Robust Asymptotic Stabilization of Nonlinear Systems with Non-Hyperbolic Zero Dynamics

In this paper we present a general tool to handle the presence of zero dynamics which are asymptotically but not locally exponentially stable in problems of robust nonlinear stabilization by output feedback. We show how it is possible to design locally Lipschitz stabilizers under conditions which only rely upon a partial detectability assumption on the controlled plant, by obtaining a robust stabilizing paradigm which is not based on design of observers and separation principles. The main design idea comes from recent achievements in the field of output regulation and specifically in the design of nonlinear internal models.Comment: 30 pages. Preliminary versions accepted at the 47th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, 200

Robust Asymptotic Stabilization of Nonlinear Systems With Non-Hyperbolic Zero Dynamics

International audienceWe present a general tool to handle the presence of zero dynamics which are asymptotically but not locally exponentially stable in problems of robust nonlinear stabilization by output feedback. We show how it is possible to design locally Lipschitz stabilizers under conditions which only rely upon a partial detectability assumption on the controlled plant, by obtaining a robust stabilizing paradigm which is not based on design of observers and separation principles. The main design idea comes from recent achievements in the field of output regulation and specifically in the design of nonlinear internal models

Control and stabilization of systems with homoclinic orbits

In this paper we consider the control of two physical systems, the near wall region of a turbulent boundary layer and the rigid body, using techniques from the theory of nonlinear dynamical systems. Both these systems have saddle points linked by heteroclinic orbits. In the fluid system we show how the structure of the phase space can be used to keep the system near an (unstable) saddle. For the rigid body system we discuss passage along the orbit as a possible control manouver, and show how the Energy-Casimir method can be used to analyze stabilization of the system about the saddles