Subharmonic oscillation modeling and MISO Volterra series

Subharmonic generation is a complex nonlinear phenomenon which can arise from nonlinear oscillations, bifurcation and chaos. It is well known that single-input–single-output Volterra series cannot currently be applied to model systems which exhibit subharmonics. A new modeling alternative is introduced in this paper which overcomes these restrictions by using local multiple input single output Volterra models. The generalized frequency-response functions can then be applied to interpret systems with subharmonics in the frequency domain

Nonlinear System Identification of Neural Systems from Neurophysiological Signals

The human nervous system is one of the most complicated systems in nature. Complex nonlinear behaviours have been shown from the single neuron level to the system level. For decades, linear connectivity analysis methods, such as correlation, coherence and Granger causality, have been extensively used to assess the neural connectivities and input-output interconnections in neural systems. Recent studies indicate that these linear methods can only capture a small amount of neural activities and functional relationships, and therefore cannot describe neural behaviours in a precise or complete way. In this review, we highlight recent advances in nonlinear system identification of neural systems, corresponding time and frequency domain analysis, and novel neural connectivity measures based on nonlinear system identification techniques. We argue that nonlinear modelling and analysis are necessary to study neuronal processing and signal transfer in neural systems quantitatively. These approaches can hopefully provide new insights to advance our understanding of neurophysiological mechanisms underlying neural functions. These nonlinear approaches also have the potential to produce sensitive biomarkers to facilitate the development of precision diagnostic tools for evaluating neurological disorders and the effects of targeted intervention

Application of non-linear system identification approaches to modelling, analysis, and control of fluid flows.

Flow control has become a topic of great importance for several applications, ranging from commercial aircraft, to intercontinental pipes and skyscrapers. In these applications, and many more, the interaction with a fluid flow can have a significant influence on the performance of the system. In many cases the fluids encountered are turbulent and detrimental to the latter. Several attempts have been made to solve this problem. However, due to the non-linearity and infinite dimensionality of fluid flows and their governing equations, a complete understanding of turbulent behaviour and a feasible control approach has not been obtained. In this thesis, model reduction approaches that exploit non-linear system identification are applied using data obtained from numerical simulations of turbulent three-dimensional channel flow, and two-dimensional flow over the backward facing step. A multiple-input multiple-output model, consisting of 27 sub-structures, is obtained for the fluctuations of the velocity components of the channel flow. A single-input single-output model for fluctuations of the pressure coefficient, and two multiple-input single-output models for fluctuations of the velocity magnitude are obtained in flow over the BFS. A non-linear model predictive control strategy is designed using identified one- and multi-step ahead predictors, with the inclusion of integral action for robustness. The proposed control approach incorporates a non-linear model without the need for expensive non-linear optimizations. Finally, a frequency domain analysis of unmanipulated turbulent flow is perfumed using five systems. Higher order generalized frequency response functions (GFRF) are computed to study the non-linear energy transfer phenomena. A more detailed investigation is performed using the output FRF (OFRF), which can elucidate the contribution of the n-th order frequency response to the output frequency response

Control-focused, nonlinear and time-varying modelling of dielectric elastomer actuators with frequency response analysis

Current models of dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are mostly constrained to first principal descriptions that are not well suited to the application of control design due to their computational complexity. In this work we describe an integrated framework for the identification of control focused, data driven and time-varying DEA models that allow advanced analysis of nonlinear system dynamics in the frequency-domain. Experimentally generated input–output data (voltage-displacement) was used to identify control-focused, nonlinear and time-varying dynamic models of a set of film-type DEAs. The model description used was the nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous input structure. Frequency response analysis of the DEA dynamics was performed using generalized frequency response functions, providing insight and a comparison into the time-varying dynamics across a set of DEA actuators. The results demonstrated that models identified within the presented framework provide a compact and accurate description of the system dynamics. The frequency response analysis revealed variation in the time-varying dynamic behaviour of DEAs fabricated to the same specifications. These results suggest that the modelling and analysis framework presented here is a potentially useful tool for future work in guiding DEA actuator design and fabrication for application domains such as soft robotics

Neural activity inspired asymmetric basis function TV-NARX model for the identification of time-varying dynamic systems

Inspired by the unique neuronal activities, a new time-varying nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous input (TV-NARX) model is proposed for modelling nonstationary processes. The NARX nonlinear process mimics the action potential initiation and the time-varying parameters are approximated with a series of postsynaptic current like asymmetric basis functions to mimic the ion channels of the inter-neuron propagation. In the model, the time-varying parameters of the process terms are sparsely represented as the superposition of a series of asymmetric alpha basis functions in an over-complete frame. Combining the alpha basis functions with the model process terms, the system identification of the TV-NARX model from observed input and output can equivalently be treated as the system identification of a corresponding time-invariant system. The locally regularised orthogonal forward regression (LROFR) algorithm is then employed to detect the sparse model structure and estimate the associated coefficients. The excellent performance in both numerical studies and modelling of real physiological signals showed that the TV-NARX model with asymmetric basis function is more powerful and efficient in tracking both smooth trends and capturing the abrupt changes in the time-varying parameters than its symmetric counterparts

Neural network-based parametric system identification: a review

Parametric system identification, which is the process of uncovering the inherent dynamics of a system based on the model built with the observed inputs and outputs data, has been intensively studied in the past few decades. Recent years have seen a surge in the use of neural networks (NNs) in system identification, owing to their high approximation capability, less reliance on prior knowledge, and the growth of computational power. However, there is a lack of review on neural network modelling in the paradigm of parametric system identification, particularly in the time domain. This article discussed the connection in principle between conventional parametric models and three types of NNs including Feedforward Neural Networks, Recurrent Neural Networks and Encoder-Decoder. Then it reviewed the advantages and limitations of related research in addressing two major challenges of parametric system identification, including the model interpretability and modelling with nonstationary realisations. Finally, new challenges and future trends in neural network-based parametric system identification are presented in this article

A Control Systems Perspective to Condition Monitoring and Fault Diagnosis

Modern industrial processors, engineering systems and structures, have grown significantly in complexity and in scale during the recent years. Therefore, there is an increase in the demand for automatic processors, to avoid faults and severe break downs, through predictive maintenance. In this context, the research into nonlinear systems analysis has attained much interest in recent years as linear models cannot be used to represent some of these systems. In the field of control systems, the analysis of such systems is conducted in the frequency domain using methods of Frequency Response Analysis. Generalised Frequency Response Functions (GFRFs) and the Nonlinear Output Frequency Response Functions (NOFRFs) are Frequency Response Analysis techniques used for the analysis of nonlinear dynamical behaviour in the frequency domain. The problem of Condition Monitoring and Fault Diagnosis has been investigated in the perspective of modelling, signal processing and multivariate statistical analysis, data-driven methods such as neural networks have gained significant popularity. This is because possible faulty conditions related to complex systems are often difficult to interpret. In such a background, recently, a new data-driven approach based on a systems perspective has been proposed. This approach uses a controls systems analysis method of System Identification and Frequency Response Analysis and has been shown before as a potential technique. However, this approach has certain practical concerns regarding real-world applications. Motivated by these concerns in this thesis, the following contributions are put forward: 1. The method of evaluating NOFRFs, using input-output data of a nonlinear system may experience numerical errors. This is a major concern, hence the development of a method to overcome these numerical issues effectively. 2. Frequency Response Analysis cannot be used in its current state for nonlinear systems that exhibit severe nonlinear behaviour. Although theoretically, it has been argued that this is possible, even though, it has been impossible in a practical point of view. Therefore, the possibility and the manner in which Frequency Response Analysis can be conducted for these types of systems is presented. 3. Development of a System Identification methodology to overcome the issues of inadequately exciting inputs and appropriately capturing system dynamics under general circumstances of Condition Monitoring and Fault Diagnosis. In addition to the above, the novel implementation of a control systems analysis approach is implemented in characterising corrosion, crack depth and crack length on metal samples. The approach is applied to the data collected, using a newly proposed non-invasive Structural Health Monitoring method called RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) wireless eddy current probing. The control systems analysis approach along with the RFID wireless eddy current probing method shows the clear potential of being a new technology in non-invasive Structural Health Monitoring systems

Identification of continuous-time models for nonlinear dynamic systems from discrete data

A new iOFR-MF (iterative orthogonal forward regression--modulating function) algorithm is proposed to identify continuous-time models from noisy data by combining the MF method and the iOFR algorithm. In the new method, a set of candidate terms, which describe different dynamic relationships among the system states or between the input and output, are first constructed. These terms are then modulated using the MF method to generate the data matrix. The iOFR algorithm is next applied to build the relationships between these modulated terms, which include detecting the model structure and estimating the associated parameters. The relationships between the original variables are finally recovered from the model of the modulated terms. Both nonlinear state-space models and a class of higher order nonlinear input–output models are considered. The new direct method is compared with the traditional finite difference method and results show that the new method performs much better than the finite difference method. The new method works well even when the measurements are severely corrupted by noise. The selection of appropriate MFs is also discussed