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Lyapunov-based Control of Nonlinear Processes Systems: Handling Input Constraints and Stochastic Uncertainty

This thesis develops Lyapunov-based control techniques for nonlinear process systems subject to input constraints and stochastic uncertainty. The problems considered include those which focus on the null-controllable region (NCR) for unstable systems. The NCR is the set of states in the state-space from where controllability to desired equilibrium point is possible. For unstable systems, the presence of input constraints induces bounds on the NCR and thereby limits the ability of any controller to steer the system at will. Common approaches for applying control to such systems utilize Control Lyapunov Functions (CLFs) . Such functions can be used for both designing controllers and also preforming closed--loop stability analysis. Existing CLF-based controllers result in closed--loop stability regions that are subsets of the NCR and do not guarantee closed--loop stability from the entire NCR. In effort to mitigate this shortcoming, we introduce a special type of CLF known as a Constrained Control Lyapunov Function (CCLF) which accounts for the presence of input constraints in its definition. CCLFs result in closed--loop stability regions which correspond to the NCR. We demonstrate how CCLFs can be constructed using a function defined by the NCR boundary trajectories for varying values of the available control capacity. We first consider linear systems and utilize available explicit characterization of the NCR to construct CCLFs. We then develop a Model Predictive Control (MPC) design which utilizes this CCLF to achieve stability from the entire NCR for linear anti-stable systems. We then consider the problem of nonlinear systems where explicit characterizations of the NCR boundary are not available. To do so, the problem of boundary construction is considered and an algorithm which is computationally tractable is developed and results in the construction of the boundary trajectories. This algorithm utilizes properties of the boundary pertaining to control equilibrium points to initialize the controllability minimum principle. We then turn to the problem of closed--loop stabilization from the entire NCR for nonlinear systems. Following a similar development as the CCLF construction for linear systems, we establish the validity of the use of the NCR as a CCLF for nonlinear systems. This development involves relaxing the conditions which define a classical CLF and results in CCLF-based control achieving stability to an to an equilibrium manifold. To achieve stabilization from the entire NCR, the CCLF-based control design is coupled with a classical CLF-based controller in a hybrid control framework.
In the final part of this thesis, we consider nonlinear systems subject to stochastic uncertainty. Here we design a Lyapunov-based model predictive controller (LMPC) which provides an explicitly characterized region from where stability can be probabilistically obtained. The design exploits the constraint-handling ability of model predictive controllers in order to inherent the stabilization in probability characterization of a Lyapunov-based feedback controller. All the proposed control designs along with the NCR boundary computation are illustrated using simulation results. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/26025
Date January 2020
CreatorsMahmood, Maaz
ContributorsMhaskar, Prashant, Chemical Engineering
Source SetsMcMaster University
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis

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