Stabilization of cascaded nonlinear systems under sampling and delays

Over the last decades, the methodologies of dynamical systems and control theory have been playing an increasingly relevant role in a lot of situations of practical interest. Though, a lot of theoretical problem still remain unsolved. Among all, the ones concerning stability and stabilization are of paramount importance. In order to stabilize a physical (or not) system, it is necessary to acquire and interpret heterogeneous information on its behavior in order to correctly intervene on it. In general, those information are not available through a continuous flow but are provided in a synchronous or asynchronous way. This issue has to be unavoidably taken into account for the design of the control action. In a very natural way, all those heterogeneities define an hybrid system characterized by both continuous and discrete dynamics. This thesis is contextualized in this framework and aimed at proposing new methodologies for the stabilization of sampled-data nonlinear systems with focus toward the stabilization of cascade dynamics. In doing so, we shall propose a small number of tools for constructing sampled-data feedback laws stabilizing the origin of sampled-data nonlinear systems admitting cascade interconnection representations. To this end, we shall investigate on the effect of sampling on the properties of the continuous-time system while enhancing design procedures requiring no extra assumptions over the sampled-data equivalent model. Finally, we shall show the way sampling positively affects nonlinear retarded dynamics affected by a fixed and known time-delay over the input signal by enforcing on the implicit cascade representation the sampling process induces onto the retarded system

Schémas d'intégration dédiés à l'étude, l'analyse et la synthèse dans le formalisme Hamiltonien à ports

This thesis work dealing with finite dimensional approximation of infinite dimension system. The class considered is that of Hamiltonian systems in ports. We study initially ordinary differential equations systems. Based on an energy integrator, we define a class of discrete passive dynamics is invariant interconnection. We obtain the stability conditions (LMI) for dynamic network in the presence of delays and uncertainties, and propose a method of stabilizing energy synthesis. These developments were experimentally validated by the implementation of an energy control a power converter (Buck). We then study the Hamiltonian formalism in infinite dimensions. We offer an approximation that combines a semi-discretization and an energy integrator. The mixed composability is studied and a method of synthesis IDA-PBC was developed. All the obtained results are numerically illustrated in the manuscript.Ces travaux de thèse traitent de l'approximation en dimension finie de système de dimension infinie. La classe considérée est celle des systèmes hamiltoniens à ports. Nous étudions dans un premier temps les systèmes d'équations différentielles ordinaires. Sur la base d'un intégrateur énergétique, nous définissons une classe de dynamiques passives discrètes qui est invariante par interconnexion. Nous obtenons alors des conditions de stabilité (LMI) pour des dynamiques en réseau en présence de retards et d'incertitudes, et proposons une méthode de synthèse énergétique stabilisante. Ces développements ont été validés expérimentalement par la mise en oeuvre d'une commande énergétique sur un convertisseur de puissance (Buck). Nous étudions ensuite le formalisme hamiltonien en dimension infinie. Nous proposons une approximation qui combine une semi-discrétisation et un intégrateur énergétique. La composabilité mixte est étudiée et une méthode de synthèse IDA-PBC a été développée. L'ensemble des résultats obtenus sont illustrés numériquement dans le manuscrit

A view of Neural Networks as dynamical systems

We consider neural networks from the point of view of dynamical systems theory. In this spirit we review recent results dealing with the following questions, adressed in the context of specific models. 1. Characterizing the collective dynamics; 2. Statistical analysis of spikes trains; 3. Interplay between dynamics and network structure; 4. Effects of synaptic plasticity.Comment: Review paper, 51 pages, 10 figures. submitte

Discrete-time optimal preview control

There are many situations in which one can preview future reference signals, or future disturbances. Optimal Preview Control is concerned with designing controllers which use this preview to improve closed-loop performance. In this thesis a general preview control problem is presented which includes previewable disturbances, dynamic weighting functions, output feedback and nonpreviewable disturbances. It is then shown how a variety of problems may be cast as special cases of this general problem; of particular interest is the robust preview tracking problem and the problem of disturbance rejection with uncertainty in the previewed signal. . (', The general preview problem is solved in both the Fh and Beo settings. The H2 solution is a relatively straightforward extension ofpreviously known results, however, our contribution is to provide a single framework that may be used as a reference work when tackling a variety of preview problems. We also provide some new analysis concerning the maximum possible reduction in closed-loop H2 norm which accrues from the addition of preview action. / Name of candidate: Title of thesis: I DESCRIPTION OF THESIS Andrew Hazell Discrete-Time Optimal Preview Control The solution to the Hoo problem involves a completely new approach to Hoo preview control, in which the structure of the associated Riccati equation is exploited in order to find an efficient algorithm for computing the optimal controller. The problem tackled here is also more generic than those previously appearing in the literature. The above theory finds obvious applications in the design of controllers for autonomous vehicles, however, a particular class of nonlinearities found in typical vehicle models presents additional problems. The final chapters are concerned with a generic framework for implementing vehicle preview controllers, and also a'case study on preview control of a bicycle.Imperial Users onl