Adaptive poleplacement: the division by zero problem

We re-examine the division by zero problem which occurs in certainty equivalence based indirect adaptive control algorithms applied to linear systems. By exploiting a parametrization for linear systems induced by the continued fraction description of its transfer function, the division by zero problem obtains a very simple geometric representation that can be used to virtually eliminate the problem in the adaptive algorith

Indirect Field Oriented Control of Induction Motors is Robustly Globally Stable

Field orientation, in one of its many forms, is an established control method for high dynamic performance AC drives. In particular, for induction motors, indirect fieldoriented control is a simple and highly reliable scheme which has become the de facto industry standard. In spite of its widespread popularity no rigorous stability proof for this controller was available in the literature. In a recent paper (Ortega et al, 1995) [Ortega, R., D. Taoutaou, R. Rabinovici and J. P. Vilain (1995). On field oriented and passivity-based control of induction motors: downward compatibility. In Proc. IFAC NOLCOS Conf., Tahoe City, CA.] we have shown that, in speed regulation tasks with constant load torque and current-fed machines, indirect field-oriented control is globally asymptotically stable provided the motor rotor resistance is exactly known. It is well known that this parameter is subject to significant changes during the machine operation, hence the question of the robustness of this stability result remained to be established. In this paper we provide some answers to this question. First, we use basic input-output theory to derive sufficient conditions on the motor and controller parameters for global boundedness of all solutions. Then, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for the uniqueness of the equilibrium point of the (nonlinear) closed loop, which interestingly enough allows for a 200% error in the rotor resistance estimate. Finally, we give conditions on the motor and controller parameters, and the speed and rotor flux norm reference values that insure (global or local) asymptotic stability or instability of the equilibrium. This analysis is based on a nonlinear change of coordinates and classical Lyapunov stability theory

Putting energy back in control

A control system design technique using the principle of energy balancing was analyzed. Passivity-based control (PBC) techniques were used to analyze complex systems by decomposing them into simpler sub systems, which upon interconnection and total energy addition were helpful in determining the overall system behavior. An attempt to identify physical obstacles that hampered the use of PBC in applications other than mechanical systems was carried out. The technique was applicable to systems which were stabilized with passive controllers

Suppressor of gamma response 1 modulates the DNA damage response and oxidative stress response in leaves of cadmium-exposed Arabidopsis thaliana

Cadmium (Cd) exposure causes an oxidative challenge and inhibits cell cycle progression, ultimately impacting plant growth. Stress-induced effects on the cell cycle are often a consequence of activation of the DNA damage response (DDR). The main aim of this study was to investigate the role of the transcription factor SUPPRESSOR OF GAMMA RESPONSE 1 (SOG1) and three downstream cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors of the SIAMESE-RELATED (SMR) family in the Cd-induced DDR and oxidative challenge in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana. Effects of Cd on plant growth, cell cycle regulation and the expression of DDR genes were highly similar between the wildtype and smr4/5/7 mutant. In contrast, sog1-7 mutant leaves displayed a much lower Cd sensitivity within the experimental time-frame and significantly less pronounced upregulations of DDR-related genes, indicating the involvement of SOG1 in the Cd-induced DDR. Cadmium-induced responses related to the oxidative challenge were disturbed in the sog1-7 mutant, as indicated by delayed Cd-induced increases of hydrogen peroxide and glutathione concentrations and lower upregulations of oxidative stress-related genes. In conclusion, our results attribute a novel role to SOG1 in regulating the oxidative stress response and connect oxidative stress to the DDR in Cd-exposed plants

Decision region approximation by polynomials or neural networks

We give degree of approximation results for decision regions which are defined by polynomial and neural network parametrizations. The volume of the misclassified region is used to measure the approximation error, and results for the degree of L1 approximation of functions are used. For polynomial parametrizations, we show that the degree of approximation is at least 1, whereas for neural network parametrizations we prove the slightly weaker result that the degree of approximation is at least r, where r can be any number in the open interval (0, 1)