Optimal Universal Controllers for Roll Stabilization

Roll stabilization is an important problem of ship motion control. This problem becomes especially difficult if the same set of actuators (e.g. a single rudder) has to be used for roll stabilization and heading control of the vessel, so that the roll stabilizing system interferes with the ship autopilot. Finding the "trade-off" between the concurrent goals of accurate vessel steering and roll stabilization usually reduces to an optimization problem, which has to be solved in presence of an unknown wave disturbance. Standard approaches to this problem (loop-shaping, LQG, $H_{\infty}$-control etc.) require to know the spectral density of the disturbance, considered to be a \colored noise". In this paper, we propose a novel approach to optimal roll stabilization, approximating the disturbance by a polyharmonic signal with known frequencies yet uncertain amplitudes and phase shifts. Linear quadratic optimization problems in presence of polyharmonic disturbances can be solved by means of the theory of universal controllers developed by V.A. Yakubovich. An optimal universal controller delivers the optimal solution for any uncertain amplitudes and phases. Using Marine Systems Simulator (MSS) Toolbox that provides a realistic vessel's model, we compare our design method with classical approaches to optimal roll stabilization. Among three controllers providing the same quality of yaw steering, OUC stabilizes the roll motion most efficiently

Time-Varying Input and State Delay Compensation for Uncertain Nonlinear Systems

A robust controller is developed for uncertain, second-order nonlinear systems subject to simultaneous unknown, time-varying state delays and known, time-varying input delays in addition to additive, sufficiently smooth disturbances. An integral term composed of previous control values facilitates a delay-free open-loop error system and the development of the feedback control structure. A stability analysis based on Lyapunov-Krasovskii (LK) functionals guarantees uniformly ultimately bounded tracking under the assumption that the delays are bounded and slowly varying

Delay-independent decentralised output feedback control for large-scale systems with nonlinear interconnections

In this paper, a stabilisation problem for a class of large-scale systems with nonlinear interconnections is considered. All the uncertainties are nonlinear and are subject to the effects of time delay. A decentralised static output feedback variable structure control is synthesised and the stability of the corresponding closed-loop system is analysed based on the Lyapunov Razumikhin approach. A set of conditions is developed to guarantee that the large-scale interconnected system is stabilised uniformly asymptotically. Further study shows that the conservatism can be reduced by employing additive controllers if the known interconnections are separated into matched and mismatched parts. It is not required that the subsystems are square. The designed controller is independent of time delay and thus it does not require memory. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach

Exponential Stabilisation of Continuous-time Periodic Stochastic Systems by Feedback Control Based on Periodic Discrete-time Observations

Since Mao in 2013 discretised the system observations for stabilisation problem of hybrid SDEs (stochastic differential equations with Markovian switching) by feedback control, the study of this topic using a constant observation frequency has been further developed. However, time-varying observation frequencies have not been considered. Particularly, an observational more efficient way is to consider the time-varying property of the system and observe a periodic SDE system at the periodic time-varying frequencies. This study investigates how to stabilise a periodic hybrid SDE by a periodic feedback control, based on periodic discrete-time observations. This study provides sufficient conditions under which the controlled system can achieve pth moment exponential stability for p > 1 and almost sure exponential stability. Lyapunov's method and inequalities are main tools for derivation and analysis. The existence of observation interval sequences is verified and one way of its calculation is provided. Finally, an example is given for illustration. Their new techniques not only reduce observational cost by reducing observation frequency dramatically but also offer flexibility on system observation settings. This study allows readers to set observation frequencies according to their needs to some extent

Stabilisation of Time Delay Systems with Nonlinear Disturbances Using Sliding Mode Control

This paper focuses on a class of control systems with delayed states and nonlinear disturbances using sliding mode techniques. Both matched and mismatched uncertainties are considered which are assumed to be bounded by known nonlinear functions. The bounds are used in the control design and analysis to reduce conservatism. A sliding function is designed and a set of sufficient conditions is derived to guarantee the asymptotic stability of the corresponding sliding motion by using the Lyapunov-Razumikhin approach which allows large time varying delay with fast changing rate. A delay dependent sliding mode control is synthesised to drive the system to the sliding surface in finite time and maintain a sliding motion thereafter. Effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated via a case study on a continuous stirred tank reactor system

Decentralised static output feedback stabilisation and synchronisation of networks

Dynamic multi-agent networks are important in a wide range of areas in science and engineering, including mobile sensor networks, distributed robotics such as underwater vehicles and cooperative unmanned air vehicles, biological synchronisation, networked economics and social networks. The paper makes a fundamental theoretical contribution to the field by blending methods from graph theory and control theory. [Impact Factor: 2.631, second highest of all Control Engineering journals]This is the author's pre-print. The definitive published version is available via doi:10.1016/j.automatica.2009.09.029In this paper global stabilisation of a complex network is attained by applying local decentralised output feedback control to a minimum number of nodes of the network. The stabilisation of the network is treated as a rank constrained problem. Strict positive realness conditions on the node level dynamics allow nonlinearities/uncertainties which satisfy the sector conditions to be considered. A network of Chua oscillators with 75 nodes is considered to demonstrate the efficacy of the approach

Fuzzy control turns 50: 10 years later

In 2015, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Fuzzy Sets, ten years after the main milestones regarding its applications in fuzzy control in their 40th birthday were reviewed in FSS, see [1]. Ten years is at the same time a long period and short time thinking to the inner dynamics of research. This paper, presented for these 50 years of Fuzzy Sets is taking into account both thoughts. A first part presents a quick recap of the history of fuzzy control: from model-free design, based on human reasoning to quasi-LPV (Linear Parameter Varying) model-based control design via some milestones, and key applications. The second part shows where we arrived and what the improvements are since the milestone of the first 40 years. A last part is devoted to discussion and possible future research topics.Guerra, T.; Sala, A.; Tanaka, K. (2015). Fuzzy control turns 50: 10 years later. Fuzzy Sets and Systems. 281:162-182. doi:10.1016/j.fss.2015.05.005S16218228