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.     

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.     

Time‐varying input delay compensation for nonlinear systems with additive disturbance: An output feedback approach

This paper addresses the output feedback tracking control of a class of multiple‐input and multiple‐output nonlinear systems subject to time‐varying input delay and additive bounded disturbances. Based on the backstepping design approach, an output feedback robust controller is proposed by integrating an extended state observer and a novel robust controller, which uses a desired trajectory‐based feedforward term to achieve an improved model compensation and a robust delay compensation feedback term based on the finite integral of the past control values to compensate for the time‐varying input delay. The extended state observer can simultaneously estimate the unmeasurable system states and the additive disturbances only with the output measurement and delayed control input. The proposed controller theoretically guarantees prescribed transient performance and steady‐state tracking accuracy in spite of the presence of time‐varying input delay and additive bounded disturbances based on Lyapunov stability analysis by using a Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional. A specific study on a 2‐link robot manipulator is performed; based on the system model and the proposed design procedure, a suitable controller is developed, and comparative simulation results are obtained to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed control scheme.     

An Active Disturbance Rejection Approach to Leader‐Follower Controlled Formation

This article describes the design of a linearizing, observer‐based, robust dynamic feedback control scheme for output reference trajectory tracking tasks in a leader‐follower non‐holonomic car formation problem. The approach is based on the cars' kinematic models. A radical simplification in the form of a global ultra‐model is proposed on the follower's exact open loop position tracking error dynamics obtained via flatness considerations. This results in a system described by an additively disturbed set of two, second order integrators with non‐linear velocity dependent control input gain matrix. The unknown additive disturbances are modeled as absolutely uniformly bounded time signals which may be locally approximated by arbitrary elements of a sufficiently high degree family of Taylor polynomials. Linear high‐gain Luenberger observers of the generalized proportional integral (GPI) type may be readily designed. These observers include the self updating internal model of the unknown disturbance input vector components in the form of generic, instantaneous, time‐polynomial models. The proposed (GPI) observers, which are the dual counterpart of GPI controllers [17], achieve a simultaneous disturbance estimation and tracking error phase variables estimation. This on‐line gathered information is used to advantage on the follower's feedback controller thus allowing for a simple, yet efficient, disturbance and control input gain cancelation effort. The results are applied to have the follower track a time‐delayed version of the actual leader's trajectory. Experimental results are presented which illustrate the robustness and viability of the proposed approach.     

A linear differential operator approach to flatness based tracking for linear and non-linear systems

This contribution presents a flatness based solution to the tracking for linear systems in differential operator representation. Since the differential operator representation is a flat system representation, tracking controllers can easily be designed using dynamic output feedback. Then, the differential operator approach for flatness based tracking of linear systems is extended to non-linear systems. The design of the resulting linear time varying dynamic output feedback controller is based on a linearization about the trajectory, which directly yields the differential operator representation. Different from the non-linear flatness based controller design the new approach uses linear methods, both in stabilizing the tracking and in computing the output feedback controller. The proposed design procedure assures exact tracking in the steady state when no disturbances are present. A simple example demonstrates the design of a dynamic output feedback controller for the tracking of a non-linear system.     

A globally stable saturated desired compensation adaptive robust control for linear motor systems with comparative experiments

The recently proposed saturated adaptive robust controller is integrated with desired trajectory compensation to achieve global stability with much improved tracking performance. The algorithm is tested on a linear motor drive system which has limited control effort and is subject to parametric uncertainties, unmodeled nonlinearities, and external disturbances. Global stability is achieved by employing back-stepping design with bounded (virtual) control input in each step. A guaranteed transient performance and final tracking accuracy is achieved by incorporating the well-developed adaptive robust controller with effective parameter identifier. Signal noise that affects the adaptation function is alleviated by replacing the noisy velocity signal with the cleaner position feedback. Furthermore, asymptotic output tracking can be achieved when only parametric uncertainties are present.     

精确反馈线性化在移动机器人轨迹跟踪中的应用

本文首先介绍了轮式移动机器人从原始形式到链形式的转换 ,并以此为对象 ,通过动态扩展 ,引入了精确反馈线性化的方法 ,将链形式精确地转换为输入输出线性系统 ,在此基础上 ,设计了反馈控制器对轮式移动机器人的轨迹跟踪进行控制 .仿真结果说明了方法的可行性     

A PASSIVITY PLUS FLATNESS CONTROLLER FOR THE PERMANENT MAGNET STEPPER MOTOR

A passivity based controller, in suitable combination with the flatness property of the system, is proposed for the effective feedback equilibrium to equilibrium regulation, via planned trajectory tracking, of the angular position in a permanent magnet (PM) stepper motor. The control scheme is shown to be easily modifiable as to include traditional proportional‐integral‐derivative (PID) feedback control actions which efficiently account for unmodeled load torque perturbations.     

Sliding Mode Rest-to-Rest Stabilization and Trajectory Tracking for a Discretized Flexible Joint Manipulator

In this article, a difference flatness approach is used for trajectory tracking tasks of an approximately (Euler) discretized model of a nonlinear, single link, flexible joint manipulator. The system's flat output is commanded to follow a prescribed trajectory achieving a desired angular position maneuver. A new robust discrete time feedback controller design technique, of the sliding mode type, is then proposed for the closed loop regulation of the link position around the prescribed trajectory. The effectiveness of the approach is illustrated by means of digital computer simulations in a rest-to-rest stabilization maneuver and in a sinusoidal reference trajectory tracking task.     

Robust sigma–delta generalised proportional integral observer based control of a ‘buck’ converter with uncertain loads

This article describes the design of an observer based robust linear output feedback controller for the regulation and output reference trajectory tracking tasks in switched ‘buck’ converter circuits feeding a completely unknown time-varying load. The state-dependent perturbation effects of the unknown load resistance are on-line estimated by means of a generalised proportional integral (GPI) observer, which represents the dual counterpart of GPI controllers introduced in Fliess, Márquez, Delaleau and Sira-Ramírez (Fliess, M., Márquez, R., Delaleau, E., and Sira-Ramírez, H. (2002), ‘Correcteurs Proportionnels-intégraux Géneralisés’, ESAIM: Control, Optimisation and Calculus of Variations, 7, 23–41). The reconstructed perturbation complements the controller in a cancellation effort which allows the core of the feedback controller to become a traditional proportional derivative (PD) controller. The designed average feedback controller is then implemented via a sigma–delta-modulator, which effectively translates the designed continuous average feedback control input signal into a discrete valued switched input signal driving the converter's input switch and preserving all relevant features of the average design. The Appendix collects some generalities about GPI observers.     

Output feedback adaptive RISE control for uncertain nonlinear systems

In this article, committed to extending the robust integral of the sign of the error (RISE) feedback control to the working condition of output feedback, a novel output feedback controller with a continuously bounded control input which combines the adaptive control and integral robust feedback will be proposed for trajectory tracking of a family of nonlinear systems subject to modeling uncertainties. A novel adaptive state observer (ASO) with disturbance rejection performance is creatively constructed to derive real-time estimation of the unmeasured state signals. Moreover, a projection-type adaption law is integrated to handle parameter uncertainties and an integral robust term is employed to deal with external disturbances. It is shown that asymptotic estimation performance and meanwhile asymptotic tracking result can eventually be derived. Simulation validations are implemented to demonstrate the high tracking performance of the presented controller. Notably, the synthesized control algorithm can be readily extended to the Euler–Lagrange systems. Typically, it can be extended to practical electromechanical equipment such as three-dimensional vector forming robots to improve the real-time forming accuracy.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

一种推广的组合非线性输出反馈控制

针对多变量饱和线性系统的时变参考输入跟踪问题,研究了一种组合非线性输出反馈控制器的设计方法.基于原始的组合非线性反馈理论,构造了全阶和降阶输出反馈控制器.控制器由线性输出反馈项和非线性反馈项组成,使得闭环系统在包含于吸引域的不变集内渐近稳定.除了能够跟踪时变参考输入外,系统还具有良好的动态性能.仿真结果说明了所开发控制器的有效性.     

SLIDING MODES, Δ‐MODULATORS,AND GENERALIZED PROPORTIONAL INTEGRAL CONTROL OF LINEAR SYSTEMS

In this article, we attempt a reapproachment between sliding mode control of linear systems and classical control through the possibilities of evading state measurements and circumventing the use of asymptotic state observers in the sliding surface synthesis. This is shown to be possible thanks to the use of integral state reconstructors combined with iterated integral output error compensation. The proposed scheme is also robust with respect to unmatched perturbation inputs. A connection between sliding modes and classical analog Δ‐modulators, and their natural generalization, is also brought to attention as a tool for the realization of integral reconstructor based sliding mode control schemes.     

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.     

Active Disturbance Rejection Control of a Magnetic Suspension System

This paper proposes a novel output feedback control scheme for robust stabilization and tracking tasks in a magnetic suspension system. Active disturbance rejection control, differential flatness and on‐line asymptotic disturbance estimation are properly used for the proposed control synthesis. The controlled system is subjected to a wide spectrum of unknown significant matched and unmatched disturbances due to external forces and voltages, parametric uncertainties, control and state‐dependent perturbations and possibly input unmodeled dynamics. The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed active disturbance control scheme is verified by computer simulations for the robust tracking of a rest‐to‐rest reference position trajectory specified to firstly stabilize the suspended mass at a desired vertical position and next transfer it to another equilibrium position for both continuous and switched control voltage signals.