Event-based State Estimation: An Emulation-based Approach

An event-based state estimation approach for reducing communication in a networked control system is proposed. Multiple distributed sensor agents observe a dynamic process and sporadically transmit their measurements to estimator agents over a shared bus network. Local event-triggering protocols ensure that data is transmitted only when necessary to meet a desired estimation accuracy. The event-based design is shown to emulate the performance of a centralised state observer design up to guaranteed bounds, but with reduced communication. The stability results for state estimation are extended to the distributed control system that results when the local estimates are used for feedback control. Results from numerical simulations and hardware experiments illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in reducing network communication.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figures, this article is based on the technical report arXiv:1511.05223 and is accepted for publication in IET Control Theory & Application

Observer techniques for estimating the state-of-charge and state-of-health of VRLABs for hybrid electric vehicles

The paper describes the application of observer-based state-estimation techniques for the real-time prediction of state-of-charge (SoC) and state-of-health (SoH) of lead-acid cells. Specifically, an approach based on the well-known Kalman filter, is employed, to estimate SoC, and the subsequent use of the EKF to accommodate model non-linearities to predict battery SoH. The underlying dynamic behaviour of each cell is based on a generic Randles' equivalent circuit comprising of two-capacitors (bulk and surface) and three resistors, (terminal, transfer and self-discharging). The presented techniques are shown to correct for offset, drift and long-term state divergence-an unfortunate feature of employing stand-alone models and more traditional coulomb-counting techniques. Measurements using real-time road data are used to compare the performance of conventional integration-based methods for estimating SoC, with those predicted from the presented state estimation schemes. Results show that the proposed methodologies are superior with SoC being estimated to be within 1% of measured. Moreover, by accounting for the nonlinearities present within the dynamic cell model, the application of an EKF is shown to provide verifiable indications of SoH of the cell pack

Reset control for DC-DC converters: an experimental application

© 2019 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.Power converters in grid connected systems are required to have fast response to ensure the stability of the system. The standard PI controllers used in most power converters are capable of fast response but with significant overshoot. In this paper a hybrid control technique for power converter using a reset PI + CI controller is proposed. The PI + CI controller can overcome the limitation of its linear counterpart (PI) and ensure a fast flat response for power converter. The design, stability and cost of feedback analysis for a DC-DC boost converter employing a PI + CI controller is explored in this work. The simulation and experimental results which confirm the fast, flat response will be presented and discussed.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

CPU-less robotics: distributed control of biomorphs

Traditional robotics revolves around the microprocessor. All well-known demonstrations of sensory guided motor control, such as jugglers and mobile robots, require at least one CPU. Recently, the availability of fast CPUs have made real-time sensory-motor control possible, however, problems with high power consumption and lack of autonomy still remain. In fact, the best examples of real-time robotics are usually tethered or require large batteries. We present a new paradigm for robotics control that uses no explicit CPU. We use computational sensors that are directly interfaced with adaptive actuation units. The units perform motor control and have learning capabilities. This architecture distributes computation over the entire body of the robot, in every sensor and actuator. Clearly, this is similar to biological sensory- motor systems. Some researchers have tried to model the latter in software, again using CPUs. We demonstrate this idea in with an adaptive locomotion controller chip. The locomotory controller for walking, running, swimming and flying animals is based on a Central Pattern Generator (CPG). CPGs are modeled as systems of coupled non-linear oscillators that control muscles responsible for movement. Here we describe an adaptive CPG model, implemented in a custom VLSI chip, which is used to control an under-actuated and asymmetric robotic leg

Nonlinear observers for predicting state-of-charge and state-of-health of lead-acid batteries for hybrid-electric vehicles

Abstract—This paper describes the application of state-estimation techniques for the real-time prediction of the state-of-charge (SoC) and state-of-health (SoH) of lead-acid cells. Specifically, approaches based on the well-known Kalman Filter (KF) and Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), are presented, using a generic cell model, to provide correction for offset, drift, and long-term state divergence—an unfortunate feature of more traditional coulomb-counting techniques. The underlying dynamic behavior of each cell is modeled using two capacitors (bulk and surface) and three resistors (terminal, surface, and end), from which the SoC is determined from the voltage present on the bulk capacitor. Although the structure of the model has been previously reported for describing the characteristics of lithium-ion cells, here it is shown to also provide an alternative to commonly employed models of lead-acid cells when used in conjunction with a KF to estimate SoC and an EKF to predict state-of-health (SoH). Measurements using real-time road data are used to compare the performance of conventional integration-based methods for estimating SoC with those predicted from the presented state estimation schemes. Results show that the proposed methodologies are superior to more traditional techniques, with accuracy in determining the SoC within 2% being demonstrated. Moreover, by accounting for the nonlinearities present within the dynamic cell model, the application of an EKF is shown to provide verifiable indications of SoH of the cell pack

A feasibility study for reset control of an industrial batch reactor

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-133).A feasibility study for the application of reset control to the temperature control loop of a pressurized exothermic batch leach reactor in the hydrometallurgical Precious Group Metals (PGM) industry is carried out. Keywords: Reset control; Clegg integrator; initial states; industrial batch reactor; temperature control; exothermic reactions; multiple reactions; dissolve; leach; hydrometallurgy; platinum; Precious Group Metals (PGMs)

Fast Beam Current Change Monitor for the LHC

Striktní nároky na systémy ochrany a zabezpečení LHC vyžadují vylepšené metody detekce rychlých ztrát částicového svazku. Rychlý proudový transformátor (FBCT) je měřicí přístroj poskytující informaci o intenzitě shluků urychlovaných částic. Tato diplomová práce popisuje vývoj nového systému ochrany LHC založeného na měření signálu FBCT. Tento systém, monitor rychlých proudových změn částicového svazku (FBCCM), měří signál FBCT v úzkém frekvenčním pásmu a počítá časovou derivaci okamžité amplitudy tohoto signálu. Tato derivace je přímo úměrná ztrátám částicového svazku. Pokud ztráty svazku překročí určitou úroveň, FBCCM přikáže kontrolním systémům zničit svazek kvůli bezpečnosti LHC. Ochrana LHC bude zabezpečena čtyřmi FBCCM, které budou instalovány do LHC v červenci 2014. Bylo zkonstruováno a testováno šest FBCCM. Jejich měřené charakteristiky vyhovují stanoveným požadavkům. FBCCM bylo vyzkoušeno laboratorní simulací reálného prostření LHC.Stringent demands on the LHC safety and protection systems require improved methods of detecting fast beam losses. The Fast Beam Current Transformer (FBCT) is a measurement instrument, providing information about bunch-to-bunch intensity of the accelerated beam. This thesis describes the development of a new protection system based on the FBCT signal measurements. This system, the Fast Beam Current Change Monitor (FBCCM), measures the FBCT signal in a narrow frequency band and computes time derivation of the beam signal magnitude. This derivation is proportional to the beam losses. When the losses exceed a certain level, the FBCCM requests a beam dump in order to protect the LHC. The LHC protection will be ensured by four FBCCMs which will be installed into the LHC in July 2014. Six FBCCMs have been already constructed and their characteristics were measured with satisfactory results. The FBCCMs were tested by a laboratory simulation of the real LHC environment.

Fast and Reliable Primary Frequency Reserves From Refrigerators with Decentralized Stochastic Control

Due to increasing shares of renewable energy sources, more frequency reserves are required to maintain power system stability. In this paper, we present a decentralized control scheme that allows a large aggregation of refrigerators to provide Primary Frequency Control (PFC) reserves to the grid based on local frequency measurements and without communication. The control is based on stochastic switching of refrigerators depending on the frequency deviation. We develop methods to account for typical lockout constraints of compressors and increased power consumption during the startup phase. In addition, we propose a procedure to dynamically reset the thermostat temperature limits in order to provide reliable PFC reserves, as well as a corrective temperature feedback loop to build robustness to biased frequency deviations. Furthermore, we introduce an additional randomization layer in the controller to account for thermostat resolution limitations, and finally, we modify the control design to account for refrigerator door openings. Extensive simulations with actual frequency signal data and with different aggregation sizes, load characteristics, and control parameters, demonstrate that the proposed controller outperforms a relevant state-of-the-art controller.Comment: 44 pages, 17 figures, 9 Tables, submitted to IEEE Transactions on Power System