Exponential stabilization of driftless nonlinear control systems using homogeneous feedback

This paper focuses on the problem of exponential stabilization of controllable, driftless systems using time-varying, homogeneous feedback. The analysis is performed with respect to a homogeneous norm in a nonstandard dilation that is compatible with the algebraic structure of the control Lie algebra. It can be shown that any continuous, time-varying controller that achieves exponential stability relative to the Euclidean norm is necessarily non-Lipschitz. Despite these restrictions, we provide a set of constructive, sufficient conditions for extending smooth, asymptotic stabilizers to homogeneous, exponential stabilizers. The modified feedbacks are everywhere continuous, smooth away from the origin, and can be extended to a large class of systems with torque inputs. The feedback laws are applied to an experimental mobile robot and show significant improvement in convergence rate over smooth stabilizers

Exponential ε-tracking and ε-stabilization of second-order nonholonomic SE(2) vehicles using dynamic state feedback

In this paper, we address the problem of ε-tracking and ε-stabilization for a class of SE(2) vehicles with second-order nonholonomic constraints. We introduce a class of transformations called near-identity diffeomorphism that allow dynamic partial feedback linearization of the translational dynamics of this class of SE(2) vehicles. This allows us to achieve global exponential ε-stabilization and ε-tracking (in position) for the aforementioned classes of autonomous vehicles using a coordinate-independent dynamic state feedback. This feedback is only discontinuous w.r.t. the augmented state. We apply our results to ε-stabilization and ε-tracking for an underactuated surface vessel

Nonholonomic motion planning: steering using sinusoids

Methods for steering systems with nonholonomic constraints between arbitrary configurations are investigated. Suboptimal trajectories are derived for systems that are not in canonical form. Systems in which it takes more than one level of bracketing to achieve controllability are considered. The trajectories use sinusoids at integrally related frequencies to achieve motion at a given bracketing level. A class of systems that can be steered using sinusoids (claimed systems) is defined. Conditions under which a class of two-input systems can be converted into this form are given

Local Exponential Regulation of Nonholonomic Systems in Approximate Chained Form with Applications to Off-Axle Tractor-Trailers

Most of drift-less nonholonomic systems cannot be exactly converted to an nonholonomic chained form, a wealth of design tools developed for the control of nonholonomic chained form are thus not directly applicable to such systems. Nevertheless, there exists a class of systems that may be locally approximated by the nonholonomic chained form around certain equilibrium points. In this work, we propose a discontinuous and a smooth time-varying control laws respectively for the approximated nonholonomic chained form, guaranteeing local exponential convergence of state to the desired equilibrium point. An tractor towing off-axle trailers is taken as an example to illustrate the approaches

Adaptive tracking control of nonholonomic systems: an example

We study an example of an adaptive (state) tracking control problem for a four-wheel mobile robot, as it is an illustrative example of the general adaptive state-feedback tracking control problem. It turns out that formulating the adaptive state-feedback tracking control problem is not straightforward, since specifying the reference state-trajectory can be in conflict with not knowing certain parameters. Our example illustrates this difficulty and we propose a problem formulation for the adaptive state-feedback tracking problem that meets the natural prerequisite that it reduces to the state-feedback tracking problem if the parameters are known. A general methodology for solving the problem is derive

Experiments in exponential stabilization of a mobile robot towing a trailer

Applies some previously developed control laws for stabilization of mechanical systems with non-holonomic constraints to an experimental system consisting of a mobile robot towing a trailer. The authors verify the applicability of various control laws which have appeared in the recent literature, and compare the performance of these controllers in an experimental setting. In particular, the authors show that time-periodic, non-smooth controllers can be used to achieve exponential stability of a desired equilibrium configuration, and that these controllers outperform smooth, time-varying control laws. The authors also point out several practical considerations which must be taken into account when implementing these controllers

Control Of Nonh=holonomic Systems

Many real-world electrical and mechanical systems have velocity-dependent constraints in their dynamic models. For example, car-like robots, unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles and hopping robots, etc. Most of these systems can be transformed into a chained form, which is considered as a canonical form of these nonholonomic systems. Hence, study of chained systems ensure their wide applicability. This thesis studied the problem of continuous feed-back control of the chained systems while pursuing inverse optimality and exponential convergence rates, as well as the feed-back stabilization problem under input saturation constraints. These studies are based on global singularity-free state transformations and controls are synthesized from resulting linear systems. Then, the application of optimal motion planning and dynamic tracking control of nonholonomic autonomous underwater vehicles is considered. The obtained trajectories satisfy the boundary conditions and the vehicles\u27 kinematic model, hence it is smooth and feasible. A collision avoidance criteria is set up to handle the dynamic environments. The resulting controls are in closed forms and suitable for real-time implementations. Further, dynamic tracking controls are developed through the Lyapunov second method and back-stepping technique based on a NPS AUV II model. In what follows, the application of cooperative surveillance and formation control of a group of nonholonomic robots is investigated. A designing scheme is proposed to achieves a rigid formation along a circular trajectory or any arbitrary trajectories. The controllers are decentralized and are able to avoid internal and external collisions. Computer simulations are provided to verify the effectiveness of these designs

Trajectory generation for the N-trailer problem using Goursat normal form

Develops the machinery of exterior differential forms, more particularly the Goursat normal form for a Pfaffian system, for solving nonholonomic motion planning problems, i.e., motion planning for systems with nonintegrable velocity constraints. The authors use this technique to solve the problem of steering a mobile robot with n trailers. The authors present an algorithm for finding a family of transformations which will convert the system of rolling constraints on the wheels of the robot with n trailers into the Goursat canonical form. Two of these transformations are studied in detail. The Goursat normal form for exterior differential systems is dual to the so-called chained-form for vector fields that has been studied previously. Consequently, the authors are able to give the state feedback law and change of coordinates to convert the N-trailer system into chained-form. Three methods for planning trajectories for chained-form systems using sinusoids, piecewise constants, and polynomials as inputs are presented. The motion planning strategy is therefore to first convert the N-trailer system into Goursat form, use this to find the chained-form coordinates, plan a path for the corresponding chained-form system, and then transform the resulting trajectory back into the original coordinates. Simulations and frames of movie animations of the N-trailer system for parallel parking and backing into a loading dock using this strategy are included