Numerical optimal control with applications in aerospace

This thesis explores various computational aspects of solving nonlinear, continuous-time dynamic optimization problems (DOPs) numerically. Firstly, a direct transcription method for solving DOPs is proposed, named the integrated residual method (IRM). Instead of forcing the dynamic constraints to be satisfied only at a selected number of points as in direct collocation, this new approach alternates between minimizing and constraining the squared norm of the dynamic constraint residuals integrated along the whole solution trajectories. The method is capable of obtaining solutions of higher accuracy for the same mesh compared to direct collocation methods, enabling a flexible trade-off between solution accuracy and optimality, and providing reliable solutions for challenging problems, including those with singular arcs and high-index differential-algebraic equations. A number of techniques have also been proposed in this work for efficient numerical solution of large scale and challenging DOPs. A general approach for direct implementation of rate constraints on the discretization mesh is proposed. Unlike conventional approaches that may lead to singular control arcs, the solution of this on-mesh implementation has better numerical properties, while achieving computational speedups. Another development is related to the handling of inactive constraints, which do not contribute to the solution of DOPs, but increase the problem size and burden the numerical computations. A strategy to systematically remove the inactive and redundant constraints under a mesh refinement framework is proposed. The last part of this work focuses on the use of DOPs in aerospace applications, with a number of topics studied. Using example scenarios of intercontinental flights, the benefits of formulating DOPs directly according to problem specifications are demonstrated, with notable savings in fuel usage. The numerical challenges with direct collocation are also identified, with the IRM obtaining solutions of higher accuracy, and at the same time suppressing the singular arc fluctuations.Open Acces

Variationally Constrained Numerical Solution of Electrical Impedance Tomography

We propose a novel, variational inversion methodology for the electrical impedance tomography problem, where we seek electrical conductivity σ inside a bounded, simply connected domain Ω, given simultaneous measurements of electric currents I and potentials V at the boundary. Explicitly, we make use of natural, variational constraints on the space of admissible functions σ, to obtain efficient reconstruction methods which make best use of the data. We give a detailed analysis of the variational constraints, we propose a variety of reconstruction algorithms and we discuss their advantages and disadvantages. We also assess the performance of our algorithms through numerical simulations and comparisons with other, well established, numerical reconstruction methods

Model-based and data-based frequency domain design of fixed structure robust controller: a polynomial optimization approach

L'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen

Fourth NASA Workshop on Computational Control of Flexible Aerospace Systems, part 1

The proceedings of the workshop are presented. Some areas of discussion are as follows: modeling, systems identification, and control of flexible aircraft, spacecraft, and robotic systems

On-line state and parameter estimation in nonlinear systems

On-line, simultaneous state and parameters estimation in deterministic, nonlinear dynamic systems of known structure is the problem considered. Available methods are few and fall short of user needs in that they are difficult to apply, their applicability is restricted to limited classes of systems, and for some, conditions guaranteeing their convergence don\u27t exist. The new methods developed herein are placed into two categories: those that involve the use of Riccati equations, and those that do not. Two of the new methods do not use Riccati equations, and each is considered to be a different extension of Friedland\u27 s parameter observer for nonlinear systems with full state availability to the case of partial state availability. One is essentially a reduced-order variant of a state and parameter estimator developed by Raghavan. The other is developed by the direct extension of Friedland\u27 s parameter observer to the case of partial state availability. Both are shown to be globally asymptotically stable for nonlinear systems affine in the unknown parameters and involving nonlinearities that depend on known quantities, a class restriction also true of existing state and parameter estimation methods. The two new methods offer, however, the advantages of improved computational efficiency and the potential for superior transient performance, which is demonstrated in a simulation example. Of the new methods that do involve a Riccati equation, there are three. The first is the separate-bias form of the reduced-order Kalman filter. The scope of this filter is somewhat broader than the others developed herein in that it is an optimal filter for linear, stochastic systems involving noise-free observations. To apply this filter to the joint state and parameter estimation problem, one interprets the unknown parameters as constant biases. For the system class defined above, the method is globally asymptotically stable. The second Riccati equation based method is derived by the application of an existing method, the State Dependent Algebraic Riccati Equation (SDARE) filtering method, to the problem of state and parameter estimation. It is shown to work well in several nonlinear examples involving a few unknown parameters; however, as the number of parameters increases, the method\u27s applicability is diminished due to an apparent loss of observability within the filter which hinders the generation of filter gains. The third is a new filtering method which uses a State Dependent Differential Riccati Equation (SDDRE) for the generation of filter gains, and through its use, avoids the “observability” shortcomings of the SDARE method. This filter is similar to the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), and is compared to the EKF with regard to stability through a Lyapunov analysis, and with regard to performance in a 4th order stepper motor simulation involving 5 unknown parameters. For the very broad class of systems that are bilinear in the state and unknown parameters, and potentially involving products of unmeasured states and unknown parameters, the EKF is shown to possess a semi-global region of asymptotic stability, given the assumption of observability and controllability along estimated trajectories. The stability of the new SDDRE filter is discussed

Adaptive Control of Uncertain Constrained Nonlinear Systems

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Adaptive Control

Adaptive control has been a remarkable field for industrial and academic research since 1950s. Since more and more adaptive algorithms are applied in various control applications, it is becoming very important for practical implementation. As it can be confirmed from the increasing number of conferences and journals on adaptive control topics, it is certain that the adaptive control is a significant guidance for technology development.The authors the chapters in this book are professionals in their areas and their recent research results are presented in this book which will also provide new ideas for improved performance of various control application problems