A unified symplectic pseudospectral method for motion planning and tracking control of 3D underactuated overhead cranes

In this paper, a unified symplectic pseudospectral method for motion planning and tracking control of 3D underactuated overhead cranes is proposed. A feasible reference trajectory taking constraints into consideration is first generated offline by the symplectic pseudospectral optimal control method. Then, a trajectory tracking model predictive controller also based on the symplectic pseudospectral method is developed to track the reference trajectory. At each sampling instant, the trajectory tracking controller works by solving an open‐loop optimal control problem where linearized system dynamics is used instead to improve the computational efficiency. Since the symplectic pseudospectral optimal control method is the core algorithm for both offline trajectory planning and online trajectory tracking, constraints on state variables and control inputs can be easily imposed and hence theoretically guaranteed in solutions. By selecting proper weighted matrices on tracking error and control, the developed controller could achieve control objectives in both accurate trolley positioning and fast suppressing of residual swing angles. Simulations for 3D overhead crane systems in the presence of perturbations in initial conditions, an abrupt variation of system parameter, and various external disturbances demonstrate that the developed controller is robust and of excellent control performance.     

Integrated predictive iterative learning control based on updating reference trajectory for point-to-point tracking

A novel control technique is proposed by combining iterative learning control (ILC) and model predictive control (MPC) with updating-reference trajectory for point-to-point tracking problem of batch process. In this paper, a batch-to-batch updating-reference trajectory, which passes through the desired points, is firstly designed as the tracking trajectory within a batch. The updating control law consists of P-type ILC part and MPC part, in which P-type ILC part can improve the performance by learning from previous executions and MPC part is used to suppress the model perturbations and external disturbances. Convergence properties of the integrated predictive iterative learning control (IPILC) are analyzed theoretically, and the sufficient convergence conditions of output tracking error are also derived for a class of linear systems. Comparing with other point-to-point tracking control algorithms, the proposed algorithm can perform better in robustness. Furthermore, updating-reference relaxes the constraints for system outputs, and it may lead to faster convergence and more extensive range of application than those of fixed-reference control algorithms. Simulation results on typical systems show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.     

Robust nonlinear MPC without terminal constraint for tracking changing setpoints in the presence of non-additive unknown disturbance

This paper develops a novel robust tracking model predictive control (MPC) without terminal constraint for discrete-time nonlinear systems capable to deal with changing setpoints and unknown non-additive bounded disturbances. The MPC scheme without terminal constraint avoids difficult computations for the terminal region and is thus simpler to design and implement. However, the existence of disturbances and/or sudden changes in a setpoint may lead to feasibility and stability issues in this method. In contrast to previous works that considered changing setpoints and/or additive slowly varying disturbance, the proposed method is able to deal with changing setpoints and non-additive non-slowly varying disturbance. The key idea is the addition of tightened input and state (tracking error) constraints as new constraints to the tracking MPC scheme without terminal constraints based on artificial references. In the proposed method, the optimal tracking error converges asymptotically to the invariant set for tracking, and the perturbed system tracking error remains in a variable size tube around the optimal tracking error. Closed-loop input-to-state stability and recursive feasibility of the optimization problem for any piece-wise constant setpoint and non-additive disturbance are guaranteed by tightening input and state constraints as well as weighting the terminal cost function by an appropriate stabilizing weighting factor. The simulation results of the satellite attitude control system are provided to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed predictive controller.     

Model Predictive Control Tuning by Controller Matching

The effectiveness of model predictive control (MPC) in dealing with input and state constraints during transient operations is well known. However, in contrast with several linear control techniques, closed-loop frequency-domain properties such as sensitivities and robustness to small perturbations are usually not taken into account in the MPC design. This technical note considers the problem of tuning an MPC controller that behaves as a given linear controller when the constraints are not active (e.g., for perturbations around the equilibrium that remain within the given input and state bounds), therefore inheriting the small-signal properties of the linear control design, and that still optimally deals with constraints during transients. We provide two methods for selecting the MPC weight matrices so that the resulting MPC controller behaves as the given linear controller, therefore solving the posed inverse problem of controller matching, and is globally asymptotically stable.      

小型无人直升机的模型预测控制算法研究

针对无人直升机在阵风干扰环境中的姿态控制精度低的问题.本文将非线性刚体动力学模型在悬停点应用小扰动理论得到了线性化数学模型.考虑系统输入输出和控制量约束,采用模型预测控制将控制器的设计问题转化为每个采样时刻求解一个带不等式和等式约束的凸二次规划问题.通过设计终端状态约束解决了有限时域模型预测控制(model predictive control, MPC)算法的稳定性问题,并通过引入松弛变量使得约束优化问题更容易求解.随机和常值阵风干扰下无人机悬停仿真验证了本文MPC预测控制器具有幅度不超过0.25 m/s的良好干扰抑制能力,性能明显优于线性二次型调节器(linear-quadratic regulator, LQR).     

六自由度机械臂约束预测控制系统的设计

本文提出了一种基于约束预测控制的机械臂实时运动控制方法.该控制方法分为两层,分别设计了约束预测控制器和跟踪控制器.其中,约束预测控制器在考虑系统物理约束的条件下,在线为跟踪控制器生成参考轨迹;跟踪控制器采用最优反馈控制律,使机械臂沿参考轨迹运动.为了简化控制器的设计和在线求解,本文采用输入输出线性化的方式简化机械臂动力学模型.同时,为了克服扰动,在约束预测控制器中引入前馈策略,提出了带前馈一反馈控制结构的预测控制设计.因此,本文设计的控制器可以使机械臂在满足物理约束的条件下快速稳定地跟踪到目标位置.通过在PUMA560机理模型上进行仿真实验,验证了预测控制算法的可行性和有效性.     

Formation control of multiple mecanum-wheeled mobile robots with physical constraints and uncertainties

Aiming at the formation control of multiple Mecanum-wheeled mobile robots (MWMRs) with physical constraints and model uncertainties, a novel robust control scheme that combines model predictive control (MPC) and extended state observer-based adaptive sliding mode control (ESO-ASMC) is proposed in this paper. First, a linear MPC strategy is proposed to address the motion constraints of MWMRs, which can transform the robot formation model based on leader-follower into a constrained quadratic programming (QP) problem. The QP problem can be solved iteratively online by a delay neural network (DNN) to obtain the optimal control velocity of the follower robot. Then, to address the input saturation constraints, model uncertainties and unknown disturbances in the dynamic model, an improved ESO-ASMC is proposed and compared with the robust adaptive terminal sliding mode control (RATSMC) and the conventional sliding mode control (SMC) to prove the effectiveness. The proposed scheme, considering the optimal control velocity obtained by the kinematics controller as the given desired velocity of the dynamics controller, can implement precise formation control, while solving various physical constraints of the robot, and eliminating the effects of model uncertainties and disturbances. Finally, through a comparative simulation case, the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method are verified.

     

Robust constrained predictive control using comparison model

This paper proposes a quadratic programming (QP) approach to robust model predictive control (MPC) for constrained linear systems having both model uncertainties and bounded disturbances. To this end, we construct an additional comparison model for worst-case analysis based on a robust control Lyapunov function (RCLF) for the unconstrained system (not necessarily an RCLF in the presence of constraints). This comparison model enables us to transform the given robust MPC problem into a nominal one without uncertain terms. Based on a terminal constraint obtained from the comparison model, we derive a condition for initial states under which the ultimate boundedness of the closed loop is guaranteed without violating state and control constraints. Since this terminal condition is described by linear constraints, the control optimization can be reduced to a QP problem.     

Constrained nonlinear MPC for accelerated tracking piece-wise references and its applications to thermal systems

In this paper, we propose a model predictive control (MPC) strategy for accelerated offset-free tracking piece-wise constant reference signals of nonlinear systems subject to state and control constraints. Some special contractive constraints on tracking errors and terminal constraints are embedded into the tracking nonlinear MPC formulation. Then, recursive feasibility and closed-loop convergence of the tracking MPC are guaranteed in the presence of piece-wise references and constraints by deriving some sufficient conditions. Moreover, the local optimality of the tracking MPC is achieved for unreachable output reference signals. By comparing to traditional tracking MPC, the simulation experiment of a thermal system is used to demonstrate the acceleration ability and the effectiveness of the tracking MPC scheme proposed here.     

Adaptive model predictive control for a class of constrained linear systems based on the comparison model

This paper proposes an adaptive model predictive control (MPC) algorithm for a class of constrained linear systems, which estimates system parameters on-line and produces the control input satisfying input/state constraints for possible parameter estimation errors. The key idea is to combine the robust MPC method based on the comparison model with an adaptive parameter estimation method suitable for MPC. To this end, first, a new parameter update method based on the moving horizon estimation is proposed, which allows to predict an estimation error bound over the prediction horizon. Second, an adaptive MPC algorithm is developed by combining the on-line parameter estimation with an MPC method based on the comparison model, suitably modified to cope with the time-varying case. This method guarantees feasibility and stability of the closed-loop system in the presence of state/input constraints. A numerical example is given to demonstrate its effectiveness.     

基于眼到手视觉伺服的移动机器人模型预测控制

针对具有速度约束的移动机器人视觉轨迹跟踪问题,提出了一种基于LOQO内点法的模型预测控制方法;在眼到手框架下,首先建立了移动机器人误差模型,并对该误差模型进行离散化,给出了移动机器人视觉伺服跟踪的代价函数;同时考虑到实际中移动机器人存在速度约束问题,将代价函数的最小化问题转换为带输入约束的模型预测控制问题;然后采用障碍函数法将移动机器人的速度约束转化为等式约束并采用拉格朗日乘子法引入到代价函数中;进而,利用LOQO内点法求解具有速度约束的最小化问题,得到基于视觉的轨迹跟踪控制器;最后,通过仿真验证了所提算法的有效性和优越性.     

Tracking and robustness analysis for controlled microelectromechanical relays

The feedback control problem for microelectromechanical (MEM) relays is complicated by a quadratic nonlinearity in the dynamic model. We show that this nonlinearity imposes constraints on the reference trajectories that can be tracked and on the global convergence rate of the tracking error. Using a dynamic model that is applicable to both electrostatic and electromagnetic MEM relays, we introduce a new class of nonlinear tracking controls. In particular, we use Lyapunov theory to construct a state feedback that yields uniform global asymptotic stability and arbitrarily fast local exponential convergence of the tracking error. We then show how our control can be redesigned with partial‐state feedback under the assumption that only the movable electrode position and the electrical state (i.e. charge or flux) are fed back. Finally, we utilize input‐to‐state stability theory to quantify the robustness of our state feedback controller to parametric uncertainties. Our simulation results illustrate the good stability and tracking performance of the proposed control. They also illustrate how to craft a reference trajectory that satisfies the aforementioned constraints while being compatible with a typical relay operation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Novel MPC‐Based Fault Tolerant Tracking Control Against Sensor Faults

The problem of active fault‐tolerant tracking control with control input and system output constraints is studied for a class of discrete‐time systems subject to sensor faults. A time‐varying fault‐tolerant observer is first developed to estimate the real system state from the faulty sensor output and control input signals. Then by using the estimated state at each time step, a model predictive control (MPC)‐based fault‐tolerant tracking control scheme is presented to guarantee the desired tracking performance and the given input and output constraints on the faulty system. In comparison with many existing fault‐tolerant MPC methods, its main contribution is that the proposed state estimator is designed by the simple and online numerical computation to tolerate the possible sensor faults, so that the regular MPC algorithm without fault information can be adopted for the online calculation of fault‐tolerant control signal. The potential recursive infeasibility and computational complexity due to the faults are avoided in the scheme. Additionally, the closed‐loop stability of the post‐fault system is discussed. Simulative results of an electric throttle control system verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

随机激励下板球系统建模与有限时间全状态预设性能跟踪控制

研究板球系统受到随机激励时的数学建模与轨迹跟踪控制问题. 首次建立了板球系统的随机数学模型, 并 结合backstepping方法、有限时间预设性能函数、全状态约束及新的预设性能推导方法设计了具有未知输入饱和的 随机板球系统实际有限时间全状态预设性能跟踪控制器, 实现了随机激励下板球系统的有限时间预设性能轨迹跟 踪控制. 所设计的控制器保证了系统跟踪误差能够被预先给定的有限时间性能函数约束, 并且能在任意给定的停息 时间内收敛到预先给定的邻域内. 最后通过仿真实验验证了所设计控制器具有更好的控制效果.     

Composite adaptive locally weighted learning control for multi-constraint nonlinear systems

A composite adaptive locally weighted learning (LWL) control approach is proposed for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with system constraints, including state constraints and asymmetric control saturation in this paper. The system constraints are tackled by considering the control input as an extended state variable and introducing barrier Lyapunov functions (BLFs) into the backstepping procedure. The system uncertainty is approximated by a composite adaptive LWL neural networks (NNs), in which a prediction error is constructed by using a series-parallel identification model, and NN weights are updated by both the tracking error and the prediction error. The update law with composite error feedback improves uncertainty approximation accuracy and trajectory tracking accuracy. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach have been demonstrated by formal proof and simulation results.     

State Space Constrained Iterative Learning Control for Robotic Manipulators

Real‐life work operations of industrial robotic manipulators are performed within a constrained state space. Such operations most often require accurate planning and tracking a desired trajectory, where all the characteristics of the dynamic model are taken into consideration. This paper presents a general method and an efficient computational procedure for path planning with respect to state space constraints. Given a dynamic model of a robotic manipulator, the proposed solution takes into consideration the influence of all imprecisely measured model parameters, making use of iterative learning control (ILC). A major advantage of this solution is that it resolves the well‐known problem of interrupting the learning procedure due to a high transient tracking error or when the desired trajectory is planned closely to the state space boundaries. The numerical procedure elaborated here computes the robot arm motion to accurately track a desired trajectory in a constrained state space taking into consideration all the dynamic characteristics that influence the motion. Simulation results with a typical industrial robot arm demonstrate the robustness of the numerical procedure. In particular, the results extend the applicability of ILC in robot motion control and provide a means for improving the overall trajectory tracking performance of most robotic systems.     

Model predictive controller design and implementation on FPGA with application to motor servo system

In this paper, an integrated hardware and software design method is developed to implement an MPC algorithm on an FPGA chip. This makes it possible to achieve the long-desired goal of extending MPC algorithms to field control so as to deal with constraints effectively. To expedite the numerical procedure of solving quadratic programming (QP) in the MPC algorithm, a QP solver based on embedded chips is designed to exploit the flexibility and efficiency of FPGA chips. With a carefully devised software architecture, a universal platform is proposed to be facilely deployed to field control applications. To demonstrate the efficacy, a prototype system is built based on a Xilinx FPGA chip. It is then applied to a motor servo tracking control system and achieves satisfactory control performance.     

Model predictive tracking control for a linear system under time‐varying input constraints

In this paper, we propose a tracking control law for a linear dynamical system under time‐varying input constraints. The proposed control law consists of a dual‐mode model predictive control (MPC) law and a target recalculation mechanism. As the terminal controller of the dual‐mode MPC, we propose a saturation‐level‐dependent gain‐scheduled feedback control law that ensures closed‐loop stability against arbitrary change of the position limit of the actuators. We also present conditions that guarantee feasibility and stability of the control algorithm under time‐varying input constraints. The control algorithm is reduced to an online optimization problem under linear matrix inequality constraints. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adaptive NN state error PCH trajectory tracking control for unmanned surface vessel with uncertainties and input saturation

A novel robust state error port controlled Hamiltonian (PCH) trajectory tracking controller of an unmanned surface vessel (USV) subject to time-varying disturbances, dynamic uncertainties and control input saturation is presented. The proposed control scheme combines the advantages of the high robustness and energy minimization of the state error PCH approach and the approximation capability of adaptive radial basis function neural networks (RBFNNs). Adaptive RBFNNs are used to the time-varying disturbances of the environment and unknown dynamics uncertainties of the USV model. The state error PCH control approach is designed such that the system can optimize energy consumption, and the state error PCH technique makes the designed trajectory tracking controller be easy to implement in practice. To handle the effect of the control input saturation, a Gaussian error function model is employed. It has been demonstrated that the proposed approach can maintain the USV's trajectory at the desired trajectory, while the closed-loop control system can guarantee the uniformly ultimate boundedness. The energy consumption model of the USV is constructed to reveal to the energy consumption. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.     

一种间歇过程的综合预测迭代学习控制方法

为了提高迭代学习控制方法在间歇过程轨迹跟踪问题中的收敛速度,本文将批次间的比例型迭代学习控制与批次内的模型预测控制相结合,提出了一种综合应用方法.首先根据间歇过程的线性模型,预测出比例型迭代学习控制的系统输出,然后在批次内采用模型预测控制,通过极小化一个二次型目标函数来获得控制增量.该方法可使系统输出跟踪期望轨迹的速度比比例型迭代学习控制方法更快些.最后通过仿真实例验证了该方法的有效性.