Stability Analysis and Implementation of a Decentralized Formation Control Strategy for Unmanned Vehicles

This paper presents a new methodology for solving the multi-vehicle formation control problem. It employs a unique extension-decomposition-aggregation scheme to transform the overall complex formation control problem into a group of subproblems, which work via boundary interactions or disturbances. Thus, it is proved that the overall formation system is exponentially stable in the sense of Lyapunov, if all the individual augmented subsystems (IASs) are stable. Linear matrix inequality-based H8 control methodology is employed to design the decentralized formation controllers to reject the impact of the formation changes being treated as boundary disturbances and guarantee the stability of all the IASs, consequently maintaining the stability of the overall formation system. Simulation studies are performed to verify the stability, performance, and effectiveness of the proposed strategy.

Funciones y uso de metáforas en el diseño de entornos e-learning

El objeto de esta comunicación es presentar un estudio exploratorio sobre las funciones y tipologías de metáfora estructurales presentes en productos de e-learning, para estudiar con más detalle dos ejemplos: Geolearning y Activewolds. Estos servirán para realizar un ejercicio de identificación de los elementos audiovisuales presentes en la interface, el tratamiento de las dimensiones espacio y tiempo; el uso de 'avatares' y de las posibilidades de navegación e interacción dentro de los dos sistemas. La teoría de la muldimodalidad (Kress i van Leeuwen) es el marco teórico que conduce la reflexión sobre la representación, orientación y organización de la comunicación. Desde la misma perspectiva teórica, el trabajo de Burn y Parker nos indica pautas metodológicas para el análisis de los productos

State and input simultaneous estimation for a class of nonlinear systems

This paper addresses the problem of estimating simultaneously the state and input of a class of nonlinear systems. Here, the systems nonlinear part comprises a Lipschitz nonlinear function with respect to the state and input, and a state-dependent unknown function including additive disturbance as well as uncertain/nonlinear/time-varying terms. Upon satisfying some conditions, the observer design problem can be solved via a Riccati inequality or a LMI-based technique with asymptotic estimation guaranteed. A numerical example is included for illustration.

Exponential stabilization for state and input delay systems via output feedback

This paper considers the exponential stabilization problem via static and dynamic output feedback controllers of linear systems with a time delay in both the state and input. By using a change of the state variable and combining with the Lyapunov-Krasovskii method, new sufficient conditions for exponential stabilization via static and dynamic output feedback controllers are proposed. The conditions are expressed in terms of matrix inequalities but with only one parameter needs to be tuned and therefore can be efficiently solved by incorporating an one-dimensional search method into the Matlab’s LMI toolbox. Two numerical examples are provided to illustrate the obtained results.

Observer-based controller design of time-delay systems with an interval time-varying delay

This paper considers the problem of designing an observer-based output feedback controller to exponentially stabilize a class of linear systems with an interval time-varying delay in the state vector. The delay is assumed to vary within an interval with known lower and upper bounds. The time-varying delay is not required to be differentiable, nor should its lower bound be zero. By constructing a set of Lyapunov–Krasovskii functionals and utilizing the Newton–Leibniz formula, a delay-dependent stabilizability condition which is expressed in terms of Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs) is derived to ensure the closed-loop system is exponentially stable with a prescribed α-convergence rate. The design of an observerbased output feedback controller can be carried out in a systematic and computationally efficient manner via the use of an LMI-based algorithm. A numerical example is given to illustrate the design procedure.

Partial state estimation for linear systems with output and input time delays.

This paper deals with the problem of partial state observer design for linear systems that are subject to time delays in the measured output as well as the control input. By choosing a set of appropriate augmented Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals with a triple-integral term and using the information of both the delayed output and input, a novel approach to design a minimal-order observer is proposed to guarantee that the observer error is ε-convergent with an exponential rate. Existence conditions of such an observer are derived in terms of matrix inequalities for the cases with time delays in both the output and input and with output delay only. Constructive design algorithms are introduced. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the design procedure, practicality and effectiveness of the proposed observer.

Full-order observer design for nonlinear complex large-scale systems with unknown time-varying delayed interactions

This article is concerned with the problem of state observer for complex large-scale systems with unknown time-varying delayed interactions. The class of large-scale interconnected systems under consideration is subjected to interval time-varying delays and nonlinear perturbations. By introducing a set of argumented Lyapunov–Krasovskii functionals and using a new bounding estimation technique, novel delay-dependent conditions for existence of state observers with guaranteed exponential stability are derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). In our design approach, the set of full-order Luenberger-type state observers are systematically derived via the use of an efficient LMI-based algorithm. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the result

Controle preditivo robusto baseado em desigualdades matriciais lineares aplicado a um sistema de tanques acoplados

This work deals with an on-line control strategy based on Robust Model Predictive Control (RMPC) technique applied in a real coupled tanks system. This process consists of two coupled tanks and a pump to feed the liquid to the system. The control objective (regulator problem) is to keep the tanks levels in the considered operation point even in the presence of disturbance. The RMPC is a technique that allows explicit incorporation of the plant uncertainty in the problem formulation. The goal is to design, at each time step, a state-feedback control law that minimizes a 'worst-case' infinite horizon objective function, subject to constraint in the control. The existence of a feedback control law satisfying the input constraints is reduced to a convex optimization over linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) problem. It is shown in this work that for the plant uncertainty described by the polytope, the feasible receding horizon state feedback control design is robustly stabilizing. The software implementation of the RMPC is made using Scilab, and its communication with Coupled Tanks Systems is done through the OLE for Process Control (OPC) industrial protocol

Metodologia para rastreamento com modificação dos zeros e rejeição de distúrbio aplicada a sistemas incertos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Controle ótimo H∞ de sistemas não-lineares com modelos fuzzy takagi-sugeno

Neste trabalho é proposta uma metodologia de rastreamento de sinais e rejeição de distúrbios aplicada a sistemas não-lineares. Para o projeto do sistema de rastreamento, projeta-se os controladores fuzzy M(a) e N(a) que minimizam o limitante superior da norma H∞ entre o sinal de referência r(t) e o sinal de erro de rastreamento e(t), sendo e(t) a diferença entre a entrada de referência e a saída do sistema z(t). No método de rejeição de distúrbio utiliza-se a realimentação dinâmica da saída através de um controlador fuzzy Kc(a) que minimiza o limitante superior da norma H∞ entre o sinal de entrada exógena w(t) e o sinal de saída z(t). O procedimento de projeto proposto considera as não-linearidades da planta através dos modelos fuzzy Takagi-Sugeno. Os métodos são equacionados utilizando-se inequações matriciais lineares (LMIs), que quando factíveis, podem ser facilmente solucionados por algoritmos de convergência polinomial. Por fim, um exemplo ilustra a viabilidade da metodologia proposta.

Design of a control system using linear matrix inequalities for the active vibration control of a plate

The study of algorithms for active vibration control in smart structures is an area of interest, mainly due to the demand for better performance of mechanical systems, such as aircraft and aerospace structures. Smart structures, formed using actuators and sensors, can improve the dynamic performance with the application of several kinds of controllers. This article describes the application of a technique based on linear matrix inequalities (LMI) to design an active control system. The positioning of the actuators, the design of a robust state feedback controller and the design of an observer are all achieved using LMI. The following are considered in the controller design: limited actuator input, bounded output (energy) and robustness to parametric uncertainties. Active vibration control of a flat plate is chosen as an application example. The model is identified using experimental data by an eigensystem realization algorithm (ERA) and the placement of the two piezoelectric actuators and single sensor is determined using a finite element model (FEM) and an optimization procedure. A robust controller for active damping is designed using an LMI framework, and a reduced model with observation and control spillover effects is implemented using a computer. The simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of the approach, and show that the control system increases the damping in some of the modes.

Keratinolytic activity of Streptomyces sp isolated of poultry processing plant

The keratin is not degraded by common enzyme, keratinases have the ability to degrade native keratin and others insoluble enzymes. In the present work was Studied keratinase produced by Streptomyces sp LMI-1 isolated from industrial plant of poultry processing. The enzyme degraded 87% of feathers after 120 h, it was stimulated by Ba(2+) and inhibited by Ca(2+), Mn(2+), EDTA and Hg(+). The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme was 8.5 and 60 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme was stable after 2 hours at 50 degrees C. The culture broth analysis by thin layer chromatography showed presence of amino acids serine, methionine, proline, tyrosine and leucine after 72 hours of incubation. The microorganism showed potential for use in industrial process because of higher enzyme production and feathers degradation.

Produção de biotensoativos a partir de resíduos de óleos e gorduras

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Uniform estimates of attracting sets of extended Lurie systems using LMIs

This research presents a systematic procedure to obtain estimates, via extended Lyapunov functions, of attracting sets of a class of nonlinear systems, as well as an estimate of their stability regions. The considered class of nonlinear systems, called in this note the extended Lurie system, consists of nonlinear systems like those of the Lurie problem where one of the nonlinear functions can violate the sector conditions of the Lurie problem around the origin. In case of nonautonomous systems the concept of absolute stability is extended and uniform estimates of the attracting set are obtained. Two classical nonlinear systems, the forced duffing equation and the Van der Pol system, are analyzed with the proposed procedure.

Changes in sensitivity of the isolated guinea-pig vas deferens induced by a lyophilized Phoradendron latifolium leaf infusion

The effect of a lyophilized mistletoe infusion (LMI) was studied on isolated guinea-pig vas deferens. LMI caused a contraction which was partially blocked by phentolamine but not by atropine. LMI caused a shift to the left of the norepinephrine concentration-effect curve (CEC), an effect which appeared to be blocked by atropine and was absent in animals previously treated with reserpine and α-methyl-para-tyrosine. The increase of the norepinephrine maximal response induced by LMI was not blocked by atropine or pharmacological denervation. LMI caused a shift to the right of the acetylcholine CEC and had no effect on the acetylcholine maximal response. These results suggest that the effects seem to be due mainly to the presence of potassium ion in the LMI; however, the participation of muscarinic agonist(s) of reduced intrinsic activity or some tyramine-like substance could not be ruled out.