved and an explicit expression of the desired state-feedback control law is also given. The obtained results are formulated in terms of strict linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) involving no decomposition of system matrices. A numerical example is given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

An LMI approach to robust H-infinity control for uncertain singular time-delay systems

The problem of robust H-infinity control for a class of uncertain singular time-delay systems is studied in this paper. A new approach is proposed to describe the relationship between slow and fast subsystems of singular time- delay systems, based on which, a sufficient condition is presented for a singular time-delay system to be regular, impulse free and stable with an H-infinity performance. The robust H-infinity control problem is solved and an explicit expression of the desired state-feedback control law is also given. The obtained results are formulated in terms of strict linear matrix inequalities （LMIs） involving no decomposition of system matrices. A numerical example is given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Robust distributed MPC for load frequency control of uncertain power systems

Reliable Load frequency control (LFC) is crucial to the operation and design of modern electric power systems. However, the power systems are always subject to uncertainties and external disturbances. Considering the LFC problem of a multi-area interconnected power system, this paper presents a robust distributed model predictive control (RDMPC) based on linear matrix inequalities. The proposed algorithm solves a series of local convex optimization problems to minimize an attractive range for a robust performance objective by using a time-varying state-feedback controller for each control area. The scheme incorporates the two critical nonlinear constraints, e.g., the generation rate constraint (GRC) and the valve limit, into convex optimization problems. Furthermore, the algorithm explores the use of an expanded group of adjustable parameters in LMI to transform an upper bound into an attractive range for reducing conservativeness. Good performance and robustness are obtained in the presence of power system dynamic uncertainties.     

Equivalence of robust stabilization and robust performance via feedback

One approach to robust control for linear plants with structured uncertainty as well as for linear parameter-varying plants (where the controller has on-line access to the varying plant parameters) is through linear-fractional-transformation models. Control issues to be addressed by controller design in this formalism include robust stability and robust performance. Here robust performance is defined as the achievement of a uniform specified L ²-gain tolerance for a disturbance-to-error map combined with robust stability. By setting the disturbance and error channels equal to zero, it is clear that any criterion for robust performance also produces a criterion for robust stability. Counter-intuitively, as a consequence of the so-called Main Loop Theorem, application of a result on robust stability to a feedback configuration with an artificial full-block uncertainty operator added in feedback connection between the error and disturbance signals produces a result on robust performance. The main result here is that this performance-to-stabilization reduction principle must be handled with care for the case of dynamic feedback compensation: casual application of this principle leads to the solution of a physically uninteresting problem, where the controller is assumed to have access to the states in the artificially-added feedback loop. Application of the principle using a known more refined dynamic-control robust stability criterion, where the user is allowed to specify controller partial-state dimensions, leads to correct robust-performance results. These latter results involve rank conditions in addition to linear matrix inequality conditions.     

时变不确定系统鲁棒控制器设计的新方法

基于包含两个二次项的分段Lyapunov函数,研究了线性时变不确定系统的鲁棒控制器设计问题.所考虑的系统由两个矩阵的凸组合构成,通过引入一个附加矩阵,推导出鲁棒控制器存在的充分条件.该控制器的状态反馈增益的求解问题可以转化为一组带有两个比例参数的线性矩阵不等式的凸优化问题.最后的数值示例说明了该设计方法的可行性.     

An MPC approach to the design of two-layer hierarchical control systems

A methodology for the design of two-layer hierarchical control systems is presented. The high layer corresponds to a system with slow dynamics, whose control inputs must be provided by subsystems with faster dynamics placed at the low layer. Model Predictive Control laws are synthesized for both layers and overall convergence properties are established. The use of different control configurations is also considered by allowing the switching on/off of the subsystems at the low layer. A simulation example is reported to witness the potentialities of the proposed solution.     

饱和约束系统的鲁棒模型预测控制

针对饱和约束系统提出了一种鲁棒模型预测控制算法,分别考虑了多面体不确定性和结构反馈不确定性.考虑无穷时域的最坏二次性能指标,通过采用带有饱和特性的反馈控制结构,将控制律的求解转化为一个在线的线性矩阵不等式优化问题.初始时刻优化问题的可行性保证了闭环控制系统的鲁棒稳定性.最后的仿真结果说明了算法的优越性.     

Conditions under which suboptimal nonlinear MPC is inherently robust

We address the inherent robustness properties of nonlinear systems controlled by suboptimal model predictive control (MPC), i.e., when a suboptimal solution of the (generally nonconvex) optimization problem, rather than an element of the optimal solution set, is used for the control. The suboptimal control law is then a set-valued map, and consequently, the closed-loop system is described by a difference inclusion. Under mild assumptions on the system and cost functions, we establish nominal exponential stability of the equilibrium, and with a continuity assumption on the feasible input set, we prove robust exponential stability with respect to small, but otherwise arbitrary, additive process disturbances and state measurement/estimation errors. These results are obtained by showing that the suboptimal cost is a continuous exponential Lyapunov function for an appropriately augmented closed-loop system, written as a difference inclusion, and that recursive feasibility is implied by such (nominal) exponential cost decay. These novel robustness properties for suboptimal MPC are inherited also by optimal nonlinear MPC. We conclude the paper by showing that, in the absence of state constraints, we can replace the terminal constraint with an appropriate terminal cost, and the robustness properties are established on a set that approaches the nominal feasibility set for small disturbances. The somewhat surprising and satisfying conclusion of this study is that suboptimal MPC has the same inherent robustness properties as optimal MPC.