Variable structure based robust backstepping controller design for nonlinear systems

This study presents robust control architecture in the sense of variable structure control via a backstepping design. By using systematic backstepping design techniques, closed-loop behavior of an n-order nonlinear system can be transformed into a stability and convergence problem of a fast switched 2nd order system. There are two main parts contained within the proposed control algorithm; one is a nominal control effort generated according to the Lyapunov stability criterion during recursive backstepping processes, and the other belongs to a smooth robust control law designed to eliminate the effects of unknown lumped perturbations. Finally, a Genesio system is used as an illustrated example to demonstrate the robustness of the control algorithm. The feasibility and properties of the proposed method are given by numerical simulations.     

Active disturbance rejection adaptive control of uncertain nonlinear systems: theory and application

This paper proposes an active disturbance rejection adaptive controller for tracking control of a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with consideration of both parametric uncertainties and uncertain nonlinearities by effectively integrating adaptive control with extended state observer via backstepping method. Parametric uncertainties are handled by the synthesized adaptive law and the remaining uncertainties are estimated by extended state observer and then compensated in a feedforward way. Moreover, both matched uncertainties and unmatched uncertainties can be estimated by constructing an extended state observer for each channel of the considered nonlinear plant. Since parametric uncertainties can be reduced by parameter adaptation, the learning burden of extended state observer is much reduced. Consequently, high-gain feedback is avoided and improved tracking performance can be expected. The proposed controller theoretically guarantees a prescribed transient tracking performance and final tracking accuracy in general while achieving asymptotic tracking when the uncertain nonlinearities are not time-variant. The motion control of a motor-driven robot manipulator is investigated as an application example with some suitable modifications and improvements, and comparative simulation results are obtained to verify the high tracking performance nature of the proposed control strategy.     

Optimal feedback control of the deployment of a tethered subsatellite subject to perturbations

This paper presents the nonlinear optimal feedback control for the deployment process of a tethered subsatellite model, which involves not only the usually addressed in-plane motion, but also the out-of-plane motion. The model also takes the uncertainties in the mass parameter, the perturbations in initial states, and the external disturbance forces into consideration from an engineering point of view. The proposed controller is on the basis of a shrinking horizon and online grid adaptation scheme. Even though the proposed feedback law is not analytically explicit, it is easy to determine it by using a rapid recomputation of the open-loop optimal control, which generates the initial guesses for controls by interpolating the results from the previous computation. The case studies in the paper well demonstrate the effectiveness, robustness, and dominant real-time merits of the proposed controller.     

Robust Speed Control of a Low Damped Electromechanical System Based on CRONE Control: Application to a Four Mass Experimental Test Bench

Robust speed control of a low damped electromechanical system with backlash is studied, controlled load angular speed being not measured. The proposed control strategy combines a Luenberger observer (load angular speed and load torque disturbance estimations) and a robust CRONE controller. The observer provides estimation of the load angular speed and of the disturbance torque applied on the load. Through the computation of only three independent parameters (as many as a PID controller), the CRONE controller permits to ensure the robust speed control of the load in spite of plant parametric variations and speed observation errors. The proposed control strategy is applied to a four mass experimental test bench.     

Robust Speed Control of a Low Damped Electromechanical System Based on CRONE Control: Application to a Four Mass Experimental Test Bench

Robust speed control of a low damped electromechanical system with backlash is studied, controlled load angular speed being not measured. The proposed control strategy combines a Luenberger observer (load angular speed and load torque disturbance estimations) and a robust CRONE controller. The observer provides estimation of the load angular speed and of the disturbance torque applied on the load. Through the computation of only three independent parameters (as many as a PID controller), the CRONE controller permits to ensure the robust speed control of the load in spite of plant parametric variations and speed observation errors. The proposed control strategy is applied to a four mass experimental test bench.     

Nonlinear system control using a self-organizing functional-linked neuro-fuzzy network

This study presents a self-organizing functional-linked neuro-fuzzy network (SFNN) for a nonlinear system controller design. An online learning algorithm, which consists of structure learning and parameter learning of a SFNN, is presented. The structure learning is designed to determine the number of fuzzy rules and the parameter learning is designed to adjust the parameters of membership function and corresponding weights. Thus, an adaptive self-organizing functional-linked neuro-fuzzy control (ASFNC) system, which is composed of a computation controller and a robust compensator, is proposed. In the computation controller, a SFNN observer is utilized to approximate the system dynamic and the robust compensator is designed to eliminate the effect of the approximation error introduced by the SFNN observer upon the system stability. Finally, to show the effectiveness of the proposed ASFNC system, it is applied to a chaotic system. The simulation results demonstrate that favorable control performance can be achieved by the proposed ASFNC scheme without any knowledge of the control plants and without requiring preliminary offline tuning of the SFNN observer.     

Adaptive robust fuzzy control for a class of uncertain chaotic systems

In this paper, the output feedback control of uncertain chaotic systems is addressed via an adaptive robust fuzzy approach. Fuzzy logic systems are employed to approximate uncertain nonlinear functions in the chaotic systems. Because only partial information of the system’s states is needed to be known, an observer is given to estimate the unmeasured states. Compared with the existing results in the observer design, the prior knowledge on dynamic uncertainties is relaxed and a class of more general chaotic systems is considered as well as robustness to the approximation error is improved. It can be proven that the closed-loop system is stable in the sense that all the variables are bounded. Simulation example for the unified chaotic systems is given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (60874056) and the Foundation of Educational Department of Liaoning Province (2008312).     

A new adaptive fuzzy sliding mode observer for a class of MIMO nonlinear systems

In this paper, a new adaptive fuzzy sliding mode (AFSM) observer is proposed which can be used for a class of MIMO nonlinear systems. In the proposed algorithm, the zero-input dynamics of the plant could be unknown. In this method, a fuzzy system is designed to estimate the nonlinear behavior of the observer. The output of fuzzy rules are tuned adaptively, based on the observer error. The output connection matrix is used to combine the observer errors of individual subsystems. A robust term, which is designed based on the sliding mode theory, is added to the observer to compensate the fuzzy estimation error. The estimation error bound is adjusted by an adaptive law. The main advantage of the proposed observer is that, unlike many of the previous works, the measured outputs is not limited to the first entries of a canonical-form state vector. The proposed observer estimates the closed-loop state tracking error asymptotically, provided that the output gain matrix includes Hurwitz coefficients. The chattering is eliminated by using boundary layers around the sliding surfaces and the observer convergence is proved using a Lyapunov-based approach. The proposed method is applied on a real multilink robot manipulator. The performance of the observer shows its effectiveness in the real world.     

Optimal nonlinear feedback control of spacecraft rendezvous with finite low thrust between libration orbits

This paper presents the nonlinear closed-loop feedback control strategy for the spacecraft rendezvous problem with finite low thrust between libration orbits in the Sun–Earth system. The model of spacecraft rendezvous takes the perturbations in initial states, the actuator saturation limits, the measurement errors, and the external disturbance forces into consideration from an engineering point of view. The proposed nonlinear closed-loop feedback control strategy is not analytically explicit; rather, it is implemented by a rapid re-computation of the open-loop optimal control at each update instant. To guarantee the computational efficiency, a novel numerical algorithm for solving the open-loop optimal control is given. With the aid of the quasilinearization method, the open-loop optimal control problem is replaced successfully by a series of sparse symmetrical linear equations coupled with linear complementary problem, and the computational efficiency can be significantly increased. The numerical simulations of spacecraft rendezvous problems in the paper well demonstrate the robustness, high precision, and dominant real-time merits of the proposed closed-loop feedback control strategy.     

Lag synchronization for fuzzy chaotic system based on fuzzy observer

A new fuzzy observer for lag synchronization is given in this paper. By investi- gating synchronization of chaotic systems, the structure of drive-response lag synchronization for fuzzy chaos system based on fuzzy observer is proposed. A new lag synchronization criterion is derived using the Lyapunov stability theorem, in which control gains are obtained under the LMI condition. The proposed approach is applied to the well-known Chen＇s systems. A simulation example is presented to illustrate its effectiveness.     

Adaptive tracking control of wheeled mobile robots with unknown longitudinal and lateral slipping parameters

An adaptive control approach is proposed for trajectory tracking of wheeled mobile robot (WMR) with unknown longitudinal and lateral slipping. A kinematic model of tracked WMR is established in this paper, in which both longitudinal and lateral slipping are considered and processed as three time-varying parameters. Sliding mode observer is then introduced to real time estimate the slip parameters online. A stable tracking control law for this robot system is proposed by backstepping method, and the asymptotic stability is guaranteed by Lyapunov theory. Meanwhile, the controller gains are determined online by poles placement method. Simulation results show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method.     

Nonlinear continuous integral-derivative observer

In this paper, a high-order nonlinear continuous integral-derivative observer is presented based on finite-time stability and singular perturbation technique. Not only the proposed integral-derivative observer can obtain the multiple integrals of a signal, but also the derivatives can be estimated. Conditions are given ensuring finite-time stability for the presented integral-derivative observer, and the stability and robustness in time domain are analyzed. The merits of the presented integral-derivative observer include its synchronous estimation of integrals and derivatives, finite-time stability, ease of parameters selection, sufficient stochastic noises rejection and almost no drift phenomenon. The theoretical results are confirmed by computational analysis and simulations.     

Observer-based fault-tolerant control for an air-breathing hypersonic vehicle model

This paper focuses on controller and observer design for the longitudinal model of an air-breathing hypersonic vehicle (AHV) subject to actuator faults and limited measurements of the states. The feedback linearization method is firstly employed for a modified AHV model with actuator faults, and dynamic effect caused by the actuator faults on the linearized model is analyzed. Based on full state information, an adaptive controller is designed using the Lyapunov method, which guarantees reference command tracking of the AHV under actuator faults. Next, to estimate the unmeasurable states used in the adaptive controller, a sliding observer is designed based on the sliding control method and the Filippov’s construction of the equivalent dynamics (FCED). Finally, the adaptive controller is combined with the sliding observer to generate the observer-based adaptive controller, which relies only on partial state information. Simulations demonstrate that the observer-based adaptive controller achieves desired tracking performance and good robustness in the presence of actuator faults.     

Forced sliding mode control for chaotic systems synchronization

Synchronization of chaotic systems is considered to be a common engineering problem. However, the proposed laws of synchronization control do not always provide robustness toward the parametric perturbations. The purpose of this article is to show the use of synergy-cybernetic approach for the construction of robust law for Arneodo chaotic systems synchronization. As the main method of design of robust control, the method of design of control with forced sliding mode of the synergetic control theory is considered. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed law, in this article it is compared with the classical sliding mode control and adaptive backstepping. The distinctive features of suggested robust control law are the more good compensation of parametric perturbations (better performance indexes—the root-mean-square error (RMSE), average absolute value (AVG) of error) without designing perturbation observers, the ability to exclude the chattering effect, less energy consuming and a simpler analysis of the stability of a closed-loop system. The study of the proposed control law and the change of its parameters and the place of parametric perturbation’s application is carried out. It is possible to significantly reduce the synchronization error and RMSE, as well as AVG of error by reducing some parameters, but that leads to an increase in control signal amplitude. The place of application of parametric disturbances (slave or master system) has no effect on the RMSE and AVG of error. Offered approach will allow a new consideration for the design of robust control laws for chaotic systems, taking into account the ideas of directed self-organization and robust control. It can be used for synchronization other chaotic systems.

     

Finite-time tracking control for a class of high-order nonlinear systems and its applications

This study investigates the problem of finite-time tracking control for a class of high-order nonlinear systems. Due to the existence of uncertain time-varying control coefficient and unknown nonlinear perturbations in the nonlinear dynamics, the existing finite-time control results cannot solve the finite-time tracking problem for this kind of nonlinear systems. Based on the technique of adding a power integrator a variable structure control method is proposed. Under the proposed control law, it is shown that the reference signal can be tracked in a finite time. As an application of the proposed theoretic results, the problem of finite-time attitude tracking control for the roll channel of bank-to-turn missile is solved. Simulation results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Compound line-of-sight nonlinear path following control of underactuated marine vehicles exposed to wind,waves, and ocean currents

This paper investigates the problem of nonlinear path following control of underactuated marine vehicles in the horizontal plane. Firstly, appropriate kinematic and dynamic models are established, where the kinematic model is developed in terms of the relative velocity with respect to the ocean current disturbances, and the dynamic model is developed to include the effects of wind and wave disturbances. Based on the time delay control method and the reduced-order linear extended state observer (LESOs) technique, an improved compound line-of-sight (CLOS) guidance law is first proposed which can estimate the unknown sideslip angle and can compensate for the effects of time-varying ocean currents. Secondly, the control law is decomposed into the kinematic and dynamic controllers by the back-stepping technique. The high-order tracking differentiator is applied to construct derivatives of desired yaw angle, which are calculated by the CLOS guidance law. This approach resolves the problem of computational complexity inherent in the traditional back-stepping method and simplifies the overall controller. The lumped disturbances caused by waves and wind are estimated and compensated by the reduced-order LESOs. Finally, stability analysis of the closed-loop system is performed. The simulation results and comparative analysis validate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed control approach.     

Robust stability of nonlinear model-based networked control systems with time-varying transmission times

Robust stability of a class of model-based networked control systems (MB-NCSs, for short) with nonlinear perturbation is analyzed. Based on the model-based networked control algorithm, a linear model of the plant is used to estimate the plant state behavior between transmission times. The case that the nonlinear plant and the linear plant model are connected via a network channel with transmission times that are varying within a time interval is of particular interest. Sufficient condition on stability of MB-NCSs with nonlinear perturbation is given. One advantage of the proposed method is that the maximum transmission interval and the robustness bound on nonlinear perturbation can be computed. Finally, numerical simulation is worked out to show our main result.     

Trajectory tracking control using velocity observer and disturbances observer for uncertain robot manipulators without tachometers

This paper deals with trajectory tracking control for rigid robot manipulators with model uncertainty and subject to external disturbances. The approach suggested herein does not require velocity measurement, because these robots are not equipped by tachometers for velocity measurement. For this purpose, two observers are proposed. The first is a velocity observer to estimate the missing velocity, and the second one is a disturbance observer to estimate the disturbance. Thereafter, these observers are integrated with the controller. Furthermore, semi-global asymptotic stability conditions of the composite controller consisting of a nonlinear controller, the velocity observer and the disturbance observer are established, and an estimate region of attraction is also given. This proof is based on Lyapunov theory. Finally, simulation results on two-links manipulator are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the velocity observer based control using disturbance estimation (namely VOBCDE), when the Coulomb and viscous friction is considered as an external disturbance.     

Dissipativity-based stable controller redesign for nonlinear MIMO switched systems in the presence of perturbations

This paper offers a control redesign method for a class of nonlinear MIMO perturbed dissipative switched systems. The controller for the nominal switched system without perturbation is considered to have been designed based on dissipativity. The nominal model is considered affine with perturbations in both nonlinear terms. The controller is then redesigned such that the dissipativity of the switched system with perturbations is maintained by including a robustifying term in the control law. The design is developed for the two cases of 2-norm and infinity-norm bounded perturbations. The proposed method is applied to a nonlinear MIMO switched system to verify the convergence of the state vector to the origin in the presence of perturbations.     

Velocity-based tuning of degree of homogeneity for finite-time stabilization and fault tolerant control of an ROV in the presence of thruster saturation and rate limits

This paper introduces a homogeneous controller along a fixed-time state and fault observer for finite-time stabilization and fault accommodation of a remotely-operated vehicle in the presence of actuator saturation and rate limits. For this, a novel tuning algorithm is improvised for manipulating the degree of homogeneity in homogeneous controllers to effectively acquire different properties from the overall control system. The tuning of degree of homogeneity is based on vehicle’s velocity. The proposed algorithm results in a switching-type controller, which undergoes three different stages during the operation, to eliminate the sensitivity of conventional finite-time and fixed-time controllers to large initial errors in the presence of thruster constraints. In addition, a new fixed-time fault and state observer is designed for the realization of output feedback control and fault tolerance by combining a fixed-time state observer with a fault estimation unit. In contrast to conventional extended-state observers, this observer considers the dynamics of the thruster system in its formulation so that better performance can be provided for the control system upon thruster failures. Control allocation is utilized to accommodate thruster failures and faults and to take account of thruster saturation and rate limits. Stability analyses are carried out for the overall control system and the proposed observer. It is shown that the closed-loop control system would be globally finite-time stable. The state estimation subsystem is fixed-time stable and the fault estimation unit is input-to-state stable. Simulations are carried out and comparisons are made with several finite-time and fixed-time controllers to outline the advantages of the proposed homogeneous controller and the benefits of the overall fault-tolerant control system.