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This article aims at designing a robust wide-area damping controller (WADC) to address the problems associated with communication failures. The proposed controller is a state feedback-based controller, which uses generators' states as the controller inputs. The structure of the proposed controller's feedback gain matrix is a combination of two feedback gain matrices to achieve adequate robust performance over different disturbances and communication losses. These two feedback gain matrices are; full-scale feedback gain matrix and decentralized scale feedback gain matrix. Both models are designed by considering all generators' states are available at the controller input side. However, both matrices' structures are different from each other. The conventional LQR state feedback control technique is used to design the full-scale matrix. On the other hand, the decentralized scale matrix is computed using a structurally constrained H 2 -norm optimization technique to acquire the required structure. The full-scale model gives robust performance under different faults. Whereas, the decentralized scale matrix will result robust performance against communication failures. Therefore, to achieve superior performance under all conditions, the proposed controller can be used. To show the efficacy of the proposed controller, it is compared with different existing controllers and the results are illustrated. Simulation studies are conducted on well-known IEEE 39-bus and 68-bus test systems to validate the robustness of the proposed controller considering different faults and communication failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Wearable Robotic Knee (WRK) is a mobile device designed to assist disabled individuals in moving freely in undefined environments without external support. An advanced controller is required to track the output trajectory of a WRK device in order to resolve uncertainties that are caused by modeling errors and external disturbances. During the performance of a task, disturbances are caused by changes in the external load and dynamic work conditions, such as by holding weights while performing the task. The aim of this study is to address these issues and enhance the performance of the output trajectory tracking goal using an adaptive robust controller based on the Radial Basis Function (RBF) Neural Network (NN) system and Hamilton–Jacobi Inequality (HJI) approach. WRK dynamics are established using the Lagrange approach at the outset of the analysis. Afterwards, the L 2 gain technique is applied to enhance the control motion solutions and provide the main features of the designed WRK control systems. To prove the stability of the controlled system, the HJI approach is investigated next using optimization techniques. The synthesized RBF NN algorithm supports the easy implementation of the adaptive controller, as well as ensuring the stability of the WRK system. An analysis of the numerical simulation results is performed in order to demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed tracking control algorithm. The results showed the ability of the suggested controller of this study to find a solution to uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control inputs of fully constrained cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs) are constrained by the positiveness of the cables tension, as cables merely apply tensile forces. The positive tension distribution (PTD) in CDPRs is usually guaranteed with iterative optimization techniques, utilizing the redundant actuation of the CDPR. The iterative nature of the conventional PTD limits their real-time application since the worst-case computation time of the iterative methods is not predictable. In addition, optimization methods are prone to model uncertainties. This article addresses the PTD problem in the fully constrained CDPRs with a control viewpoint. In the proposed approach, the PTD algorithm is an integral part of the controller, which explicitly generates positive values for the cables tension. To this aim, a saturation-type function is coupled with the controller, and its effect is compensated using a nonlinear disturbance observer. The stability of the proposed control scheme is also investigated in detail through Lyapunov’s second method, considering a nonsingular terminal sliding mode controller. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed methodology is compared with the conventional method for a six-degrees-of-freedom CDPR, in the presence of uncertainties. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is investigated through experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel nonlinear impulsive time-delay system in fed-batch process is proposed. • The robust parameter identification problem is presented to determine the optimal parameters. • A parallel particle swarm optimization algorithm is developed to solve the identification problem. In this paper, taking the feeding process as an impulsive form and considering the time-delay in fermentation process, we propose a nonlinear impulsive time-delay system to formulate the fed-batch culture in microbial 1,3-propanediol production. For this system, we discuss some important properties of the solution. To determine the optimal time-delay and kinetic parameters in the system, we then present a robust parameter identification model subject to continuous state inequality constraints. By the constraint transcription technique and a penalty method, we transform the robust parameter identification problem to a sequence of optimization problems with only box constraints. On this basis, we propose a parallel Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm to solve the resulting problem. Finally, the numerical results show that the impulsive time-delay system can well describe the fed-batch process and the developed algorithm is highly effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to determine a time-varying dilution rate of the feed medium which maximizes mean productivity while minimizing both system sensitivity and control cost in glycerol continuous culture. A multi-objective optimal control problem subjected to a nonlinear control system and its auxiliary system is proposed and transformed into a finite-dimensional large-scale multi-objective optimization problem via discretization and time-scaling transformation. A multi-objective competitive swarm optimization algorithm is constructed to solve this transformed problem based on pairwise competition, mutation operation and environment selection. The Pareto front obtained shows the distribution of the optimal target value which indicates the rationality and feasibility of the control system under the approximate optimal strategy. Numerical simulations verify the robustness of the optimal control system and the effectiveness of our numerical solution method. The value of IGD shows the good accuracy and distribution of the proposed multi-objective optimization algorithm. • We propose a multi-objective optimal control problem of glycerol continuous culture. • The multi-objective optimal control problem is approximated by a parameter optimization problem. • A multi-objective competitive swarm optimization algorithm is developed. • Numerical experiments show the effectiveness and applicability of the approach proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydraulic turbine governing system (HTGS) is a complex nonlinear system that regulates the rotational speed and power of a hydro-generator set. In this work, an incremental form of an HTGS nonlinear model was established and the Takagi–Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy linearization and mixed H2/H∞ robust control theory was applied to the design of an HTGS controller. A T-S fuzzy H2/H∞ controller for an HTGS based on modified hybrid particle swarm optimization and gravitational search algorithm integrated with chaotic maps (CPSOGSA) is proposed in this paper. The T-S fuzzy model of an HTGS that integrates multiple-state space equations was established by linearizing numerous equilibrium points. The linear matrix inequality (LMI) toolbox in MATLAB was used to solve the mixed H2/H∞ feedback coefficients using the CPSOGSA intelligent algorithm to optimize the weighting matrix in the process so that each mixed H2/H∞ feedback coefficients in the fuzzy control were optimized under the constraints to improve the performance of the controller. The simulation results show that this method allows the HTGS to perform well in suppressing system frequency deviations. In addition, the robustness of the method to system parameter variations is also verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a risk-aware motion control scheme is considered for mobile robots to avoid randomly moving obstacles when the true probability distribution of uncertainty is unknown. We propose a novel model-predictive control (MPC) method for limiting the risk of unsafety even when the true distribution of the obstacles’ movements deviates, within an ambiguity set, from the empirical distribution obtained using a limited amount of sample data. By choosing the ambiguity set as a statistical ball with its radius measured by the Wasserstein metric, we achieve a probabilistic guarantee of the out-of-sample risk, evaluated using new sample data generated independently of the training data. To resolve the infinite-dimensionality issue inherent in the distributionally robust MPC problem, we reformulate it as a finite-dimensional nonlinear program using modern distributionally robust optimization techniques based on the Kantorovich duality principle. To find a globally optimal solution in the case of affine dynamics and output equations, a spatial branch-and-bound algorithm is designed using McCormick relaxation. The performance of the proposed method is demonstrated and analyzed through simulation studies using nonlinear dynamic and kinematic vehicle models and a linearized quadrotor model. The simulation results indicate that, even when the sample size is small, the proposed method can successfully avoid randomly moving obstacles with a guarantee of out-of-sample risk, while its sample average approximation counterpart fails to do so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an optimal decentralized control system for an isolated, networked dc microgrid with multiple sources and composite loads. The key feature of the proposed controller is that it requires only locally measurable states for controlling the local generation while achieving global stability. The controller is designed to minimize a performance index accounting for voltage regulation and branch current regulation with improved dynamics and stability. Decentralized control guarantees high reliability and modularity of the microgrid enabling plug-and-play operations of new units with little modifications. The solution of optimal decentralized control is obtained through constrained parameter optimization technique. The designed controller ensures stability over extended operating conditions of load and droop changes. This leads to a unique robust control law for the dc microgrid that obviates the need for frequent change of controller settings for any change in system parameters. Modal analysis and time-domain simulation of the controlled system substantiate robustness and effectiveness of the proposed decentralized control system in improving the system dynamic performance and optimal set point tracking with a unique controller configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a systematic robust current control design approach for three-phase voltage-source converters. Robustness is guaranteed by combining intrinsic passive properties of the impedance uncertainty at the point of common coupling together with stability results from a passivity-based control theory. This approach ensures stability against typical uncertainty sources at mid and high frequencies, such as cable resonances or other converters interaction, with significant less conservative performances than the obtained with the traditional robust control theory. The approach uses multiobjective controller synthesis formulation that allows us to logically combine robustness requirements with performance objectives avoiding heuristic iteration over the control structure and parameters. The controller synthesis is performed by means of a nonsmooth $\mathcal {H}_{\infty }$ optimization technique that tunes all free parameters of a vector-based controller function, which constraints its structure. This results in a synthesized controller with lower order than those obtained with convex optimization definitions of the $\mathcal {H}_{\infty }$ control problem. The design methodology is validated in time and frequency domain by means of theoretical analysis and experimental results with three usual grid filters: L, LCL, and LLCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced control systems are tuned using dynamic models and optimization techniques. This approach frequently involves satisfying multiple conflicting objectives. Tuning robust controllers requires considering a framework that represents the system uncertainties, and its definition is not a trivial task. When dealing with a nonlinear model with many parameters, a high-quality representation requires a massive sampling of variations. In many cases, this represents an inaccessible computational cost for the optimization process. This work presents a new methodology for parameter uncertainty modeling that is oriented to tuning robust controllers based on multiobjective optimization techniques. The uncertainty modeling formulated represents a feasible computational cost and leads to robust solutions without attributing excessive conservatism. The novelty of this process consists in using the multiobjective space to define a set of scenarios with highly representative properties of the global uncertainty framework that formulate the control problem under a predefined minimization strategy. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this methodology, we present a temperature control design in a micro-CHP system under worst-case minimization. Based on the results, particular interest is given to verifying the appropriate formulation of the uncertainty modeling, which represents a 92.8% reduction of the computational cost involved in solving the robust optimization problem under a global uncertainty framework. • Tuning robust controllers requires considering system uncertainty. • Consider feasible computational cost and conservatism. • A new methodology is proposed to define highly relevant models. • The novelty consists of using the multi-objective space to set a characterization. • This process formulates the robust control under a realistic worst case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The task of designing a robust control system using structured H ∞ algorithm involves several issues: choosing the system topology, the controller structure and tuning parameters to achieve robust stability and performance. Its application can lead to a trial-and-error approach at some stage. In order to minimize that effort, a methodology is proposed. A step-by-step guide is provided and includes modelling an uncertain system and designing roll-off, notch and setpoint filters aided by singular value analysis. The step of choosing a suitable topology for the control system and the controller structure is accomplished by RGA matrix analysis. Using a mixed-sensitivity approach, the design of weighting functions to achieve desired frequency-based performance is carried out considering plant restrictions. Application of the structured H ∞ optimization algorithm is commented and results are validated by means of sensitivity function analysis and nonlinear simulation. A successful study case of control system for tight formation flight is presented which includes nonlinear disturbances, uncertainties, measurement noise, input saturation and restrictions due to RHP poles. Results are compared with those obtained with other robust control techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents novel approach for utilizing deployable fin as a static control surface along with aircraft primary controls for flat-spin recovery. Comparative analysis of with and without deployment of the fin has been thoroughly examined. To demonstrate the present approach, a nonlinear constrained optimization technique based optimal fin deflection is determined, followed by aircraft response in a flat-oscillatory-stable-left-spin flight at optimal fin setting angle, which provides spin attribute compensation. Thereafter, sliding-mode based robust control is designed for commanded departure of the aircraft from flat-spin to steady-straight-level flight. It is shown that finite-time direct spin recovery is achieved without any timescales based separation in dynamics. The present work novelty lies in the proposed strategy of using deployable fin, wherein dynamics of the fin is modeled and incorporated in the standard equations of motion of aircraft, subsequently, robust control law is developed. It is found from closed-loop simulation results that the proposed controller not only reduces the number of turns about spin axis and altitude loss but also minimizes spin recovery time when the fin is deployed. Additionally, rudder control power requirement is reduced, and effectiveness of other aerodynamic control surfaces are regained earlier when the fin is used for spin recovery. The outcome of the present study promises its practical implementation since the proposed solution is simple and compatible to integrate with the existing aircraft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]