Global stabilization of linear systems with bounds on the feedback and its successive derivatives

We address the global stabilization of linear time-invariant (LTI) systems when the magnitude of the control input and its successive time derivatives, up to an order $p\in\mathbb N$, are bounded by prescribed values. We propose a static state feedback that solves this problem for any admissible LTI systems, namely for stabilizable systems whose internal dynamics has no eigenvalue with positive real part. This generalizes previous work done for single-input chains of integrators and rotating dynamics

Global stabilization of multiple integrators by a bounded feedback with constraints on its successive derivatives

In this paper, we address the global stabilization of chains of integrators by means of a bounded static feedback law whose p first time derivatives are bounded. Our construction is based on the technique of nested saturations introduced by Teel. We show that the control amplitude and the maximum value of its p first derivatives can be imposed below any prescribed values. Our results are illustrated by the stabilization of the third order integrator on the feedback and its first two derivatives

Uniform stabilization for linear systems with persistency of excitation. The neutrally stable and the double integrator cases

Consider the controlled system $dx/dt = Ax + \alpha(t)Bu$ where the pair $(A,B)$ is stabilizable and $\alpha(t)$ takes values in $[0,1]$ and is persistently exciting, i.e., there exist two positive constants $\mu,T$ such that, for every $t\geq 0$, $\int_t^{t+T}\alpha(s)ds\geq \mu$. In particular, when $\alpha(t)$ becomes zero the system dynamics switches to an uncontrollable system. In this paper, we address the following question: is it possible to find a linear time-invariant state-feedback $u=Kx$, with $K$ only depending on $(A,B)$ and possibly on $\mu,T$, which globally asymptotically stabilizes the system? We give a positive answer to this question for two cases: when $A$ is neutrally stable and when the system is the double integrator

Quantised control of nonlinear systems: analysis of robustness to parameter uncertainty, measurement errors, and exogenous disturbances

International audienceWe propose a variant of the recently introduced strategy for stabilisation with limited information by D. Liberzon and J.P. Hespanha and analyse its robustness properties. We show that, if the nominal plant can be made input-to-state stable with respect to measurement errors, parameter uncertainty and exogenous disturbances, then this robustness is preserved with this quantised feedback. More precisely, if a sufficient bandwidth is available on the communication network, then the resulting closed loop is shown to be semiglobally input-to-state practically stable

On the robustness analysis of triangular nonlinear systems: iISS and practical stability

International audienceThis note synthesizes recent results obtained by the authors on the stability and robustness analysis of cascaded systems. It focuses on two properties of interest when dealing with perturbed systems, namely integral input-to-state stability and practical stability. We present sufficient conditions for which each of these notions is preserved under cascade interconnection. The obtained conditions are of a structural nature, which makes their use particularly easy in practice

Robustness under saturated feedback: Strong iISS for a class of nonlinear systems

International audienceThis note proposes sufficient conditions under which a nonlinear system can be made Strongly iISS in the presence of actuator saturation. This property, recently proposed as a compromise between the strength of ISS and the generality of iISS, ensures boundedness of all solutions provided that the disturbance magnitude is below a certain threshold. We also show that, under a growth rate condition, the bounded feedback law proposed by Lin and Sontag for the stabilization of the disturbance-free system based on the knowledge of a control Lyapunov function, ensures Strong iISS in the presence of perturbations. We illustrate our findings on the angular velocity control of a spacecraft with limited-power thrusters

A Packet-Switching Strategy for Uncertain Nonlinear Networked Control Systems

International audienceThis paper addresses the problem of stabilizing uncertain nonlinear plants over a shared limited-bandwidth packet-switching network for which both the time between consecutive accesses to each node (MATI) and the transmission and processing delays (MAD) for measurements and control packets are bounded. While conventional control loops are designed to work with circuit-switching networks, where dedicated communication channels provide almost constant bit rate and delay, many networks, such as Ethernet, organize data transmission in packets, carrying larger amount of information at less predictable rates. To avoid the bandwidth waste due to the relatively large overhead inherent to packet transmission, we exploit the packet payload to carry longer control sequences. To this aim we adopt a model-based approach to remotely compute a predictive control signal on a suitable time horizon, which leads to effectively reducing the bandwidth required to guarantee stability. Communications are assumed to be ruled by a rather general protocol model, which encompasses many protocols used in practice. As a distinct improvement over the state of the art, our result is shown to be robust with respect to sector-bounded uncertainties in the plant model. Namely, an explicit bound on the combined effects of MATI and MAD is provided as a function of the basin of attraction and the model accuracy

Revisiting the iISS small-gain theorem through transient plus ISS small-gain regulation

International audienceRecently, the small-gain theorem for input-to-state stable (ISS) systems has been extended to the class of integral input-to-state stable (iISS) systems. Feedback connections of two iISS systems are robustly stable with respect to disturbance if an extended small-gain condition is satisfied. It has been proved that at least one of the two iISS subsystems needs to be ISS for guaranteeing globally asymptotic stability and iISS of the overall system. Making use of this necessary condition for the stability, this paper gives a new interpretation to the iISS small gain theorem as transient plus ISS small-gain regulation. The observation provides useful information for designing and analyzing nonlinear control systems based on the iISS small-gain theorem

Exploiting Packet Size in Uncertain Nonlinear Networked Control Systems

12International audienceThis paper addresses the problem of stabilizing uncertain nonlinear plants over a shared limited-bandwidth packet-switching network. While conventional control loops are designed to work with circuit-switching networks, where dedicated communication channels provide almost constant bit rate and delay, many networks, such as Ethernet, organize data transmission in packets, carrying larger amount of information at less predictable rates. To avoid the bandwidth waste due to the relatively large overhead inherent to packet transmission, we exploit the packet payload to carry longer control sequences. To this aim we adopt a model-based approach to remotely compute a predictive control signal on a suitable time horizon, which leads to effectively reducing the bandwidth required to guarantee stability. We consider networks for which both the time between consecutive accesses to each node (MATI) and the transmission and processing delays (MAD) for measurements and control packets are bounded. Communications are assumed to be ruled by a rather general protocol model, which encompasses many protocols used in practice. As a distinct improvement over the state of the art, our result is shown to be robust with respect to sector-bounded uncertainties in the plant model. Namely, an explicit bound on the combined effects of MATI and MAD is provided as a function of the basin of attraction and the model accuracy. A case study is presented to appreciate the improvements induced by the packet-based control strategy over existing methods