Enhanced information reconfiguration for distributed model predictive control for cyber‐physical networked systems

This paper considers a class of cyber‐physical networked systems, which are composed of many interacted subsystems, and are controlled in a distributed framework. The operating point of each subsystem changes with the varying of working conditions or productions, which may cause the change of the interactions among subsystems correspondingly. How to adapt to this change with good closed‐loop optimization performance and appropriate information connections is a problem. To solve this problem, the impaction of a subsystem's control action on the performance of related closed‐loop subsystems is first deduced for measuring the coupling among subsystems. Then, a distributed model predictive control (MPC) for tracking, whose subsystems online reconfigure their information structures, is proposed based on this impaction index. When the operating points changed, each local MPC calculates the impaction indices related to its structural downstream subsystems. If and only if the impaction index exceeds a defined bound, its behavior is considered by its downstream subsystem's MPC. The aim is to improve the optimization performance of entire closed‐loop systems and avoid the unnecessary information connections among local MPCs. Besides, contraction constraints are designed to guarantee that the overall system converges to the set points. The stability analysis is also provided. Simulation results show that the proposed impaction index is reasonable along with the efficiency of the proposed distributed MPC.     

Feedback Linearization Based Distributed Model Predictive Control for Secondary Control of Islanded Microgrid

In this paper, a distributed Model Predictive Control (DMPC) is proposed for the secondary voltage and frequency control of islanded microgrid, where each distributed generator (DG) is controlled by a Model Predictive Control (MPC) in the secondary control layer, individually. With considering the nonlinear dynamics of DG with primary control, input‐output feedback schemes are developed for voltage and frequency control separately. Then, all MPCs use the local and neighboring nodes information to solve the optimization problem instead of communicating with a central controller. In this way, the control of the whole system is fully distributed, which allows for a plug‐and‐play. The convergence and stability analysis of the overall closed‐loop system are provided. The simulation result shows the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Decentralized filtering adaptive constrained tracking control for interconnected nonlinear systems

This paper presents a novel decentralized filtering adaptive constrained tracking control framework for uncertain interconnected nonlinear systems. Each subsystem has its own decentralized controller based on the established decentralized state predictor. For each subsystem, a piecewise constant adaptive law will generate total uncertainty estimates by solving the error dynamics between the host system and decentralized state predictor with the neglection of unknowns, whereas a decentralized filtering control law is designed to compensate both local and mismatched uncertainties from other subsystems, as well as achieve the local objective tracking of the host system. The achievement of global objective depends on the achievement of local objective for each subsystem. In the control scheme, the nonlinear uncertainties are compensated for within the bandwidth of low‐pass filters, while the trade‐off between tracking and constraints violation avoidance is formulated as a numerical constrained optimization problem which is solved periodically. Priority is given to constraints violation avoidance at the cost of deteriorated tracking performance. The uniform performance bounds are derived for the system states and control inputs as compared to the corresponding signals of a bounded closed‐loop reference system, which assumes partial cancelation of uncertainties within the bandwidth of the control signal. Compared with model predictive control (MPC) and unconstrained controller, the proposed control architecture is capable of solving the tracking control problems for interconnected nonlinear systems subject to constraints and uncertainties.     

Periodic event‐triggered control for distributed networked multiagents with asynchronous communication: A predictive control approach

This paper investigates the periodic event‐triggered control problem for distributed networked multiagent systems with interconnected nonlinear dynamics subject to asynchronous communication. A method of state trajectory estimation for the interconnected neighboring agents over each prediction horizon with guaranteed error bounds is addressed to handle the asynchronous communication. Based on it, a distributed robust model predictive control (MPC) is proposed with a distributed periodic event‐triggered scheme for each agent. According to this algorithm, each subsystem generates presumed state trajectories for all its upstream neighbors and computes its own control locally. By checking the designed triggering condition periodically, the optimization problem of MPC will be implemented and solved when the local error of the subsystem exceeds a specified threshold. Then, the optimized control input will be determined and applied until the next time instant when the triggering condition is invoked. Moreover, sufficient condition for ensuring feasibility of the designed algorithm is conducted, along with the analysis of asymptotic stabilization of the closed‐loop system. The illustrative example for a set of coupled Van der Pol oscillators is reported to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Distributed MPC for Tracking and Formation of Homogeneous Multi‐agent System with Time‐Varying Communication Topology

The distributed model predictive control (MPC) is studied for the tracking and formation problem of multi‐agent system with time‐varying communication topology. At each sampling instant, each agent solves an optimization problem respecting input and state constraints, to obtain its optimal control input. In the cost function for the optimization problem of each agent, the formation weighting coefficient is properly updated so that the adverse effect of the time‐varying communication topology on the closed‐loop stability can be counteracted. It is shown that the overall multi‐agent system can achieve the desired tracking and formation objectives. The effectiveness of the results is demonstrated through two examples.     

Dual closed‐loop tracking control for wheeled mobile robots via active disturbance rejection control and model predictive control

A dual closed‐loop tracking control is proposed for a wheeled mobile robot based on active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) and model predictive control (MPC). In the inner loop system, the ADRC scheme with an extended state observer (ESO) is proposed to estimate and compensate external disturbances. In the outer loop system, the MPC strategy is developed to generate a desired velocity for the inner loop dynamic system subject to a diamond‐shaped input constraint. Both effectiveness and stability analysis are given for the ESO and the dual closed‐loop system, respectively. Simulation results demonstrate the performances of the proposed control scheme.     

Stochastic model predictive control for probabilistically constrained Markovian jump linear systems with additive disturbance

Model predictive control (MPC) for Markovian jump linear systems with probabilistic constraints has received much attention in recent years. However, in existing results, the disturbance is usually assumed with infinite support, which is not considered reasonable in real applications. Thus, by considering random additive disturbance with finite support, this paper is devoted to a systematic approach to stochastic MPC for Markovian jump linear systems with probabilistic constraints. The adopted MPC law is parameterized by a mode‐dependent feedback control law superimposed with a perturbation generated by a dynamic controller. Probabilistic constraints can be guaranteed by confining the augmented system state to a maximal admissible set. Then, the MPC algorithm is given in the form of linearly constrained quadratic programming problems by optimizing the infinite sum of derivation of the stage cost from its steady‐state value. The proposed algorithm is proved to be recursively feasible and to guarantee constraints satisfaction, and the closed‐loop long‐run average cost is not more than that of the unconstrained closed‐loop system with static feedback. Finally, when adopting the optimal feedback gains in the predictive control law, the resulting MPC algorithm has been proved to converge in the mean square sense to the optimal control. A numerical example is given to verify the efficiency of the proposed results.     

Robust model predictive control under redundant channel transmission with applications in networked DC motor systems

In networked systems, intermittent failures in data transmission are usually inevitable due to the limited bandwidth of the communication channel, and an effective countermeasure is to add redundance so as to improve the reliability of the communication service. This paper is concerned with the model predictive control (MPC) problem by using static output feedback for a class of polytopic uncertain systems with redundant channels under both input and output constraints. By utilizing the min–max control approach combined with stochastic analysis, sufficient conditions are established to guarantee the feasibility of the designed MPC scheme that ensures the robust stability of the closed‐loop system. In terms of the solution to an auxiliary optimization problem, an easy‐to‐implement MPC algorithm is proposed to obtain the desired sub‐optimal control sequence as well as the upper bound of the quadratic cost function. Finally, to illustrate its effectiveness, the proposed design method is applied to control a networked direct current motor system. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

通讯信息约束下具有全局稳定性的分布式系统预测控制

本文针对一类由状态相互耦合的子系统组成的分布式系统, 提出了一种可以处理输入约束的保证稳定性的非 迭代协调分布式预测控制方法(distributed model predictive control, DMPC). 该方法中, 每个控制器在求解控制率时只与 其它控制器通信一次来满足系统对通信负荷限制; 同时, 通过优化全局性能指标来提高优化性能. 另外, 该方法在优化 问题中加入了一致性约束来限制关联子系统的估计状态与当前时刻更新的状态之间的偏差, 进而保证各子系统优化问 题初始可行时, 后续时刻相继可行. 在此基础上, 通过加入终端约束来保证闭环系统渐进稳定. 该方法能够在使用较少 的通信和计算负荷情况下, 提高系统优化性能. 即使对于强耦合系统同样能够保证优化问题的递推可行性和闭环系统的 渐进稳定性. 仿真结果验证了本文所提出方法的有效性.     

Guaranteed cost control of distributed parameter networked control systems with time‐varying delay

Distributed parameter networked control systems mean distributed parameter systems are controlled through a network, where the control loops are closed. In this paper, the problem of guaranteed cost and state feedback controller design is investigated for a class of distributed parameter networked control systems. With the network factors, such as transmission delays, data packet dropouts considered, the distributed parameter networked control system is modeled as a linear closed‐loop system with time‐varying delay and uncertain parameters. By selecting an appropriate Lyapunov‐Krasovskii function and using linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach, the controller is designed to render the system stable and it can keep the cost function less than a certain upper value. In addition, numerical simulation is included to demonstrate the theoretical results.     

Model predictive control of distributed networked control systems with quantization and switching topology

This work is concerned with the robust model predictive control (MPC) for a class of distributed networked control systems (NCSs), in which the input quantization and switching topology are both considered. By utilizing the sector bound approach, the NCSs with quantization are converted into the linear systems with sector bound uncertainties. The topology switching is governed by a switching signal and the dynamic behavior is modeled as a switched control system. A new robust MPC design technique is derived to minimize the upper bound of a weighted quadratic performance index. Moreover, the conditions of both the recursive feasibility of the MPC design and the stability of the resulting closed‐loop system are developed. Finally, simulation results are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed MPC design.     

Real‐time model predictive control based on dual gradient projection: Theory and fixed‐point FPGA implementation

This paper proposes a method to design robust model predictive control (MPC) laws for discrete‐time linear systems with hard mixed constraints on states and inputs, in case of only an inexact solution of the associated quadratic program is available, because of real‐time requirements. By using a recently proposed dual gradient‐projection algorithm, it is proved that the discrepancy of the optimal control law as compared with the obtained one is bounded even if the solver is implemented in fixed‐point arithmetic. By defining an alternative MPC problem with tightened constraints, a feasible solution is obtained for the original MPC problem, which guarantees recursive feasibility and asymptotic stability of the closed‐loop system with respect to a set including the origin, also considering the presence of external disturbances. The proposed MPC law is implemented on a field‐programmable gate array in order to show the practical applicability of the method. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Boundary control of linear stochastic reaction‐diffusion systems

This paper considers the boundary control problem for linear stochastic reaction‐diffusion systems with Neumann boundary conditions. First, when the full‐domain system states are accessible, a boundary control is designed, and a sufficient condition is established to ensure the mean‐square exponential stability of the resulting closed‐loop system. Next, when the full‐domain system states are not available, an observer‐based control is proposed such that the underlying closed‐loop system is stable. Furthermore, observer‐based controller is designed for the systems with an H_∞ performance. Simulation examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of the new design techniques.     

Non-fragile observer-based output feedback control for polytopic uncertain system under distributed model predictive control approach

In this paper, a non-fragile observer-based output feedback control problem for the polytopic uncertain system under distributed model predictive control (MPC) approach is discussed. By decomposing the global system into some subsystems, the computation complexity is reduced, so it follows that the online designing time can be saved.Moreover, an observer-based output feedback control algorithm is proposed in the framework of distributed MPC to deal with the difficulties in obtaining the states measurements. In this way, the presented observer-based output-feedback MPC strategy is more flexible and applicable in practice than the traditional state-feedback one. What is more, the non-fragility of the controller has been taken into consideration in favour of increasing the robustness of the polytopic uncertain system. After that, a sufficient stability criterion is presented by using Lyapunov-like functional approach, meanwhile, the corresponding control law and the upper bound of the quadratic cost function are derived by solving an optimisation subject to convex constraints. Finally, some simulation examples are employed to show the effectiveness of the method.     

Synthesis of Mixed Objective Output Feedback Robust Model Predictive Control

Aiming at the constrained polytopic uncertain system with energy‐bounded disturbance and unmeasurable states, a novel synthesis scheme to design the output feedback robust model predictive control(MPC)is put forward by using mixed H₂/H_∞ design approach. The proposed scheme involves an offline design of a robust state observer using linear matrix inequalities(LMIs)and an online output feedback robust MPC algorithm using the estimated states in which the desired mixed objective robust output feedback controllers are cast into efficiently tractable LMI‐based convex optimization problems. In addition, the closed‐loop stability and the recursive feasibility of the proposed robust MPC are guaranteed through an appropriate reformulation of the estimation error bound (EEB). A numerical example subject to input constraints illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed controller.     

Adaptive synchronization control of networked robot systems without velocity measurements

This paper addresses the adaptive synchronization control problem of networked robot systems characterized by the Lagrangian function, where exact dynamic models are unknown and velocity measurements are unavailable. A class of distributed observers, comprised of multiple dynamic variables and static variables, are established based on no a priori restriction on the boundness of the observer states. The observer is compatible for different control schemes with or without structure uncertainties. Using the estimated states given by the observer, adaptive distributed control input is developed, and then, closed‐loop dynamic models for filtered vectors are established. It is proven that our proposed control scheme permits global exact state estimation and global asymptotic synchronization while compensating for structure uncertainties. Simulations are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the results.     

Robust Decentralized Adaptive Fuzzy Control of Large‐Scale Nonaffine Nonlinear Systems With Strong Interconnection and Application to Automated Highway Systems

A novel decentralized adaptive fuzzy controller is developed for a class of large‐scale uncertain nonaffine nonlinear systems in this paper. Incorporating the benefits of fuzzy systems, implicit function theorem, and robust control technique, the interconnections between subsystems are extended to general unknown nonlinear functions. No a priori knowledge of lower and upper bounds on lumped uncertainties is required to implement each local controller. The resulting closed‐loop large‐scale system is proved to be asymptotically stable. The controller design is applicable to an automated highway system and simulation results confirm its practical usefulness.     

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.