Adaptive Output Feedback Apparatuses And Methods Capable Of Controlling A Non-minimum Phase System

The invention comprises apparatuses and methods for providing the capability to stabilize and control a non-minimum phase, nonlinear plant with unmodeled dynamics and/or parametric uncertainty through the use of adaptive output feedback. A disclosed apparatus can comprise a reference model unit for generating a reference model output signal ym. The apparatus can comprise a combining unit that combines and differences a plant output signal y of a non-minimum phase plant for which not all of the states can be sensed, and a plant output signal y, to generate an output error signal ỹ. The apparatus can further comprise an adaptive control unit for generating an adaptive control signal uad used to control the plant.Georgia Tech Research Corporatio

Connections Between Adaptive Control and Optimization in Machine Learning

This paper demonstrates many immediate connections between adaptive control and optimization methods commonly employed in machine learning. Starting from common output error formulations, similarities in update law modifications are examined. Concepts in stability, performance, and learning, common to both fields are then discussed. Building on the similarities in update laws and common concepts, new intersections and opportunities for improved algorithm analysis are provided. In particular, a specific problem related to higher order learning is solved through insights obtained from these intersections.Comment: 18 page

Neural MRAC based on modified state observer

A new model reference adaptive control design method with guaranteed transient performance using neural networks is proposed in this thesis. With this method, stable tracking of a desired trajectory is realized for nonlinear system with uncertainty, and modified state observer structure is designed to enable desired transient performance with large adaptive gain and at the same time avoid high frequency oscillation. The neural network adaption rule is derived using Lyapunov theory, which guarantees stability of error dynamics and boundedness of neural network weights, and a soft switching sliding mode modification is added in order to adjust tracking error. The proposed method is tested by different theoretical application problems simulations, and also Caterpillar Electro-Hydraulic Test Bench experiments. Satisfying results show the potential of this approach --Abstract, page iv

An Optimal Control Modification to Model-Reference Adaptive Control for Fast Adaptation

This paper presents a method that can achieve fast adaptation for a class of model-reference adaptive control. It is well-known that standard model-reference adaptive control exhibits high-gain control behaviors when a large adaptive gain is used to achieve fast adaptation in order to reduce tracking error rapidly. High gain control creates high-frequency oscillations that can excite unmodeled dynamics and can lead to instability. The fast adaptation approach is based on the minimization of the squares of the tracking error, which is formulated as an optimal control problem. The necessary condition of optimality is used to derive an adaptive law using the gradient method. This adaptive law is shown to result in uniform boundedness of the tracking error by means of the Lyapunov s direct method. Furthermore, this adaptive law allows a large adaptive gain to be used without causing undesired high-gain control effects. The method is shown to be more robust than standard model-reference adaptive control. Simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method

Neural-Swarm2: Planning and Control of Heterogeneous Multirotor Swarms using Learned Interactions

We present Neural-Swarm2, a learning-based method for motion planning and control that allows heterogeneous multirotors in a swarm to safely fly in close proximity. Such operation for drones is challenging due to complex aerodynamic interaction forces, such as downwash generated by nearby drones and ground effect. Conventional planning and control methods neglect capturing these interaction forces, resulting in sparse swarm configuration during flight. Our approach combines a physics-based nominal dynamics model with learned Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) with strong Lipschitz properties. We evolve two techniques to accurately predict the aerodynamic interactions between heterogeneous multirotors: i) spectral normalization for stability and generalization guarantees of unseen data and ii) heterogeneous deep sets for supporting any number of heterogeneous neighbors in a permutation-invariant manner without reducing expressiveness. The learned residual dynamics benefit both the proposed interaction-aware multi-robot motion planning and the nonlinear tracking control designs because the learned interaction forces reduce the modelling errors. Experimental results demonstrate that Neural-Swarm2 is able to generalize to larger swarms beyond training cases and significantly outperforms a baseline nonlinear tracking controller with up to three times reduction in worst-case tracking errors

Time-Varying Input and State Delay Compensation for Uncertain Nonlinear Systems

A robust controller is developed for uncertain, second-order nonlinear systems subject to simultaneous unknown, time-varying state delays and known, time-varying input delays in addition to additive, sufficiently smooth disturbances. An integral term composed of previous control values facilitates a delay-free open-loop error system and the development of the feedback control structure. A stability analysis based on Lyapunov-Krasovskii (LK) functionals guarantees uniformly ultimately bounded tracking under the assumption that the delays are bounded and slowly varying

Physical Human-Robot Interaction Control of an Upper Limb Exoskeleton with a Decentralized Neuro-Adaptive Control Scheme

Within the concept of physical human-robot interaction (pHRI), the most important criterion is the safety of the human operator interacting with a high degree of freedom (DoF) robot. Therefore, a robust control scheme is in high demand to establish safe pHRI and stabilize nonlinear, high DoF systems. In this paper, an adaptive decentralized control strategy is designed to accomplish the abovementioned objectives. To do so, a human upper limb model and an exoskeleton model are decentralized and augmented at the subsystem level to enable a decentralized control action design. Moreover, human exogenous force (HEF) that can resist exoskeleton motion is estimated using radial basis function neural networks (RBFNNs). Estimating both human upper limb and robot rigid body parameters, along with HEF estimation, makes the controller adaptable to different operators, ensuring their physical safety. The barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) is employed to guarantee that the robot can operate in a safe workspace while ensuring stability by adjusting the control law. Unknown actuator uncertainty and constraints are also considered in this study to ensure a smooth and safe pHRI. Then, the asymptotic stability of the whole system is established by means of the virtual stability concept and virtual power flows (VPFs) under the proposed robust controller. The experimental results are presented and compared to proportional-derivative (PD) and proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers. To show the robustness of the designed controller and its good performance, experiments are performed at different velocities, with different human users, and in the presence of unknown disturbances. The proposed controller showed perfect performance in controlling the robot, whereas PD and PID controllers could not even ensure stable motion in the wrist joints of the robot