Output feedback control of large-scale nonlinear time-delay systems in lower triangular form

This paper is concerned with the stabilization problem for a class of large-scale nonlinear time-delay systems in lower triangular form. The uncertain nonlinearities are assumed to be bounded by continuous functions of the outputs or delayed outputs multiplied by unmeasured states or delayed states. An observer based output feedback control scheme is proposed using the dynamic gain control design approach. Based on Lyapunov stability theory, global asymptotic stability of the closed-loop control system is proved. Contrary to many existing control designs for lower triangular nonlinear systems, the celebrated backstepping method is not utilized here. An example is finally given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design procedure.     

Model-free control

‘Model-free control’and the corresponding ‘intelligent’ PID controllers (iPIDs), which already had many successful concrete applications, are presented here for the first time in an unified manner, where the new advances are taken into account. The basics of model-free control is now employing some old functional analysis and some elementary differential algebra. The estimation techniques become quite straightforward via a recent online parameter identification approach. The importance of iPIs and especially of iPs is deduced from the presence of friction. The strange industrial ubiquity of classic PIDs and the great difficulty for tuning them in complex situations is deduced, via an elementary sampling, from their connections with iPIDs. Several numerical simulations are presented which include some infinite-dimensional systems. They demonstrate not only the power of our intelligent controllers but also the great simplicity for tuning them.     

Robust non-fragile LQ controllers: The static state feedback case

This paper describes the synthesis of non-fragile or resilient regulators for linear systems. A general framework for fragility is described using state-space methodologies, and the LQ/H₂ static state-feedback problem is examined in detail. We discuss the multiplicative structured uncertainties case, and propose remedies of the fragility problem using an optimization programming framework via matrix inequalities. A special case that leads to a convex optimization framework via linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) will be considered. The benchmark problem is taken as an example to show how special controller gain variations can affect the performance of the closed-loop system.     

Passivity-based control of linear time-invariant systems modelled by bond graph

Closed-loop control systems are designed for linear time-invariant (LTI) controllable and observable systems modelled by bond graph (BG). Cascade and feedback interconnections of BG models are realised through active bonds with no loading effect. The use of active bonds may lead to non-conservation of energy and the overall system is modelled by proposed pseudo-junction structures. These structures are build by adding parasitic elements to the BG models and the overall system may become singularly perturbed. The structures for these interconnections can be seen as consisting of inner structures that satisfy energy conservation properties and outer structures including multiport-coupled dissipative fields. These fields highlight energy properties like passivity that are useful for control design. In both interconnections, junction structures and dissipative fields for the controllers are proposed, and passivity is guaranteed for the closed-loop systems assuring robust stability. The cascade interconnection is applied to the structural representation of closed-loop transfer functions, when a stabilising controller is applied to a given nominal plant. Applications are given when the plant and the controller are described by state-space realisations. The feedback interconnection is used getting necessary and sufficient stability conditions based on the closed-loop characteristic polynomial, solving a pole-placement problem and achieving zero-stationary state error.     

基于遗传优化的模糊PID控制在智能除草中的应用研究*

针对当前智能除草控制系统的非线性、时滞性及喷施精度过低等问题,设计了一种基于超代遗传算法(HG-GA)优化的模糊PID控制方案。在该方案中,针对智能除草装置的特点,设计了对应的模糊PID控制器,并对控制器的各因子进行遗传优化,从而提高系统的控制效果,同时加快了优化速度。实验结果表明这是一种有效的控制策略,尤其是在处理非线性及外部干扰方面有更好的鲁棒性。     

Advanced methods for displays and remote control of robots

An in-depth evaluation of the usability and situation awareness performance of different displays and destination controls of robots are presented. In two experiments we evaluate the way information is presented to the operator and assess different means for controlling the robot. Our study compares three types of displays: a “blocks” display, a HUD (head-up display), and a radar display, and two types of controls: touch screen and hand gestures. The HUD demonstrated better performance when compared to the blocks display and was perceived to have greater usability compared to the radar display. The HUD was also found to be more useful when the operation of the robot was more difficult, i.e., when using the hand-gesture method. The experiments also pointed to the importance of using a wide viewing angle to minimize distortion and for easier coping with the difficulties of locating objects in the field of view margins. The touch screen was found to be superior in terms of both objective performance and its perceived usability. No differences were found between the displays and the controllers in terms of situation awareness. This research sheds light on the preferred display type and controlling method for operating robots from a distance, making it easier to cope with the challenges of operating such systems.     

Stability analysis of switched systems using variational principles: An introduction

Many natural and artificial systems and processes encompass several modes of operation with a different dynamical behavior in each mode. Switched systems provide a suitable mathematical model for such processes, and their stability analysis is important for both theoretical and practical reasons. We review a specific approach for stability analysis based on using variational principles to characterize the “most unstable” solution of the switched system. We also discuss a link between the variational approach and the stability analysis of switched systems using Lie-algebraic considerations. Both approaches require the use of sophisticated tools from many different fields of applied mathematics. The purpose of this paper is to provide an accessible and self-contained review of these topics, emphasizing the intuitive and geometric underlying ideas.     

Observers and output feedback stabilising controllers for nonlinear strict-feedback systems with sampled observation

The design of observers and output feedback stabilising controllers for continuous-time strict-feedback systems with sampled observation is considered. First two types of observers are designed. One is a discrete-time semiglobal and practical reduced-order observer for the exact model and the other is a continuous-time semiglobal and practical full-order observer for continuous-time strict feedback systems with sampled observation. Then by combining the designed continuous-time observers and continuous-time state feedback laws that are continuous, zero at the origin, and uniformly globally asymptotically stabilise continuous-time systems, output feedback semiglobally practically uniformly asymptotically stabilising controllers are constructed. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the proposed design of observers and output feedback controllers.     

Subspace Identification of Transfer Function Models for an Unstable Bioreactor

This work deals with the identification of transfer function model of an unstable bioreactor by a subspace-based identification method. The data set is generated from the simulated closed loop system by giving a random signal at the reference signal. The linear system matrices are estimated through the Multivariable Output Numerical algorithms for Subspace State Space System Identification (MON4SID) algorithm. The delay is estimated directly from the input–output data by the impulse response method. The identified First Order Plus Time Delay (FOPTD) model is compared with the locally linearized transfer function model derived around the unstable operating point. A Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller is designed for the identified model using the equating coefficient method. The closed loop servo and regulatory responses show that the model identified by MON4SID is similar to the linearized model and the optimization method.