Multi-Input Multi-Output Repetitive Control Theory And Taylor Series Based Repetitive Control Design

Repetitive control (RC) systems aim to achieve zero tracking error when tracking a periodic command, or when tracking a constant command in the presence of a periodic disturbance, or both a periodic command and periodic disturbance. This dissertation presents a new approach using Taylor Series Expansion of the inverse system z-transfer function model to design Finite Impulse Response (FIR) repetitive controllers for single-input single-output (SISO) systems, and compares the designs obtained to those generated by optimization in the frequency domain. This approach is very simple, straightforward, and easy to use. It also supplies considerable insight, and gives understanding of the cause of the patterns for zero locations in the optimization based design. The approach forms a different and effective time domain design method, and it can also be used to guide the choice of parameters in performing in the frequency domain optimization design. Next, this dissertation presents the theoretical foundation for frequency based optimization design of repetitive control design for multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems. A comprehensive stability theory for MIMO repetitive control is developed. A necessary and sufficient condition for asymptotic stability in MIMO RC is derived, and four sufficient conditions are created. One of these is the MIMO version of the approximate monotonic decay condition in SISO RC, and one is a necessary and sufficient condition for stability for all possible disturbance periods. An appropriate optimization criterion for direct MIMO is presented based on minimizing a Frobenius norm summed over frequencies from zero to Nyquist. This design process is very tractable, requiring only solution of a linear algebraic equation. An alternative approach reduces the problem to a set of SISO design problems, one for each input-output pair. The performances of the resulting designs are studied by extensive examples. Both approaches are seen to be able to create RC designs with fast monotonic decay of the tracking error. Finally, this dissertation presents an analysis of using an experiment design sequence for parameter identification based on the theory of iterative learning control (ILC), a sister field to repetitive control. This is suggested as an alternative to the results in optimal experiment design. Modified ILC laws that are intentionally non-robust to model errors are developed, as a way to fine tune the use of ILC for identification purposes. The non-robustness with respect to its ability to improve identification of system parameters when the model error is correct is studied. It is demonstrated that in many cases the approach makes the learning particularly sensitive to relatively small parameter errors in the model, but sensitivity is sometimes limited to parameter errors of a specific sign

Learning for Advanced Motion Control

Iterative Learning Control (ILC) can achieve perfect tracking performance for mechatronic systems. The aim of this paper is to present an ILC design tutorial for industrial mechatronic systems. First, a preliminary analysis reveals the potential performance improvement of ILC prior to its actual implementation. Second, a frequency domain approach is presented, where fast learning is achieved through noncausal model inversion, and safe and robust learning is achieved by employing a contraction mapping theorem in conjunction with nonparametric frequency response functions. The approach is demonstrated on a desktop printer. Finally, a detailed analysis of industrial motion systems leads to several shortcomings that obstruct the widespread implementation of ILC algorithms. An overview of recently developed algorithms, including extensions using machine learning algorithms, is outlined that are aimed to facilitate broad industrial deployment.Comment: 8 pages, 15 figures, IEEE 16th International Workshop on Advanced Motion Control, 202

Dissipative stability theory for linear repetitive processes with application in iterative learning control

This paper develops a new set of necessary and sufficient conditions for the stability of linear repetitive processes, based on a dissipative setting for analysis. These conditions reduce the problem of determining whether a linear repetitive process is stable or not to that of checking for the existence of a solution to a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Testing the resulting conditions only requires compu- tations with matrices whose entries are constant in comparison to alternatives where frequency response computations are required

Robust gradient-based discrete-time iterative learning control algorithms

This paper considers the use of matrix models and the robustness of a gradient-based Iterative Learning Control (ILC) algorithm using both fixed learning gains and gains derived from parameter optimization. The philosophy of the paper is to ensure monotonic convergence with respect to the mean square value of the error time series. The paper provides a complete and rigorous analysis for the systematic use of matrix models in ILC. Matrix models make analysis clearer and provide necessary and sufficient conditions for robust monotonic convergence. They also permit the construction of sufficient frequency domain conditions for robust monotonic convergence on finite time intervals for both causal and non-causal controller dynamics. The results are compared with recent results for robust inverse-model based ILC algorithms and it is seen that the algorithm has the potential to improve robustness to high frequency modelling errors provided that resonances within the plant bandwidth have been suppressed by feedback or series compensation

Comparison of different repetitive control architectures: synthesis and comparison. Application to VSI Converters

Repetitive control is one of the most used control approaches to deal with periodic references/disturbances. It owes its properties to the inclusion of an internal model in the controller that corresponds to a periodic signal generator. However, there exist many different ways to include this internal model. This work presents a description of the different schemes by means of which repetitive control can be implemented. A complete analytic analysis and comparison is performed together with controller synthesis guidance. The voltage source inverter controller experimental results are included to illustrative conceptual developmentsPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Iterative Machine Learning for Precision Trajectory Tracking with Series Elastic Actuators

When robots operate in unknown environments small errors in postions can lead to large variations in the contact forces, especially with typical high-impedance designs. This can potentially damage the surroundings and/or the robot. Series elastic actuators (SEAs) are a popular way to reduce the output impedance of a robotic arm to improve control authority over the force exerted on the environment. However this increased control over forces with lower impedance comes at the cost of lower positioning precision and bandwidth. This article examines the use of an iteratively-learned feedforward command to improve position tracking when using SEAs. Over each iteration, the output responses of the system to the quantized inputs are used to estimate a linearized local system models. These estimated models are obtained using a complex-valued Gaussian Process Regression (cGPR) technique and then, used to generate a new feedforward input command based on the previous iteration's error. This article illustrates this iterative machine learning (IML) technique for a two degree of freedom (2-DOF) robotic arm, and demonstrates successful convergence of the IML approach to reduce the tracking error.Comment: 9 pages, 16 figure. Submitted to AMC Worksho

A 2D systems approach to iterative learning control for discrete linear processes with zero Markov parameters

In this paper a new approach to iterative learning control for the practically relevant case of deterministic discrete linear plants with uniform rank greater than unity is developed. The analysis is undertaken in a 2D systems setting that, by using a strong form of stability for linear repetitive processes, allows simultaneous con-sideration of both trial-to-trial error convergence and along the trial performance, resulting in design algorithms that can be computed using Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs). Finally, the control laws are experimentally verified on a gantry robot that replicates a pick and place operation commonly found in a number of applications to which iterative learning control is applicable

On the Control of Distributed Parameter Systems using a Multidimensional Systems Setting

The unique characteristic of a repetitive process is a series of sweeps, termed passes, through a set of dynamics defined over a finite duration with resetting before the start of the each new one. On each pass an output, termed the pass profile is produced which acts as a forcing function on, and hence contributes to, the dynamics of the next pass profile. This leads to the possibility that the output, i.e. the sequence of pass profiles, will contain oscillations which increase in amplitude in the pass-to-pass direction. Such behavior cannot be controlled by standard linear systems approach and instead they must be treated as a multidimensional system, i.e. information propagation in more than one independent direction. Physical examples of such processes include long-wall coal cutting and metal rolling. In this paper, stability analysis and control systems design algorithms are developed for a model where a plane, or rectangle, of information is propagated in the passto- pass direction. The possible use of these in the control of distributed parameter systems is then described using a fourthorder wavefront equation