Issues in the design of switched linear systems : a benchmark study

In this paper we present a tutorial overview of some of the issues that arise in the design of switched linear control systems. Particular emphasis is given to issues relating to stability and control system realisation. A benchmark regulation problem is then presented. This problem is most naturally solved by means of a switched control design. The challenge to the community is to design a control system that meets the required performance specifications and permits the application of rigorous analysis techniques. A simple design solution is presented and the limitations of currently available analysis techniques are illustrated with reference to this example

Polynomial Curve Slope Compensation for Peak-Current-Mode-Controlled Power Converters

Linear ramp slope compensation (LRC) and quadratic slope compensation (QSC) are commonly implemented in peak-current-mode-controlled dc-dc converters in order to minimize subharmonic and chaotic oscillations. Both compensating schemes rely on the linearized state-space averaged model (LSSA) of the converter. The LSSA ignores the impact that switching actions have on the stability of converters. In order to include switching events, the nonlinear analysis method based on the Monodromy matrix was introduced to describe a complete-cycle stability. Analyses on analog-controlled dc-dc converters applying this method show that system stability is strongly dependent on the change of the derivative of the slope at the time of switching instant. However, in a mixed-signal-controlled system, the digitalization effect contributes differently to system stability. This paper shows a full complete-cycle stability analysis using this nonlinear analysis method, which is applied to a mixed-signal-controlled converter. Through this analysis, a generalized equation is derived that reveals for the first time the real boundary stability limits for LRC and QSC. Furthermore, this generalized equation allows the design of a new compensating scheme, which is able to increase system stability. The proposed scheme is called polynomial curve slope compensation (PCSC) and it is demonstrated that PCSC increases the stable margin by 30% compared to LRC and 20% to QSC. This outcome is proved experimentally by using an interleaved dc-dc converter that is built for this work

Stabilizing Randomly Switched Systems

This article is concerned with stability analysis and stabilization of randomly switched systems under a class of switching signals. The switching signal is modeled as a jump stochastic (not necessarily Markovian) process independent of the system state; it selects, at each instant of time, the active subsystem from a family of systems. Sufficient conditions for stochastic stability (almost sure, in the mean, and in probability) of the switched system are established when the subsystems do not possess control inputs, and not every subsystem is required to be stable. These conditions are employed to design stabilizing feedback controllers when the subsystems are affine in control. The analysis is carried out with the aid of multiple Lyapunov-like functions, and the analysis results together with universal formulae for feedback stabilization of nonlinear systems constitute our primary tools for control designComment: 22 pages. Submitte

Rotorcraft flight-propulsion control integration: An eclectic design concept

The NASA Ames and Lewis Research Centers, in conjunction with the Army Research and Technology Laboratories, have initiated and partially completed a joint research program focused on improving the performance, maneuverability, and operating characteristics of rotorcraft by integrating the flight and propulsion controls. The background of the program, its supporting programs, its goals and objectives, and an approach to accomplish them are discussed. Results of the modern control governor design of the General Electric T700 engine and the Rotorcraft Integrated Flight-Propulsion Control Study, which were key elements of the program, are also presented

Optimal LQG Control Across a Packet-Dropping Link

We examine optimal Linear Quadratic Gaussian control for a system in which communication between the sensor (output of the plant) and the controller occurs across a packet-dropping link. We extend the familiar LQG separation principle to this problem that allows us to solve this problem using a standard LQR state-feedback design, along with an optimal algorithm for propagating and using the information across the unreliable link. We present one such optimal algorithm, which consists of a Kalman Filter at the sensor side of the link, and a switched linear filter at the controller side. Our design does not assume any statistical model of the packet drop events, and is thus optimal for an arbitrary packet drop pattern. Further, the solution is appealing from a practical point of view because it can be implemented as a small modification of an existing LQG control design

Stabilizing Scheduling Policies for Networked Control Systems

This paper deals with the problem of allocating communication resources for Networked Control Systems (NCSs). We consider an NCS consisting of a set of discrete-time LTI plants whose stabilizing feedback loops are closed through a shared communication channel. Due to a limited communication capacity of the channel, not all plants can exchange information with their controllers at any instant of time. We propose a method to find periodic scheduling policies under which global asymptotic stability of each plant in the NCS is preserved. The individual plants are represented as switched systems, and the NCS is expressed as a weighted directed graph. We construct stabilizing scheduling policies by employing cycles on the underlying weighted directed graph of the NCS that satisfy appropriate contractivity conditions. We also discuss algorithmic design of these cycles