Hybrid Control of a Bioreactor with Quantized Measurements: Extended Version

We consider the problem of global stabilization of an unstable bioreactor model (e.g. for anaerobic digestion), when the measurements are discrete and in finite number ("quantized"), with control of the dilution rate. The model is a differential system with two variables, and the output is the biomass growth. The measurements define regions in the state space, and they can be perfect or uncertain (i.e. without or with overlaps). We show that, under appropriate assumptions, a quantized control may lead to global stabilization: trajectories have to follow some transitions between the regions, until the final region where they converge toward the reference equilibrium. On the boundary between regions, the solutions are defined as a Filippov differential inclusion. If the assumptions are not fulfilled, sliding modes may appear, and the transition graphs are not deterministic

Robust Nonlinear Control Design with Proportional-Integral-Observer Technique

In this thesis, the motivation is explained in the introduction part based on a review of the development of observer technique especially the Proportional-Integral-Observer (PI-Observer) technique and an analysis of robust control for nonlinear systems. After that, the goals of the work are set as: improvement of the high gain PI-Observer design in the way that the high observer gains of PI-Observer can be automatically chosen and fit the current situation; and the application of PI-Observer in robust nonlinear control for nonlinear systems with unknown effects. To the first point, the high-gain PI-Observer design is systematically discussed and the online adjustment of the PI-Observer gains proposed as an advanced PI-Observer (API-Observer) is detailed. At the same time, the implementation of the addressed adjustment algorithm is included showing the adaption of the PI-Observer gains to the current situation of system dynamics and disturbances on a practical system with simulation results and real measurements respectively. To the other aspect, a high gain PI-Observer-based nonlinear control method is proposed as a combination of the PI-Observer and the classical exact feedback linearization method (EFL-PIO) and directly after it the applicability on mechanical systems is surveyed. Numerical examples of mechanical systems are given to illustrate the application of the EFL-PIO approach. At last, the implementation of the proposed PI-Observer-based nonlinear control method is illustrated in detail on a hydraulic cylinder system for its position control. Besides that, the position control for the cylinder system without direct position measurement is realized with the PI-Observer applied as virtual sensor. Here a discrete-time control algorithm is also designed and programmed to satisfy the normal industrial requirement. At last, a broader application of the robust EFL-PIO approach, a more efficient and compact numerical realization of the adaption algorithm for the API-Observer, and an API-Observer-based robust control or fault detection are suggested as future work

Control of chaos in nonlinear circuits and systems

Nonlinear circuits and systems, such as electronic circuits (Chapter 5), power converters (Chapter 6), human brains (Chapter 7), phase lock loops (Chapter 8), sigma delta modulators (Chapter 9), etc, are found almost everywhere. Understanding nonlinear behaviours as well as control of these circuits and systems are important for real practical engineering applications. Control theories for linear circuits and systems are well developed and almost complete. However, different nonlinear circuits and systems could exhibit very different behaviours. Hence, it is difficult to unify a general control theory for general nonlinear circuits and systems. Up to now, control theories for nonlinear circuits and systems are still very limited. The objective of this book is to review the state of the art chaos control methods for some common nonlinear circuits and systems, such as those listed in the above, and stimulate further research and development in chaos control for nonlinear circuits and systems. This book consists of three parts. The first part of the book consists of reviews on general chaos control methods. In particular, a time-delayed approach written by H. Huang and G. Feng is reviewed in Chapter 1. A master slave synchronization problem for chaotic Lur’e systems is considered. A delay independent and delay dependent synchronization criteria are derived based on the H performance. The design of the time delayed feedback controller can be accomplished by means of the feasibility of linear matrix inequalities. In Chapter 2, a fuzzy model based approach written by H.K. Lam and F.H.F. Leung is reviewed. The synchronization of chaotic systems subject to parameter uncertainties is considered. A chaotic system is first represented by the fuzzy model. A switching controller is then employed to synchronize the systems. The stability conditions in terms of linear matrix inequalities are derived based on the Lyapunov stability theory. The tracking performance and parameter design of the controller are formulated as a generalized eigenvalue minimization problem which is solved numerically via some convex programming techniques. In Chapter 3, a sliding mode control approach written by Y. Feng and X. Yu is reviewed. Three kinds of sliding mode control methods, traditional sliding mode control, terminal sliding mode control and non-singular terminal sliding mode control, are employed for the control of a chaotic system to realize two different control objectives, namely to force the system states to converge to zero or to track desired trajectories. Observer based chaos synchronizations for chaotic systems with single nonlinearity and multi-nonlinearities are also presented. In Chapter 4, an optimal control approach written by C.Z. Wu, C.M. Liu, K.L. Teo and Q.X. Shao is reviewed. Systems with nonparametric regression with jump points are considered. The rough locations of all the possible jump points are identified using existing kernel methods. A smooth spline function is used to approximate each segment of the regression function. A time scaling transformation is derived so as to map the undecided jump points to fixed points. The approximation problem is formulated as an optimization problem and solved via existing optimization tools. The second part of the book consists of reviews on general chaos controls for continuous-time systems. In particular, chaos controls for Chua’s circuits written by L.A.B. Tôrres, L.A. Aguirre, R.M. Palhares and E.M.A.M. Mendes are discussed in Chapter 5. An inductorless Chua’s circuit realization is presented, as well as some practical issues, such as data analysis, mathematical modelling and dynamical characterization, are discussed. The tradeoff among the control objective, the control energy and the model complexity is derived. In Chapter 6, chaos controls for pulse width modulation current mode single phase H-bridge inverters written by B. Robert, M. Feki and H.H.C. Iu are discussed. A time delayed feedback controller is used in conjunction with the proportional controller in its simple form as well as in its extended form to stabilize the desired periodic orbit for larger values of the proportional controller gain. This method is very robust and easy to implement. In Chapter 7, chaos controls for epileptiform bursting in the brain written by M.W. Slutzky, P. Cvitanovic and D.J. Mogul are discussed. Chaos analysis and chaos control algorithms for manipulating the seizure like behaviour in a brain slice model are discussed. The techniques provide a nonlinear control pathway for terminating or potentially preventing epileptic seizures in the whole brain. The third part of the book consists of reviews on general chaos controls for discrete-time systems. In particular, chaos controls for phase lock loops written by A.M. Harb and B.A. Harb are discussed in Chapter 8. A nonlinear controller based on the theory of backstepping is designed so that the phase lock loops will not be out of lock. Also, the phase lock loops will not exhibit Hopf bifurcation and chaotic behaviours. In Chapter 9, chaos controls for sigma delta modulators written by B.W.K. Ling, C.Y.F. Ho and J.D. Reiss are discussed. A fuzzy impulsive control approach is employed for the control of the sigma delta modulators. The local stability criterion and the condition for the occurrence of limit cycle behaviours are derived. Based on the derived conditions, a fuzzy impulsive control law is formulated so that the occurrence of the limit cycle behaviours, the effect of the audio clicks and the distance between the state vectors and an invariant set are minimized supposing that the invariant set is nonempty. The state vectors can be bounded within any arbitrary nonempty region no matter what the input step size, the initial condition and the filter parameters are. The editors are much indebted to the editor of the World Scientific Series on Nonlinear Science, Prof. Leon Chua, and to Senior Editor Miss Lakshmi Narayan for their help and congenial processing of the edition

Measurements, Models, Systems and Design

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Intermittent Fault Finding Strategies

AbstractIntermittent faults are regarded as the most difficult class of faults to diagnose and are cited as one of the main root causes of No Fault Found. There are a variety of technical issues relating to the nature of the fault which make identifying intermittent. This paper discusses some of these issues by introducing the concept of intermittent fault dynamics, modelling approaches and a selection of the state-of-the-art testing and diagnostic techniques and technologies

Non-fragile state estimation for discrete Markovian jumping neural networks

In this paper, the non-fragile state estimation problem is investigated for a class of discrete-time neural networks subject to Markovian jumping parameters and time delays. In terms of a Markov chain, the mode switching phenomenon at different times is considered in both the parameters and the discrete delays of the neural networks. To account for the possible gain variations occurring in the implementation, the gain of the estimator is assumed to be perturbed by multiplicative norm-bounded uncertainties. We aim to design a non-fragile state estimator such that, in the presence of all admissible gain variations, the estimation error converges to zero exponentially. By adopting the Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional and the stochastic analysis theory, sufficient conditions are established to ensure the existence of the desired state estimator that guarantees the stability of the overall estimation error dynamics. The explicit expression of such estimators is parameterized by solving a convex optimization problem via the semi-definite programming method. A numerical simulation example is provided to verify the usefulness of the proposed methods

Hybrid modeling and control of mechatronic systems using a piecewise affine dynamics approach

This thesis investigates the topic of modeling and control of PWA systems based on two experimental cases of an electrical and hydraulic nature with varying complexity that were also built, instrumented and evaluated. A full-order model has been created for both systems, including all dominant system dynamics and non-linearities. The unknown parameters and characteristics have been identi ed via an extensive parameter identi cation. In the following, the non-linear characteristics are linearized at several points, resulting in PWA models for each respective setup. Regarding the closed loop control of the generated models and corresponding experimental setups, a linear control structure comprised of integral error, feed-forward and state-feedback control has been used. Additionally, the hydraulic setup has been controlled in an autonomous hybrid position/force control mode, resulting in a switched system with each mode's dynamics being de ned by the previously derived PWA-based model in combination with the control structure and respective mode-dependent controller gains. The autonomous switch between control modes has been de ned by a switching event capable of consistently switching between modes in a deterministic manner despite the noise-a icted measurements. Several methods were used to obtain suitable controller gains, including optimization routines and pole placement. Validation of the system's fast and accurate response was obtained through simulations and experimental evaluation. The controlled system's local stability was proven for regions in state-space associated with operational points by using pole-zero analysis. The stability of the hybrid control approach was proven by using multiple Lyapunov functions for the investigated test scenarios.publishedVersio

Advanced Mathematics and Computational Applications in Control Systems Engineering

Control system engineering is a multidisciplinary discipline that applies automatic control theory to design systems with desired behaviors in control environments. Automatic control theory has played a vital role in the advancement of engineering and science. It has become an essential and integral part of modern industrial and manufacturing processes. Today, the requirements for control precision have increased, and real systems have become more complex. In control engineering and all other engineering disciplines, the impact of advanced mathematical and computational methods is rapidly increasing. Advanced mathematical methods are needed because real-world control systems need to comply with several conditions related to product quality and safety constraints that have to be taken into account in the problem formulation. Conversely, the increment in mathematical complexity has an impact on the computational aspects related to numerical simulation and practical implementation of the algorithms, where a balance must also be maintained between implementation costs and the performance of the control system. This book is a comprehensive set of articles reflecting recent advances in developing and applying advanced mathematics and computational applications in control system engineering

Adaptive Augmentation of Non-Minimum Phase Flexible Aerospace Systems

This work demonstrates the efficacy of direct adaptive augmentation on a robotic flexible system as an analogue of a large flexible aerospace structure such as a launch vehicle or aircraft. To that end, a robot was constructed as a control system testbed. This robot, named “Penny,” contains the command and data acquisition capabilities necessary to influence and record system state data, including the flex states of its flexible structures. This robot was tested in two configurations, one with a vertically cantilevered flexible beam, and one with a flexible inverted pendulum (a flexible cart-pole system). The physical system was then characterized so that linear analysis and control design could be performed. These characterizations resulted in linear and nonlinear models developed for each testing configuration. The linear models were used to design linear controllers to regulate the nominal plant’s dynamical states. These controllers were then augmented with direct adaptive output regulation and disturbance accommodation. To accomplish this, sensor blending was used to shape the output such that the nonminimum phase open loop plant appears to be minimum phase to the controller. It was subsequently shown that augmenting linear controllers with direct adaptive output regulation and disturbance accommodation was effective in enhancing system performance and mitigating oscillation in the flexible structures through the system’s own actuation effort

Nonlinear Control and Estimation with General Performance Criteria

This dissertation is concerned with nonlinear systems control and estimation with general performance criteria. The purpose of this work is to propose general design methods to provide systematic and effective design frameworks for nonlinear system control and estimation problems. First, novel State Dependent Linear Matrix Inequality control approach is proposed, which is optimally robust for model uncertainties and resilient against control feedback gain perturbations in achieving general performance criteria to secure quadratic optimality with inherent asymptotic stability property together with quadratic dissipative type of disturbance reduction. By solving a state dependent linear matrix inequality at each time step, the sufficient condition for the control solution can be found which satisfies the general performance criteria. The results of this dissertation unify existing results on nonlinear quadratic regulator, Hinfinity and positive real control. Secondly, an H2-Hinfinity State Dependent Riccati Equation controller is proposed in this dissertation. By solving the generalized State Dependent Riccati Equation, the optimal control solution not only achieves the optimal quadratic regulation performance, but also has the capability of external disturbance reduction. Numerically efficient algorithms are developed to facilitate effective computation. Thirdly, a robust multi-criteria optimal fuzzy control of nonlinear systems is proposed. To improve the optimality and robustness, optimal fuzzy control is proposed for nonlinear systems with general performance criteria. The Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model is used as an effective tool to control nonlinear systems through fuzzy rule models. General performance criteria have been used to design the controller and the relative weighting matrices of these criteria can be achieved by choosing different coefficient matrices. The optimal control can be achieved by solving the LMI at each time step. Lastly, since any type of controller and observer is subject to actuator failures and sensors failures respectively, novel robust and resilient controllers and estimators are also proposed for nonlinear stochastic systems to address these failure problems. The effectiveness of the proposed control and estimation techniques are demonstrated by simulations of nonlinear systems: the inverted pendulum on a cart and the Lorenz chaotic system, respectively