Robust stabilization of nonlinear cascaded systems

This paper considers the problem of robust stabilization for an uncertain nonlinear system which is a cascaded interconnection of two subsystems. Both of the subsystems are allowed to be nonlinear, multi-variable, and containing uncertain parameters. We present a new approach to designing stabilizing controllers which assure both robust global asymptotic stability and local quadratic stability. Compared with existing results, the assumptions required for such robust stabilizing controllers to exist are significantly simplified.     

Passivity, feedback equivalence, and the global stabilization ofminimum phase nonlinear systems

Conditions under which a nonlinear system can be rendered passive via smooth state feedback are derived. It is shown that, as in the case of linear systems, this is possible if and only if the system in question has relative degree one and is weakly minimum phase. It is proven that weakly minimum phase nonlinear systems with relative degree one can be globally asymptotically stabilized by smooth state feedback, provided that suitable controllability-like rank conditions are satisfied. This result incorporates and extends a number of stabilization schemes recently proposed for global asymptotic stabilization of certain classes of nonlinear systems     

A Lyapunov's direct method for the global robust stabilization of nonlinear cascaded systems

The global robust stabilization problem of cascaded systems with dynamic uncertainty has been approached by the small gain theorem. This method, however, does not produce an explicit Lyapunov function for the closed-loop system. In this paper, we develop a Lyapunov's direct method based recursive approach to solving the global robust stabilization problem for the mentioned systems. This method also produces an explicit Lyapunov function for the closed-loop system which is a superposition of those of individual subsystems. This Lyapunov function is indispensable when the adaptive control of the same class of systems is further considered.     

Nonsmooth stabilization of a class of nonlinear cascaded systems

A global nonsmooth stabilization scheme is presented for a class of nonlinear cascaded systems with uncontrollable linearization. A stepwise constructive control methodology is proposed for the driving subsystem by using the adding a power integrator technique. Under suitable conditions and based on homogeneous properties, it is proved that the stabilization of the driving subsystem implies the stabilization of the overall cascaded system. Due to the versatility of the adding a power integrator technique and homogeneous properties, the proposed controller not only can be used to stabilize the cascaded system asymptotically, but also is able to lead to an interesting result of finite-time stabilization under appropriate conditions.     

State feedback stabilization of cascaded nonlinear systems with discontinuous connection

In practical engineering, many phenomena are described as a discontinuous function of a state variable, and the discontinuity is usually the main reason for the degradation of the control performance. For example, in the set-point control problem of mechanical systems, the static friction （described by a sgn function of velocity of the contacting faces） causes undesired positioning error. In this paper, we will investigate the stabilization problem for a class of nonlinear systems that consist of two subsystems with cascaded connection. We will show the basic idea with a special case first, and then the result will be extended to more general cases. Some interesting numerical examples will be given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design approach.     

State feedback stabilization of cascaded nonlinear systems with discontinuous connection

In practical engineering, many phenomena are described as a discontinuous function of a state variable,and the discontinuity is usually the main reason for the degradation of the control performance. For example, in the setpoint control problem of mechanical systems, the static friction (described by a sgn function of velocity of the contacting faces) causes undesired positioning error. In this paper, we will investigate the stabilization problem for a class of nonlinear systems that consist of two subsystems with cascaded connection.We will show the basic idea with a special case first, and then the result will be extended to more general cases. Some interesting numerical examples will be given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design approach.     

Interconnected nonlinear systems, local and global stabilization

A family of interconnected nonlinear systems including partially linear systems is studied. No assumption on the stability of each uncontrolled subsystem is imposed but asymptotic stabilizability for each of them is assumed. The objective of this work is the state feedback stabilization of the origin of such composite systems. Local and global results are derived using simple techniques such as coordinate and feedback transformations.     

A global stabilization theorem for planar nonlinear systems

We provide sufficient conditions for global stabilization of planar nonlinear systems by means of static and dynamic feedback laws. The results of the paper extend previous work on the same problem. Our approach uses some ideas from a recent paper of the author based on the well-known Artstein theorem on stabilization as well as a recent result of Coron and Praly.     

Further results on global stabilization of discrete nonlinear systems

In this paper we show how recent advances [11,12] in global stabilization of continuous-time nonaffine nonlinear systems with stable free dynamics, can be nontrivially generalized to their discrete-time counterparts, by means of passivity and bounded state feedback. As a consequence, global stabilization results of discrete-time nonlinear systems with triangular structure are established.     

New results in global stabilization for stochastic nonlinear systems

This paper presents new results on the robust global stabilization and the gain assignment problems for stochastic nonlinear systems. Three stochastic nonlinear control design schemes are developed. Furthermore, a new stochastic gain assignment method is developed for a class of uncertain interconnected stochastic nonlinear systems. This method can be combined with the nonlinear small-gain theorem to design partial-state feedback controllers for stochastic nonlinear systems. Two numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.     

Global stabilization of nonlinear cascaded systems with a Lyapunov function in superposition form

The global stabilization problem of nonlinear cascaded systems has been well studied in literature. In particular, a Lyapunov function in superposition form has been explicitly constructed for the closed-loop system in a recent paper provided the nonlinearities are polynomial. This paper removes this polynomial assumption and gives a more general result. For this purpose, a special version of changing supply function technique is utilized which preserves the superposition form of supply functions during the “changing” procedure.     

Adaptive global stabilization of nonholonomic systems with strong nonlinear drifts

A new input-to-state scaling scheme is first introduced to transform a class of nonholonomic systems in a chained form with strong nonlinear drifts and unknown constant parameters into a strict feedback form. The backstepping technique is then applied to design a global adaptive stabilization controller. A switching strategy based on the control input magnitude rather than the time is derived to get around the phenomenon of uncontrollability. Simulation examples validate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.     

Input saturation and global stabilization of nonlinear systems viastate and output feedback

For multi-input multi-output nonlinear systems whose free dynamics are Lyapunov stable, the author shows how the problem of global stabilization via dynamic output feedback can be solved by using the technique of input saturation. The power of this technique is also illustrated by solving the problem of global stabilization via bounded state feedback for affine nonlinear systems with stable unforced dynamics. Analogous results are established for discrete-time nonlinear systems     

Global robust stabilization of cascaded polynomial systems

Global robust stabilization of nonlinear cascaded systems is a challenging problem when the zero-dynamics is not exponentially stable. Recently, some recursive procedure has been developed for handling this problem utilizing the small gain theorem. However, the success of the procedure depends on the satisfaction of some conditions which arise at each step of the recursion. In this paper, we will show that, for the important class of cascaded polynomial systems, the solvability conditions can be made satisfied by appropriately implementing the recursive procedure. This result leads to an explicit construction of the control law.     

Robust global stabilization of a class of uncertain feedforward nonlinear systems

The problem of global asymptotically stabilizing a certain class of uncertain feedforward nonlinear systems is considered. The control law is obtained by nesting saturation functions whose amplitude can be rendered arbitrarily small. With respect to previous works on the subject the design procedure is able to deal with uncertain (possibly time-varying) parameters ranging within the prescribed compact sets which can affect also the linear approximation of the system. The small gain theorem for nonlinear systems which are input to state stable “with restrictions” is shown to be a key tool for designing a state feedback saturated control law.     

A theorem on global stabilization of nonlinear systems by linear feedback

In this paper we investigate the global stabilizability problem for a wide class of single-input nonlinear systems whose the linearization at the equilirrium is controllable. We show that under general assumptions there exists a linear feedback law which globally exponentially stabilizes the system at its equilibrium. The proof of our main theorem is based on some ideas from a previous paper. We use the theorem to recover a recent result of Gauthier et al. concerning the observer design problem.     

Losslessness, feedback equivalence, and the global stabilization ofdiscrete-time nonlinear systems

In this paper a necessary and sufficient condition for a nonlinear system of the form Σ, given by x(k+1)=f(x(k))+g(x(k))u(k), y(k)=h(x(k))+J(x(k))u(k), to be lossless is given, and it is shown that a lossless system can be globally asymptotically stabilized by output feedback if and only if the system is zero-state observable. Then, we investigate conditions under which Σ can be rendered lossless via smooth state feedback. In particular, we show that this is possible if and only if the system in question has relative degree {0,...,0} and has lossless zero dynamics. Under suitable controllability-like rank conditions, we prove that nonlinear systems having relative degree {0,...,0} and lossless zero dynamics can be globally stabilized by smooth state feedback. As a consequence, we obtain sufficient conditions for a class of cascaded systems to be globally stabilizable. The global stabilization problem of the nonlinear system Σ without output is also investigated in this paper by means of feedback equivalence. Some of the results are parallel to analogous ones in continuous-time, but in many respects the theory is substantially different and many new phenomena appear     

Decentralized global robust stabilization of a class of interconnected minimum-phase nonlinear systems

This paper focuses on a class of large-scale interconnected minimum-phase nonlinear systems with parameter uncertainty and nonlinear interconnections. The uncertain parameters are allowed to be time-varying and enter the systems nonlinearly. The interconnections are bounded by nonlinear functions of states. The problem we address is to design a decentralized robust controller such that the closed-loop large-scale interconnected nonlinear system is globally asymptotically stable for all admissible uncertain parameters and interconnections. It is shown that decentralized global robust stabilization of the system can be achieved using a control law obtained by a recursive design method together with an appropriate Lyapunov function.     

Norm estimators and global output feedback stabilization of nonlinear systems WithISS inverse dynamics

A preliminary result on the construction of norm estimators for general nonlinear systems that do not necessarily admit a input output to state stable (IOSS)-Lyapunov characterization is given. Furthermore, an output feedback stabilization scheme is presented that makes use of norm estimators. This construction extends some previous results allowing for more general nonlinearities. Two examples complete the work.