Bruce A. Francis

State-space solutions to standard H/sub 2/ and H/sub infinity / control problems

Simple state-space formulas are derived for all controllers solving the following standard H/sub infinity / problem: For a given number gamma >0, find all controllers such that the H/sub infinity / norm of the closed-loop transfer function is (strictly) less than gamma . It is known that a controller exists if and only if the unique stabilizing solutions to two algebraic Riccati equations are positive definite and the spectral radius of their product is less than gamma /sup 2/. Under these conditions, a parameterization of all controllers solving the problem is given as a linear fractional transformation (LFT) on a contractive, stable, free parameter. The state dimension of the coefficient matrix for the LFT, constructed using the two Riccati solutions, equals that of the plant and has a separation structure reminiscent of classical LQG (i.e. H/sub 2/) theory. This paper is intended to be of tutorial value, so a standard H/sub 2/ solution is developed in parallel. >

Optimal Sampled-Data Control Systems

Part I presents two indirect methods of sampled-data controller design: These approaches include approximations to a real problem, which involves an analogue plant, continuous-time performance specifications, and a sampled-data controller. Part II proposes a direct attack in the continuous-time domain, where sampled-data systems are time-varying. The findings are presented in forms that can readily be programmed in, e.g., MATLAB.

The Linear Multivariable Regulator Problem

The problem is considered of regulating in the face of parameter uncertainty the output of a linear time-invariant system subjected to disturbance and reference signals. This problem has been treated by other researchers. In this paper a new, simple algebraic solution is given.

Necessary and sufficient graphical conditions for formation control of unicycles

The feasibility problem is studied of achieving a specified formation among a group of autonomous unicycles by local distributed control. The directed graph defined by the information flow plays a key role. It is proved that formation stabilization to a point is feasible if and only if the sensor digraph has a globally reachable node. A similar result is given for formation stabilization to a line and to more general geometric arrangements.

The internal model principle for linear multivariable regulators

Necessary structural criteria are obtained for linear multivariable regulators which retain loop stability and output regulation in the presence of small perturbations, of specified types, in system parameters. It is shown that structural stability thus defined requires feedback of the regulated variable, together with a suitably reduplicated model, internal to the feedback loop, of the dynamic structure of the exogenous reference and disturbance signals which the regulator is required to process. Necessity of these structural features constitutes the ‘internal model principle’.

Stability theory for linear time-invariant plants with periodic digital controllers

This paper considers the control of a linear time-invariant plant by a digital controller composed of a sampler. a periodic discrete-time component, and a zero-order hold. The stability of such a configuration is analyzed in detail. It is shown how closed-loop zeros can be placed using such a scheme. As a consequence. it is proved that the gain margin can be arbitrarily assigned by suitable choice of sampling time and digital controller. The design procedure is constructive, using state-space methods.

State Agreement for Continuous-Time Coupled Nonlinear Systems

Two related problems are treated in continuous time. First, the state agreement problem is studied for coupled nonlinear differential equations. The vector fields can switch within a finite family. Associated to each vector field is a directed graph based in a natural way on the interaction structure of the subsystems. Generalizing the work of Moreau, under the assumption that the vector fields satisfy a certain subtangentiality condition, it is proved that asymptotic state agreement is achieved if and only if the dynamic interaction digraph has the property of being sufficiently connected over time. The proof uses nonsmooth analysis. Second, the rendezvous problem for kinematic point-mass mobile robots is studied when the robots’ fields of view have a fixed radius. The circumcenter control law of Ando e [IEEE Trans. Robotics Automation, 15 (1999), pp. 818-828] is shown to solve the problem. The rendezvous problem is a kind of state agreement problem, but the interaction structure is state dependent.

Bilateral controller for teleoperators with time delay via /spl mu/-synthesis

In the standard teleoperator system, force and velocity signals are communicated between a master robot and a slave robot. It is well known that the system can become unstable when even a small time delay exists in the communication channel. In this paper, a method based on the /spl Hscr//sub /spl infin//-optimal control and /spl mu/-synthesis frameworks is introduced to design a controller for the teleoperator that achieves stability for a prespecified time-delay margin while optimizing performance specifications. A numerical design example is included. >

Linear control theory with an H ∞ 0E optimality criterion

This expository paper sets out the principal results in

A lifting technique for linear periodic systems with applications to sampled-data control

{\bf H}_\infty