Youla-Kucera Based Lateral Controller for Autonomous Vehicle

International audienceThis paper presents the design and implementation of a novel lateral control approach. The proposed control strategy is based on Youla-Kucera parametrization to switch gradually between controllers that are designed separately for big and small lateral errors. The present approach studies the critical problem of initial lateral error in line following. It ensures smooth and stable transitions between controllers and provides a smooth vehicle response regardless of the lateral error. For an initial validation the present work was tested in simulation, implementing a dynamic bicycle model. It has also been tested in real platforms implementing an electric Renault ZOE, with good results when activating the system at different lateral errors. autonomous vehicles Switched controllers parametrization

Learning over All Stabilizing Nonlinear Controllers for a Partially-Observed Linear System

This paper proposes a nonlinear policy architecture for control of partially-observed linear dynamical systems providing built-in closed-loop stability guarantees. The policy is based on a nonlinear version of the Youla parameterization, and augments a known stabilizing linear controller with a nonlinear operator from a recently developed class of dynamic neural network models called the recurrent equilibrium network (REN). We prove that RENs are universal approximators of contracting and Lipschitz nonlinear systems, and subsequently show that the the proposed Youla-REN architecture is a universal approximator of stabilizing nonlinear controllers. The REN architecture simplifies learning since unconstrained optimization can be applied, and we consider both a model-based case where exact gradients are available and reinforcement learning using random search with zeroth-order oracles. In simulation examples our method converges faster to better controllers and is more scalable than existing methods, while guaranteeing stability during learning transients

Advances in Youla-Kucera parametrization: A Review

International audienceYoula-Kucera (YK) parametrization was formulated decades ago for obtaining the set of controllers stabilizing a linear plant. This fundamental result of control theory has been used to develop theoretical tools solving many control problems ranging from stable controller switching, closed-loop identification, robust control, disturbance rejection, adaptive control to fault tolerant control.This paper collects the recent work and classifies the maccording to the use of YK parametrization, Dual YK parametrization or both, providing the latest advances with main applications indifferent control fields. A final discussion gives some insights on the future trends in the field

New Robust Control Design of Brake-by-Wire Actuators

This chapter discusses control design of three different brake-by-wire actuators. The brakes studied include an Electro-Hydraulic brake with pressure modulation for wheel slip control, and two different Electro-Mechanical Brake configurations that directly use electric motors to control the movement of the caliper for wheel slip control. After modeling the actuators with the use of bond graphs, a cascaded control architecture is used to control these active systems. Individual controllers are designed using Youla robust control design method. Then, a feed-forward disturbance rejection is designed and added to the loops and its effectiveness is analyzed. Finally, a one-wheel model is used to compare these brake-by-wire systems in terms of stopping distance and actuator efforts

A first approach for a passenger-centered behavior on driverless vehicles

International audienceDriverless shuttles are becoming one of the most promising applications of automated vehicle technologies in the short term. For a real system deployment, passenger's acceptance on the shuttle performance will play a key role. This paper presents a passenger-centered control algorithm design for increasing passenger's ride quality. Controllers with different performance but properly following the reference are developed for lane-level autonomous navigation. The whole solution has been implemented and tested in a real vehicle, using a roundabout as use-case scenario, providing encouraging results

Commande Robuste et Contraintes d'Optimisation

This thesis presents an overview of my research activities carried out since my PhD in 2001. In the first section, description of the projects, my different contributions to robust control applied to the spatial field and underwater robotics, are highlighted. My research project for the coming years is then presented; I propose an original and efficient methodology to compute simple control laws by combining \textit{robust control} and \textit{global optimization}. The second part of this thesis is dedicated to the scientific aspects that will help clarify the proposed research project. As a starting point, Youla parametrization is presented as a tool to \textit{render convex} the control problem, and the subsequent work is used as a foundation to establish specifications based on the constraints related to optimization. This theme has served as a driving thread in illustrating how industrial requirements could lead to a control problem. Parallel to this, the question also arose as to the practical realization of results from these methodologies, that is, how they might be implemented in an embedded system. Ariane 5 launcher control is taken as an example for research on the structured control and validation.Ce mémoire présente un panorama des activités de recherche menées depuis ma thèse de doctorat en 2001. Dans une première partie, à travers la description des projets, sont mises en avant les différentes contributions à la commande robuste appliquée au monde spatial et au monde de la robotique sous-marine. On montre alors comment s'est construit le projet de recherche proposé pour les années à venir. Il s'agit de proposer une méthodologie originale et efficace pour régler des lois de commande simple à implémenter en combinant \textit{commande robuste} et \textit{optimisation globale}. La seconde partie de ce mémoire est consacrée à quelques aspects scientifiques qui aident à comprendre le projet de recherche proposé. On y trouve comme point de départ la paramétrisation de Youla en tant qu'outil pour \textit{convexifier} le problème de commande et les travaux qui en ont découlés pour traduire un cahier des charges en terme de contrainte dans un problème d'optimisation. Cette thématique a été un fil conducteur important pour faire le lien avec la demande industrielle de savoir comment les exigences étaient traduites dans le problème de commande. En parallèle, s'est posée la question de la réalisation pratique des résultats issues de ces méthodologies, c'est-à-dire leur implémentation sur un système embarqué. On prendra comme exemple les activités de recherche sur la structuration de correcteur et leur qualification pour les lois de pilotage des lanceurs Ariane 5

Approximation of achievable robustness limit based on sensitivity inversion

Introduction: The sensitivity function, defined as the closed-loop transfer function from the exogenous input to the tracking error, is central to the multi-objective design and analysis of a feedback control system. Its frequency response determines many performance characteristics of the closed-loop system, such as disturbance attenuation, reference tracking, and robustness against uncertainties and noise. It is well known that the nominal sensitivity peak, i.e., the H∞ -norm of the sensitivity function, is a direct measure of stability robustness, because the sensitivity magnitude quantifies both the attenuation of the effect of external disturbances on the closed-loop output and the variations of the closed-loop system with respect to the plant perturbations

An adaptive autopilot design for an uninhabited surface vehicle

An adaptive autopilot design for an uninhabited surface vehicle Andy SK Annamalai The work described herein concerns the development of an innovative approach to the design of autopilot for uninhabited surface vehicles. In order to fulfil the requirements of autonomous missions, uninhabited surface vehicles must be able to operate with a minimum of external intervention. Existing strategies are limited by their dependence on a fixed model of the vessel. Thus, any change in plant dynamics has a non-trivial, deleterious effect on performance. This thesis presents an approach based on an adaptive model predictive control that is capable of retaining full functionality even in the face of sudden changes in dynamics. In the first part of this work recent developments in the field of uninhabited surface vehicles and trends in marine control are discussed. Historical developments and different strategies for model predictive control as applicable to surface vehicles are also explored. This thesis also presents innovative work done to improve the hardware on existing Springer uninhabited surface vehicle to serve as an effective test and research platform. Advanced controllers such as a model predictive controller are reliant on the accuracy of the model to accomplish the missions successfully. Hence, different techniques to obtain the model of Springer are investigated. Data obtained from experiments at Roadford Reservoir, United Kingdom are utilised to derive a generalised model of Springer by employing an innovative hybrid modelling technique that incorporates the different forward speeds and variable payload on-board the vehicle. Waypoint line of sight guidance provides the reference trajectory essential to complete missions successfully. The performances of traditional autopilots such as proportional integral and derivative controllers when applied to Springer are analysed. Autopilots based on modern controllers such as linear quadratic Gaussian and its innovative variants are integrated with the navigation and guidance systems on-board Springer. The modified linear quadratic Gaussian is obtained by combining various state estimators based on the Interval Kalman filter and the weighted Interval Kalman filter. Change in system dynamics is a challenge faced by uninhabited surface vehicles that result in erroneous autopilot behaviour. To overcome this challenge different adaptive algorithms are analysed and an innovative, adaptive autopilot based on model predictive control is designed. The acronym ‘aMPC’ is coined to refer to adaptive model predictive control that is obtained by combining the advances made to weighted least squares during this research and is used in conjunction with model predictive control. Successful experimentation is undertaken to validate the performance and autonomous mission capabilities of the adaptive autopilot despite change in system dynamics.EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Design and implementation of event-based multi-rate controllers for networked control systems

Tesis por compendio[ES] Con esta tesis se pretende dar solución a algunos de los problemas más habituales que aparecen en los Sistemas de control basados en red (NCS) como son los retardos variables en el tiempo, las pérdidas y el desorden de paquetes, y la restricción de ancho de banda y de recursos computacionales y energéticos de los dispositivos que forman parte del sistema de control. Para ello se ha planteado la integración de técnicas de control multifrecuencial, de control basado en paquetes, de control basado en predictor y de control basado en eventos. Los diseños de control realizados se han simulado utilizando Matlab-Simulink y Truetime, se ha analizado su estabilidad mediante LMIs y QFT, y se han validado experimentalmente en un péndulo invertido, un robot cartesiano 3D y en robots móviles de bajo coste. El artículo 1 aborda el control basado en eventos, el cual minimiza el ancho de banda consumido en el NCS mediante un control basado en eventos periódicos y presenta un método para obtener sus parámetros óptimos para el sistema específico en que se utilice. Los artículos 2, 4 y 6 añaden el control basado en paquetes, así como el control multifrecuencia, que aborda problemas de falta de datos por bajo uso del sensor y los retardos, pérdidas y desórdenes de paquetes en la red. También afrontan, mediante tecnicas de predicción basadas en un filtro de Kalman multifrecuencia variable en el tiempo, los problemas de ruido y perturbaciones, así como la observación de los estados completos del sistema. El artículo 7 hace frente a un modelo no lineal que utiliza las anteriores soluciones junto con un filtro de Kalman extendido para presentar otro tipo de estructura para un vehículo autónomo que, gracias a la información futura obtenida mediante estas técnicas, puede realizar de forma remota tareas de alto nivel como es la toma de decisiones y la monitorización de variables. Los artículos 3 y 5, presentan una forma de obtener y analizar la respuesta en frecuencia de sistemas SISO multifrecuencia y estudian su comportamiento ante ciertas incertidumbres o problemas en la red haciendo uso de procedimientos QFT.[CA] Amb aquesta tesi es pretén donar solució a alguns dels problemes més habituals que apareixen als Sistemes de Control Basats en xarxa (NCS) com son els retards d'accés i transferència variables en el temps, les pèrdues y desordenament de paquets, i la restricció d'ampli de banda així com de recursos computacionals i energètics dels dispositius que foment part del sistema de control. Per tal de resoldre'ls s'ha plantejat la integració de tècniques de control multifreqüencial, de control basat en paquets, de control basat en predictor i de control basat en events. Els dissenys de control realitzats s'han simulat fent ús de Matlab-Simulink i de TrueTime, s'ha analitzat la seua estabilitat mitjançant LMIs i QFT, i s'han validat experimentalment en un pèndul invertit, un robot cartesià 3D i en robots mòbils de baix cost. L'article 1 aborda el control basat en events, el qual minimitza l'ampli de banda consumit a l'NCS mitjançant un control basat en events periòdics i presenta un mètode per a obtindré els seus paràmetres òptims per al sistema específic en el qual s'utilitza. Els articles 2, 4 i 6 afegeixen el control basat en paquets, així com el control multifreqüència, que aborda problemes de falta de dades per el baix us del sensor i els retards, pèrdues i desordre de paquets en la xarxa. També afronten, mitjançant tècniques de predicció basades en un filtre de Kalman multifreqüència variable en el temps. Els problemes de soroll i pertorbacions, així com la observació dels estats complets del sistema. L'article 7 fa referència a un model no lineal que utilitza les anteriors solucions junt a un filtre de Kalman estès per a presentar altre tipus d'estructura per a un vehicle autònom que, gracies a la informació futura obtinguda mitjançant aquestes tècniques, pot realitzar de manera remota tasques d'alt nivell com son la presa de decisions i la monitorització de variables. Els articles 3 y 5 presenten la manera d'obtindre i analitzar la resposta en frequencia de sistemes SISO multifreqüència i estudien el seu comportament front a certes incerteses o problemes en la xarxa fent us de procediments QFT.[EN] This thesis attempts to solve some of the most frequent issues that appear in Networked Control Systems (NCS), such as time-varying delays, packet losses and packet disorders and the bandwidth limitation. Other frequent problems are scarce computational and energy resources of the local system devices. Thus, it is proposed to integrate multirate control, packet-based control, predictor-based control and event-based control techniques. The control designs have been simulated using Matlab-Simulink and Truetime, the stability has been analysed by LMIs and QFT, and the experimental validation has been done on an inverted pendulum, a 3D cartesian robot and in low-cost mobile robots. Paper 1 addresses event-based control, which minimizes the bandwidth consumed in NCS through a periodic event-triggered control and presents a method to obtain the optimal parameters for the specific system used. Papers 2, 4 and 6 include packet-based control and multirate control, addressing problems such as network delays, packet dropouts and packet disorders, and the scarce data due to low sensor usage in order to save battery in sensing tasks and transmissions of the sensed data. Also addressed, is how despite the existence of measurement noise and disturbances, time-varying dual-rate Kalman filter based prediction techniques observe the complete state of the system. Paper 7 tackles a non-linear model that uses all the previous solutions together with an extended Kalman filter to present another type of structure for an autonomous vehicle that, due to future information obtained through these techniques, can remotely carry out high level tasks, such as decision making and monitoring of variables. Papers 3 and 5, present a method for obtaining and analyzing the SISO dual-rate frequency response and using QFT procedures to study its behavior when faced with specific uncertainties or network problems.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad under Grant referenced TEC2012-31506.Alcaina Acosta, JJ. (2020). Design and implementation of event-based multi-rate controllers for networked control systems [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/159884TESISCompendi