Fault detection and isolation using viability theory and interval observers

This paper proposes the use of interval observers and viability theory in fault detection and isolation (FDI). Viability theory develops mathematical and algorithmic methods for investigating the viability constraints characterisation of dynamic evolutions of complex systems under uncertainty. These methods can be used for checking the consistency between observed and predicted behaviour by using simple sets that approximate the exact set of possible behaviour (in the parameter or state space). In this paper, FDI is based on checking for an inconsistency between the measured and predicted behaviours using viability theory concepts and sets. Finally, an example is provided in order to show the usefulness of the proposed approachPeer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Interval observer-based fault detectability analysis using mixed set-invariance theory and sensitivity analysis approach

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in “International Journal of Systems Science” on 06th January 2019, available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00207721.2018.1563221?journalCode=tsys20This paper addresses the characterization of the minimum detectable fault (MDF) by means of residual sensitivity integrated with the set-invariance theory when using an interval observer-based approach as a Fault Detection (FD) scheme. Uncertainties (disturbances and noise) are considered as of unknown but bounded nature (i.e., in the set-membership framework). A zonotopic-set representation towards reducing set operations to simple matrix calculations is utilized to bound the state/output estimations provided by the interval observer-based approach. In order to show the connection between sensitivity and set-invariance analyses, mathematical expressions of the MDF are derived when considering dierent types of faults. Finally, a simulation case study based on a quadruple-tank system is employed to both illustrate and discuss the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Interval observer-based FD scheme is used to test the MDF obtained from the integration of both residual sensitivity analysis and set-invariance theory in the considered case study.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Advances in state estimation, diagnosis and control of complex systems

This dissertation intends to provide theoretical and practical contributions on estimation, diagnosis and control of complex systems, especially in the mathematical form of descriptor systems. The research is motivated by real applications, such as water networks and power systems, which require a control system to provide a proper management able to take into account their specific features and operating limits in presence of uncertainties related to their operation and failures from component malfunctions. Such a control system is expected to provide an optimal operation to obtain efficient and reliable performance. State estimation is an essential tool, which can be used not only for fault diagnosis but also for the controller design. To achieve a satisfactory robust performance, set theory is chosen to build a general framework for descriptor systems subject to uncertainties. Under certain assumptions, these uncertainties are propagated and bounded by deterministic sets that can be explicitly characterized at each iteration step. Moreover, set-invariance characterizations for descriptor systems are also of interest to describe the steady performance, which can also be used for active mode detection. For the controller design for complex systems, new developments of economic model predictive control (EMPC) are studied taking into account the case of underlying periodic behaviors. The EMPC controller is designed to be recursively feasible even with sudden changes in the economic cost function and the closed-loop convergence is guaranteed. Besides, a robust technique is plugged into the EMPC controller design to maintain these closed-loop properties in presence of uncertainties. Engineering applications modeled as descriptor systems are presented to illustrate these control strategies. From the real applications, some additional difficulties are solved, such as using a two-layer control strategy to avoid binary variables in real-time optimizations and using nonlinear constraint relaxation to deal with nonlinear algebraic equations in the descriptor model. Furthermore, the fault-tolerant capability is also included in the controller design for descriptor systems by means of the designed virtual actuator and virtual sensor together with an observer-based delayed controller.Esta tesis propone contribuciones de carácter teórico y aplicado para la estimación del estado, el diagnóstico y el control óptimo de sistemas dinámicos complejos en particular, para los sistemas descriptores, incluyendo la capacidad de tolerancia a fallos. La motivación de la tesis proviene de aplicaciones reales, como redes de agua y sistemas de energía, cuya naturaleza crítica requiere necesariamente un sistema de control para una gestión capaz de tener en cuenta sus características específicas y límites operativos en presencia de incertidumbres relacionadas con su funcionamiento, así como fallos de funcionamiento de los componentes. El objetivo es conseguir controladores que mejoren tanto la eficiencia como la fiabilidad de dichos sistemas. La estimación del estado es una herramienta esencial que puede usarse no solo para el diagnóstico de fallos sino también para el diseño del control. Con este fin, se ha decidido utilizar metodologías intervalares, o basadas en conjuntos, para construir un marco general para los sistemas de descriptores sujetos a incertidumbres desconocidas pero acotadas. Estas incertidumbres se propagan y delimitan mediante conjuntos que se pueden caracterizar explícitamente en cada instante. Por otra parte, también se proponen caracterizaciones basadas en conjuntos invariantes para sistemas de descriptores que permiten describir comportamientos estacionarios y resultan útiles para la detección de modos activos. Se estudian también nuevos desarrollos del control predictivo económico basado en modelos (EMPC) para tener en cuenta posibles comportamientos periódicos en la variación de parámetros o en las perturbaciones que afectan a estos sistemas. Además, se demuestra que el control EMPC propuesto garantiza la factibilidad recursiva, incluso frente a cambios repentinos en la función de coste económico y se garantiza la convergencia en lazo cerrado. Por otra parte, se utilizan técnicas de control robusto pata garantizar que las estrategias de control predictivo económico mantengan las prestaciones en lazo cerrado, incluso en presencia de incertidumbre. Los desarrollos de la tesis se ilustran con casos de estudio realistas. Para algunas de aplicaciones reales, se resuelven dificultades adicionales, como el uso de una estrategia de control de dos niveles para evitar incluir variables binarias en la optimización y el uso de la relajación de restricciones no lineales para tratar las ecuaciones algebraicas no lineales en el modelo descriptor en las redes de agua. Finalmente, se incluye también una contribución al diseño de estrategias de control con tolerancia a fallos para sistemas descriptores

Gain-Scheduled Fault Detection Filter For Discrete-time LPV Systems

The present work investigates a fault detection problem using a gain-scheduled filter for discrete-time Linear Parameter Varying systems. We assume that we cannot directly measure the scheduling parameter but, instead, it is estimated. On the one hand, this assumption imposes the challenge that the fault detection filter should perform properly even when using an inexact parameter. On the other, it avoids the burden associated with designing a complex estimation process for this parameter. We propose three design approaches: the ${\mathcal {H}_{2}}$ , ${\mathcal {H}_{\infty }}$ , and mixed ${\mathcal {H}_{2}} / {\mathcal {H}_{\infty }}$ gain-scheduled Fault Detection Filters designed via Linear Matrix Inequalities. We also provide numerical simulations to illustrate the applicability and performance of the proposed novel methods

Fault-tolerant Stochastic Distributed Systems

The present doctoral thesis discusses the design of fault-tolerant distributed systems, placing emphasis in addressing the case where the actions of the nodes or their interactions are stochastic. The main objective is to detect and identify faults to improve the resilience of distributed systems to crash-type faults, as well as detecting the presence of malicious nodes in pursuit of exploiting the network. The proposed analysis considers malicious agents and computational solutions to detect faults. Crash-type faults, where the affected component ceases to perform its task, are tackled in this thesis by introducing stochastic decisions in deterministic distributed algorithms. Prime importance is placed on providing guarantees and rates of convergence for the steady-state solution. The scenarios of a social network (state-dependent example) and consensus (time- dependent example) are addressed, proving convergence. The proposed algorithms are capable of dealing with packet drops, delays, medium access competition, and, in particular, nodes failing and/or losing network connectivity. The concept of Set-Valued Observers (SVOs) is used as a tool to detect faults in a worst-case scenario, i.e., when a malicious agent can select the most unfavorable sequence of communi- cations and inject a signal of arbitrary magnitude. For other types of faults, it is introduced the concept of Stochastic Set-Valued Observers (SSVOs) which produce a confidence set where the state is known to belong with at least a pre-specified probability. It is shown how, for an algorithm of consensus, it is possible to exploit the structure of the problem to reduce the computational complexity of the solution. The main result allows discarding interactions in the model that do not contribute to the produced estimates. The main drawback of using classical SVOs for fault detection is their computational burden. By resorting to a left-coprime factorization for Linear Parameter-Varying (LPV) systems, it is shown how to reduce the computational complexity. By appropriately selecting the factorization, it is possible to consider detectable systems (i.e., unobservable systems where the unobservable component is stable). Such a result plays a key role in the domain of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs). These techniques are complemented with Event- and Self-triggered sampling strategies that enable fewer sensor updates. Moreover, the same triggering mechanisms can be used to make decisions of when to run the SVO routine or resort to over-approximations that temporarily compromise accuracy to gain in performance but maintaining the convergence characteristics of the set-valued estimates. A less stringent requirement for network resources that is vital to guarantee the applicability of SVO-based fault detection in the domain of Networked Control Systems (NCSs)

On interval observer design for continuous-time LPV switched systems

State estimation for switched systems with time-varying parameters has received a great attention during the past decades. In this paper, a new approach to design an interval observer for this class of systems is proposed. The scheduling vector is described by a convex combination so that the varying parameters belong into polytopes. The considered system is also subject to measurement noise and state disturbances which are supposed to be unknown but bounded. The proposed method guarantees both cooperativity and Input to State Stability (ISS) of the upper and lower observation errors. Sufficient conditions are given in terms of Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs) using a common quadratic Lyapunov function. Finally, a numerical example is provided to show the effectiveness of the designed observer

Fault Detection for Cyber-Physical Systems: Smart Grid case

The problem of fault detection and isolation in cyber-physical systems is growing in importance following the trend to have an ubiquitous presence of sensors and actuators with network capabilities in power networks and other areas. In this context, attacks to power systems or other vital components providing basic needs might either present a serious threat or at least cost a lot of resources. In this paper, we tackle the problem of having an intruder corrupting a smart grid in two different scenarios: a centralized detector for a portion of the network and a fully distributed solution that only has limited neighbor information. For both cases, differences in strategies using Set-Valued Observers are discussed and theoretical results regarding a bound on the maximum magnitude of the attacker’s signal are provided. Performance is assessed through simulation, illustrating, in particular, the detection time for various types of faults in IEEE testbed scenarios

Actuator fault estimation based on a switched LPV extended state observer

article en cours de soumission à une revueActuator fault estimation problem is tackled in this paper. The actuator faults are modeled in the form of multiplicative faults by using effectiveness factors representing the loss of efficiency of the actuators. The main contribution of this paper lies in the capability of dealing with the presented problem by using a switched LPV observer approach. The LTI system in the presence of faulty actuators is rewritten as a switched LPV system by considering the control inputs as scheduling parameters. Then, the actuator faults and the system states are estimated using a switched LPV extended observer. The observer gain is derived, based on the LMIs solution for the switched LPV systems. The presented actuator fault estimation approach is validated by two illustrative examples, the first one about a damper fault estimation of a semi-active suspension system, and the second one concerned to fault estimations on a multiple actuators system