Adaptive Neural Dynamic Surface Control For Nonlinear Pure‐Feedback Systems With Multiple Time‐Varying Delays: A Lyapunov‐Razumikhin Method

This paper focuses on the problem of adaptive neural control for a class of uncertain nonlinear pure‐feedback systems with multiple unknown time‐varying delays. The considered problem is challenging due to the non‐affine pure‐feedback form and the unknown system functions with multiple unknown time‐varying delays. Based on a novel combination of mean value theorem, Razumikhin functional method, dynamic surface control (DSC) technique and neural network (NN) parameterization, a new adaptive neural controller which contains only one parameter is developed for such systems. Moreover, The DSC technique can overcome the problem of ‘explosion of complexity’ in the traditional backstepping design procedure. All closed‐loop signals are shown to be semi‐globally uniformly ultimately bounded, and the tracking error converges to a small neighborhood of the origin. Two simulation examples are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed design.     

Adaptive Output‐Feedback Control of Nonlinear Systems with Multiple Uncertainties

This paper addresses the global stabilization via adaptive output‐feedback for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems. Remarkably, the systems under investigation are with multiple uncertainties: unknown control directions, unknown growth rates and unknown input bias, and can be used to describe more physical plants. Multiple uncertainties, which usually cannot be compensated by a sole compensation technique, may give rise to big technical difficulty for controller design. To overcome such difficulty and to achieve the global stabilization, a new adaptive output‐feedback scheme is proposed in this paper, by flexibly combining Nussbaum‐type function, tuning function technique and extended state observer. It is shown that, under the designed controller, the system states globally converge to zero. A simulation example on non‐zero set‐point regulation is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.     

Observer‐based decentralized adaptive control for large‐scale pure‐feedback systems with unknown time‐delayed nonlinear interactions

This paper presents an approximation design for a decentralized adaptive output‐feedback control of large‐scale pure‐feedback nonlinear systems with unknown time‐varying delayed interconnections. The interaction terms are bounded by unknown nonlinear bounding functions including unmeasurable state variables of subsystems. These bounding functions together with the algebraic loop problem of virtual and actual control inputs in the pure‐feedback form make the output‐feedback controller design difficult and challenging. To overcome the design difficulties, the observer‐based dynamic surface memoryless local controller for each subsystem is designed using appropriate Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functionals, the function approximation technique based on neural networks, and the additional first‐order low‐pass filter for the actual control input. It is shown that all signals in the total controlled closed‐loop system are semiglobally uniformly bounded and control errors converge to an adjustable neighborhood of the origin. Finally, simulation examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed decentralized control scheme. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prescribed performance adaptive neural output control for a class of switched nonstrict‐feedback nonlinear time‐delay systems: State‐dependent switching law approach

This paper investigates the tracking problem for a class of uncertain switched nonlinear delayed systems with nonstrict‐feedback form. To address this problem, by introducing a new common Lyapunov function (CLF), an adaptive neural network dynamic surface control is proposed. The state‐dependent switching rule is designed to orchestrate which subsystem is active at each time instance. In order to compensate unknown delay terms, an appropriate Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional is considered in the constructing of the CLF. In addition, a novel switched neural network–based observer is constructed to estimate system states through the output signal. To maintain the tracking error performance within a predefined bound, a prescribed performance bound approach is employed. It is proved that by the proposed output‐feedback control, all the signals of the closed‐loop system are bounded under the switching law. Moreover, the transient and steady‐state tracking performance is guaranteed by the prescribed performance bound. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated by two numerical and practical examples.     

Adaptive Neural Dynamic Surface Control for Stochastic Nonlinear Time‐Delay Systems with Input and Output Constraints

This paper presents an adaptive neural tracking control approach for uncertain stochastic nonlinear time‐delay systems with input and output constraints. Firstly, the dynamic surface control (DSC) technique is incorporated into adaptive neural control framework to overcome the problem of ‘explosion of complexity’ in the control design. By employing a continuous differentiable asymmetric saturation model, the input constraint problem is solved. Secondly, the appropriate Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional and the property of hyperbolic tangent functions are used to deal with the unknown time‐delay terms, RBF neural network is utilized to identify the unknown systems functions, and barrier Lyapunov functions (BLFs) are designed to avoid the violation of the output constraint. Finally, based on adaptive backstepping technique, an adaptive neural control method is proposed, and it decreases the number of learning parameters. Using Lyapunov stability theory, it is proved that the designed controller can ensure that all the signals in the closed‐loop system are 4‐Moment (or 2 Moment) semi‐globally uniformly ultimately bounded (SGUUB) and the tracking error converges to a small neighborhood of the origin. Two simulation examples are provided to further illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Adaptive NN output‐feedback decentralized stabilization for a class of large‐scale stochastic nonlinear strict‐feedback systems

In this paper, the decentralized adaptive neural network (NN) output‐feedback stabilization problem is investigated for a class of large‐scale stochastic nonlinear strict‐feedback systems, which interact through their outputs. The nonlinear interconnections are assumed to be bounded by some unknown nonlinear functions of the system outputs. In each subsystem, only a NN is employed to compensate for all unknown upper bounding functions, which depend on its own output. Therefore, the controller design for each subsystem only need its own information and is more simplified than the existing results. It is shown that, based on the backstepping method and the technique of nonlinear observer design, the whole closed‐loop system can be proved to be stable in probability by constructing an overall state‐quartic and parameter‐quadratic Lyapunov function. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new event‐driven output‐based discrete‐time control for the sporadic MIMO tracking problem

This paper presents a new sporadic control approach to the tracking problem for MIMO closed‐loop systems. An LTI sampled data plant with unmeasurable state affected by external unknown disturbances is considered. The plant is interconnected to an event‐based digital dynamic output‐feedback controller via a network. Both the external reference and the unknown disturbance are assumed to be generated as the free output response of unstable LTI systems. The main feature of the new event‐driven communication logic (CL) is that it works without the strict requirement of a state vector available for measurement. The purpose of the CL is to reduce as much as possible the number of triggered messages along the feedback and feedforward paths with respect to periodic sampling, still preserving internal stability and without appreciably degrading the control system tracking capability. The proposed event‐driven CL is composed of a sensor CL (SCL) and of a controller CL (CCL). The SCL is based on the computation of a quadratic functional of the tracking error and of a corresponding suitably computed time‐varying threshold: a network message from the sensor to the controller is triggered only if the functional equals or exceeds the current value of the threshold. The CCL is directly driven by the SCL: the dynamic output controller sends a feedforward message to the plant only if it has received a message from the sensor at the previous sampled instant. Formulation of the controller in discrete‐time form facilitates its implementation and provides a minimum inter‐event time given by the sampling period. An example taken from the related literature shows the effectiveness of the new approach. The focus of this paper is on the stability and performance loss problems relative to the sporadic nature of the control law. Other topics such as network delay or packets dropout are not considered. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adaptive Fault‐Tolerant Control of Uncertain MIMO Systems with Reduced Requirement on Desired Trajectory Under Unknown Control Direction

This paper aims at investigating the tracking control problem for a class of multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) nonlinear systems with non‐square control gain matrix subject to unknown control direction and uncertain desired trajectory. By using the artificial neural network (NN) reconstructs the target trajectory with actual disguised trajectory, we are able to design a practical and stable tracking control scheme without the need for the unavailable desired trajectory. Nussbaum‐type function is incorporated in the control law to handle the unknown control direction. The remarkable feature of the proposed scheme is that it is robust against modeling uncertainties and tolerant to actuation faults, yet guarantees that the closed‐loop system is stable in the sense of ultimately uniformly bounded (UUB). The effectiveness of the proposed control schemes are illustrated through simulation results.     

Adaptive Non‐Backstepping Fuzzy Control for a Class of Uncertain Nonlinear Systems with Unknown Dead‐Zone Input

Based on the approximation property of fuzzy logic systems, we propose a novel non‐backstepping adaptive tracking control algorithm for a class of single input single output (SISO) strict‐feedback nonlinear systems with unknown dead‐zone input. In this algorithm, we introduce some novel state variables and coordinate transforms to convert the strict‐feedback form into a normal one, and it is not necessary to consider the traditional approximation‐based the backstepping scheme. Due to new states variables being unavailable, the tracking control is changed from a state‐feedback one to an output‐feedback one. So, observers need to be designed to estimate the indirect nonmeasurable states. According to Lyapunov stability analysis method, the developed controller can guarantee that all of the signals in the closed‐loop system will be ultimately uniformly bounded (UUB), and the output can track the reference signal very well. Simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Global sampled‐data output‐feedback stabilization for nonlinear systems with unknown measurement sensitivity

This paper investigates the problem of global output‐feedback stabilization by sampled‐data control for nonlinear systems with unknown measurement sensitivity. By employing the technique of output‐feedback domination, a sampled‐data output‐feedback control law together with a sampled‐data state observer is explicitly constructed. By an exquisite selection of both the domination gain and sampling period, the resultant control law is a globally asymptotic stabilizer even in the presence of unknown measurement sensitivity. The novelty of this paper is the development of a distinct approach which can tackle the problem of output‐feedback stabilization for the nonlinear systems with unknown measurement sensitivity.     

Mixed Event/Time‐Triggered Static Output Feedback L2‐Gain Control for Networked Control Systems

This paper considers the design of mixed event/time‐triggered controllers for networked control systems (NCSs) under transmission delay and possible packet dropout. Assuming that a conventional delayed static output feedback L₂‐gain controller exists, we propose an output‐based mixed event/time‐triggered communication scheme for reducing the network traffic in a NCS. Moreover, we show that a conventional delayed static output feedback L₂‐gain controller can be obtained by solving a linear matrix inequality with a matrix equality constraint. A numerical example is proposed for demonstrating the theoretical results.     

Neural‐network‐based predictive controller design: An application to temperature control of a plastic injection molding process

This paper presents a neural‐network‐based predictive control (NPC) method for a class of discrete‐time multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) systems. A discrete‐time mathematical model using a recurrent neural network (RNN) is constructed and a learning algorithm adopting an adaptive learning rate (ALR) approach is employed to identify the unknown parameters in the recurrent neural network model (RNNM). The NPC controller is derived based on a modified predictive performance criterion, and its convergence is guaranteed by adopting an optimal algorithm with an adaptive optimal rate (AOR) approach. The stability analysis of the overall MIMO control system is well proven by the Lyapunov stability theory. A real‐time control algorithm is proposed which has been implemented using a digital signal processor, TMS320C31 from Texas Instruments. Two examples, including the control of a MIMO nonlinear system and the control of a plastic injection molding process, are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. Results from both numerical simulations and experiments show that the proposed method is capable of controlling MIMO systems with satisfactory tracking performance under setpoint and load changes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley and Sons Asia Pte Ltd and Chinese Automatic Control Society     

Robust adaptive output feedback control of a class of discrete‐time nonlinear systems with nonlinear uncertainties and unknown control directions

In this paper, robust adaptive output feedback control is studied for a class of discrete‐time nonlinear systems with functional nonlinear uncertainties of the Lipschitz type and unknown control directions. In order to construct an output feedback control, the system is transformed into the form of a nonlinear autoregressive moving average with eXogenous inputs (NARMAX) model. In order to avoid the noncausal problem in the control design, future output prediction laws and parameter update laws with the dead‐zone technique are constructed on the basis of the NARMAX model. With the employment of the predicted future outputs, a constructive output feedback adaptive control is proposed, where the discrete Nussbaum gain technique and the dead‐zone technique are used in parameter update laws. The effect of the functional nonlinear uncertainties is compensated for, such that an asymptotic tracking performance is achieved, whereas other signals in the closed‐loop systems are guaranteed to be bounded. Simulation studies are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Razumikhin–Nussbaum‐lemma‐based adaptive neural control for uncertain stochastic pure‐feedback nonlinear systems with time‐varying delays

This paper addresses the problem of adaptive neural control for a class of uncertain stochastic pure‐feedback nonlinear systems with time‐varying delays. Major technical difficulties for this class of systems lie in: (1) the unknown control direction embedded in the unknown control gain function; and (2) the unknown system functions with unknown time‐varying delays. Based on a novel combination of the Razumikhin–Nussbaum lemma, the backstepping technique and the NN parameterization, an adaptive neural control scheme, which contains only one adaptive parameter is presented for this class of systems. All closed‐loop signals are shown to be 4‐Moment semi‐globally uniformly ultimately bounded in a compact set, and the tracking error converges to a small neighborhood of the origin. Finally, two simulation examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control schemes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Delay‐ and Packet‐Disordering‐Dependent H∞ Output Tracking Control for Networked Control Systems

This paper is concerned with the problem of H_∞ output tracking control for networked control systems (NCSs) with network‐induced delay and packet disordering. Different from the results in existing literature, the controller design in this paper is both delay‐ and packet‐disordering‐dependent. Based on the different cases of consecutive predictions, the networked output tracking system is modeled into a switched system. Moreover, by the corresponding switching‐based Lyapunov functional approach, a linear matrix inequality (LMI)‐based procedure is proposed for designing state‐feedback controllers, which guarantees that the output of the closed‐loop NCSs tracks the output of a given reference model well in the H_∞ sense. In addition, the proposed method can be applied variously due to all kinds of prediction numbers of the consecutive disordering packet have been considered, and the designed controller is based on the prediction case in the last transmission interval, which brings about less conservatism. Finally numerical examples and simulations are used to illustrate the effectiveness and validity of the proposed switching‐based method and the delay‐ and packet‐disordering‐dependent H_∞ output tracking controller design.     

Output Feedback Adaptive Neural Control Without Seeking SPR Condition

For output‐feedback adaptive control of affine nonlinear systems based on feedback linearization and function approximation, the observation error dynamics usually should be augmented by a low‐pass filter to satisfy a strictly positive real (SPR) condition so that output feedback can be realized. Yet, this manipulation results in filtering basis functions of approximators, which makes the order of the controller dynamics very large. This paper presents a novel output‐feedback adaptive neural control (ANC) scheme to avoid seeking the SPR condition. A saturated output‐feedback control law is introduced based on a state‐feedback indirect ANC structure. An adaptive neural network (NN) observer is applied to estimate immeasurable system state variables. The output estimation error rather than the basis functions is filtered and the filter output is employed to update NNs. Under given initial conditions and sufficient control parameter constraints, it is proved that the closed‐loop system is uniformly ultimately bounded stable in the sense that both the state estimation errors and the tracking errors converge to small neighborhoods of zero. An illustrative example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach.     

Deterministic learning from neural control for uncertain nonlinear pure‐feedback systems by output feedback

The essence of intelligence lies in the acquisition/learning and utilization of knowledge. However, how to implement learning in dynamical environments for nonlinear systems is a challenging issue. This article investigates the deterministic learning (DL) control problem for uncertain pure‐feedback systems by output feedback, which achieves the human‐like learning and control in a simple way. To reduce the complexity of control design and analysis, first, by combining an appropriate system transformation, the original pure‐feedback system is transformed into a simple normal nonaffine system. An observer is then introduced to estimate the transformed system states. Based on the backstepping and dynamic surface control techniques, a simple adaptive neural control scheme is first developed to guarantee the finite time convergence of the tracking error using only one neural network (NN) approximator. Second, through DL, the exponential convergence of the NN weights is obtained with the satisfaction of partial persistent excitation condition. Thus, locally accurate approximation/learning of the transformed unknown system dynamics is achieved and stored as constant NNs. Finally, by utilizing the stored knowledge, an experience‐based controller is constructed and a novel learning control scheme is further proposed to improve the control performance without any further adaptation online for the estimate neural weights. Simulation results have been given to illustrate that the proposed scheme not only can learn and memorize knowledge like humans but also can utilize experience to achieve superior control performance.     

Distributed output‐feedback finite‐time tracking control of nonaffine nonlinear leader‐follower multiagent systems

The distributed output‐feedback tracking control for a class of networked multiagents in nonaffine pure‐feedback form is investigated in this article. By introducing a low‐pass filter and some auxiliary variables, we first transform the nonaffine system into the affine form. Then, the finite‐time observer is designed to estimate the states of the newly derived affine system. By applying the fraction dynamic surface control approach and the neural network‐based approximation technique, the distributed output‐feedback control laws are proposed and it is proved that the tracking errors converge to an arbitrarily small bound around zero in finite time. Finally, some simulation examples are provided to confirm the effectiveness of the developed method.     

Design and Experimental Evaluation of a Discrete‐time ASPR‐based Adaptive Output Feedback Control System Using FRIT

This paper describes the design of an adaptive output feedback control system in discrete‐time, based on almost strictly positive real (ASPR)‐ness with a feedforward input. It is well‐known that an adaptive output feedback control system based on ASPR conditions can achieve asymptotic stability via a constant feedback gain. Unfortunately, most realistic systems are not ASPR because of the severe conditions. The introduction of a parallel feedforward compensator (PFC) is an efficient way to alleviate such restrictions. However, the problem remains that there exists a steady state error between the output of the augmented system and the output of the original system. The proposed scheme provides a strategy wherein the feedforward input is utilized such that the steady state error is removed. Furthermore, the fictitious reference iterative tuning (FRIT) approach is employed to determine the control parameters using one‐shot input/output experimental data directly, without prior information about the control system. This paper explains how the FRIT approach is applied in designing an adaptive output feedback control system. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is confirmed experimentally, by using a motor application.