The singular H∞H_\infty control problem with dynamic measurement feedback

This paper is concerned with the $H_\infty$ problem with measurement feedback. The problem is to find a dynamic feedback from the measured output to the control input such that the closed loop system has an $H_\infty$ norm strictly less than some a priori given bound $\gamma$ and such that the closed loop system is internally stable. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given under which such a feedback exists. The only assumptions we have to make is that there are no invariant zeros on the imaginary axis for two subsystems. Contrary to recent publications no assumptions are made on the direct feed through matrices of the plant. It turns out that this problem can be reduced to an almost disturbance decoupling problem with measurement feedback and internal stability, i.e. the problem in which we can make the $H_\infty$ norm arbitrarily small. Keywords: Quadratic matrix inequality, Riccati equation, Almost disturbance decoupling, Measurement feedback, Internal stability

On fractional predictive PID controller design method

A new method of designing fractional-order predictive PID controller with similar features to model based predictive controllers (MPC) is considered. A general state space model of plant is assumed to be available and the model is augmented for prediction of future output. Thereafter, a structured cost function is defined which retains the design objective of fractional-order predictive PI controller. The resultant controller retains inherent benefits of model-based predictive control but with better performance. Simulations results are presented to show improved benefits of the proposed design method over dynamic matrix control (DMC) algorithm. One major contribution is that the new controller structure, which is a fractional-order predictive PI controller, retains combined benefits of conventional predictive control algorithm and robust features of fractional-order PID controller

The finite horizon singular time-varying H∞H_\infty control problem with dynamic measurement feedback

This paper is concerned with the finite horizon version of the $H_\infty$ problem with measurement feedback. Given a finite-dimensional linear , time-varying system, together with a positive real number $\gamma$, we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a possibly time-varying dynamic compensator such that the $L_2([0,t_1])$-induced norm of the closed loop operator is smaller than $\gamma$. These conditions are expressed in terms of a pair of quadratic differential inequalities, generalizing the well-known Riccati differential equations introduced recently in the context of finite horizon $H_\infty$ control

Dynamics and Control of Smart Structures for Space Applications

Smart materials are one of the key emerging technologies for a variety of space systems ranging in their applications from instrumentation to structural design. The underlying principle of smart materials is that they are materials that can change their properties based on an input, typically a voltage or current. When these materials are incorporated into structures, they create smart structures. This work is concerned with the dynamics and control of three smart structures: a membrane structure with shape memory alloys for control of the membrane surface flatness, a flexible manipulator with a collocated piezoelectric sensor/actuator pair for active vibration control, and a piezoelectric nanopositioner for control of instrumentation. Shape memory alloys are used to control the surface flatness of a prototype membrane structure. As these actuators exhibit a hysteretic nonlinearity, they need their own controller to operate as required. The membrane structures surface flatness is then controlled by the shape memory alloys, and two techniques are developed: genetic algorithm and proportional-integral controllers. This would represent the removal of one of the main obstacles preventing the use of membrane structures in space for high precision applications, such as a C-band synthetic aperture radar antenna. Next, an adaptive positive position feedback law is developed for control of a structure with a collocated piezoelectric sensor/actuator pair, with unknown natural frequencies. This control law is then combined with the input shaping technique for slew maneuvers of a single-link flexible manipulator. As an alternative to the adaptive positive position feedback law, genetic algorithms are investigated as both system identification techniques and as a tool for optimal controller design in vibration suppression. These controllers are all verified through both simulation and experiments. The third area of investigation is on the nonlinear dynamics and control of piezoelectric actuators for nanopositioning applications. A state feedback integral plus double integral synchronization controller is designed to allow the piezoelectrics to form the basis of an ultra-precise 2-D Fabry-Perot interferometer as the gap spacing of the device could be controlled at the nanometer level. Next, an output feedback linear integral control law is examined explicitly for the piezoelectric actuators with its nonlinear behaviour modeled as an input nonlinearity to a linear system. Conditions for asymptotic stability are established and then the analysis is extended to the derivation of an output feedback integral synchronization controller that guarantees global asymptotic stability under input nonlinearities. Experiments are then performed to validate the analysis. In this work, the dynamics and control of these smart structures are addressed in the context of their three applications. The main objective of this work is to develop effective and reliable control strategies for smart structures that broaden their applicability to space systems

A parameter optimization approach to controller partitioning for integrated flight/propulsion control application

A parameter optimization framework is presented to solve the problem of partitioning a centralized controller into a decentralized hierarchical structure suitable for integrated flight/propulsion control implementation. The controller partitioning problem is briefly discussed and a cost function to be minimized is formulated, such that the resulting 'optimal' partitioned subsystem controllers will closely match the performance (including robustness) properties of the closed-loop system with the centralized controller while maintaining the desired controller partitioning structure. The cost function is written in terms of parameters in a state-space representation of the partitioned sub-controllers. Analytical expressions are obtained for the gradient of this cost function with respect to parameters, and an optimization algorithm is developed using modern computer-aided control design and analysis software. The capabilities of the algorithm are demonstrated by application to partitioned integrated flight/propulsion control design for a modern fighter aircraft in the short approach to landing task. The partitioning optimization is shown to lead to reduced-order subcontrollers that match the closed-loop command tracking and decoupling performance achieved by a high-order centralized controller

Nonlinear Tracking Control Using a Robust Differential-Algebraic Approach.

This dissertation presents the development and application of an inherently robust nonlinear trajectory tracking control design methodology which is based on linearization along a nominal trajectory. The problem of trajectory tracking is reduced to two separate control problems. The first is to compute the nominal control signal that is needed to place a nonlinear system on a desired trajectory. The second problem is one of stabilizing the nominal trajectory. The primary development of this work is the development of practical methods for designing error regulators for Linear Time Varying systems, which allows for the application of trajectory linearization to time varying trajectories for nonlinear systems. This development is based on a new Differential Algebraic Spectral Theory. The problem of robust tracking for nonlinear systems with parametric uncertainty is studied in relation to the Linear Time Varying spectrum. The control method presented herein constitutes a rather general control strategy for nonlinear dynamic systems. Design and simulation case studies for some challenging nonlinear tracking problems are considered. These control problems include: two academic problems, a pitch autopilot design for a skid-to-turn missile, a two link robot controller, a four degree of freedom roll-yaw autopilot, and a complete six degree of freedom Bank-to-turn planar missile autopilot. The simulation results for these designs show significant improvements in performance and robustness compared to other current control strategies