Randomized Algorithms for Probabilistic Optimal Robust Performance Controller Design

Polynomial-time randomized algorithms were constructed to approximately solve optimal robust performance controller design problems in probabilistic sense and the rigorous mathematical justification of the approach was given. The randomized algorithms here were based on a property from statistical learning theory known as (uniform) convergence of empirical means (UCEM). It is argued that in order to assess the performance of a controller as the plant varies over a pre-specified family, it is better to use the average performance of the controller as the objective function to be optimized, rather than its worst-case performance. The approach is illustrated to be efficient through an example.

A three-dimensional probabilistic fuzzy control system for network queue management

A novel probabilistic fuzzy control system is proposed to treat the congestion avoidance problem in transmission control protocol （TCP） networks. Studies on traffic measurement of TCP networks have shown that the packet traffic exhibits long range dependent properties called self-similarity, which degrades the network performance greatly. The probabilistic fuzzy control （PFC） system is used to handle the complex stochastic features of self-similar traffic and the modeling uncertainties in the network system. A three-dimensional （3-D） membership function （MF） is embedded in the PFC to express and describe the stochastic feature of network traffic. The 3-D MF has extended the traditional fuzzy planar mapping and further provides a spatial mapping among ＂fuzziness-randomness-state＂. The additional stochastic expression of 3-D MF provides the PFC an additional freedom to handle the stochastic features of self-similar traffic. Simulation experiments show that the proposed control method achieves superior performance compared to traditional control schemes in a stochastic environment.

Probabilistic Robust Linear Parameter-varying Control of a Small Helicopter Using Iterative Scenario Approach

In this paper, we present an iterative scenario approach(ISA) to design robust controllers for complex linear parameter-varying(LPV) systems with uncertainties. The robust controller synthesis problem is transformed to a scenario design problem, with the scenarios generated by identically extracting random samples on both uncertainty parameters and scheduling parameters. An iterative scheme based on the maximum volume ellipsoid cutting-plane method is used to solve the problem.Heuristic logic based on relevance ratio ranking is used to prune the redundant constraints, and thus, to improve the numerical stability of the algorithm. And further, a batching technique is presented to remarkably enhance the computational efficiency.The proposed method is applied to design an output-feedback controller for a small helicopter. Multiple uncertain physical parameters are considered, and simulation studies show that the closed-loop performance is quite good in both aspects of model tracking and dynamic decoupling. For robust LPV control problems, the proposed method is more computationally efficient than the popular stochastic ellipsoid methods.

Finite-Time Observability of Probabilistic Logical Control Systems

This study investigates finite-time observability of probabilistic logical control systems(PLCSs)under three definitions(i.e.,finite-time observability with probability one,finite-time singleinput sequence observability with probability one,and finite-time arbitrary-input observability with probability one).The authors adopt a parallel extension technique to recast the finite-time observability problem of a PLCS as a finite-time set reachability problem.Then,the finite-time set reachability problem can be transferred to stabilization problem of a logic dynamical system by using the state transfer graph reconstruction method.Necessary and sufficient conditions for finite-time observability under the three definitions are derived respectively.Finally,the proposed methods are illustrated by numerical examples.

Risk-Informed Model-Free Safe Control of Linear Parameter-Varying

This paper presents a risk-informed data-driven safe control design approach for a class of stochastic uncertain nonlinear discrete-time systems.The nonlinear system is modeled using linear parameter-varying(LPV)systems.A model-based probabilistic safe controller is first designed to guarantee probabilisticλ-contractivity(i.e.,stability and invariance)of the LPV system with respect to a given polyhedral safe set.To obviate the requirement of knowing the LPV system model and to bypass identifying its open-loop model,its closed-loop data-based representation is provided in terms of state and scheduling data as well as a decision variable.It is shown that the variance of the closedloop system,as well as the probability of safety satisfaction,depends on the decision variable and the noise covariance.A minimum-variance direct data-driven gain-scheduling safe control design approach is presented next by designing the decision variable such that all possible closed-loop system realizations satisfy safety with the highest confidence level.This minimum-variance approach is a control-oriented learning method since it minimizes the variance of the state of the closed-loop system with respect to the safe set,and thus minimizes the risk of safety violation.Unlike the certainty-equivalent approach that results in a risk-neutral control design,the minimum-variance method leads to a risk-averse control design.It is shown that the presented direct risk-averse learning approach requires weaker data richness conditions than existing indirect learning methods based on system identification and can lead to a lower risk of safety violation.Two simulation examples along with an experimental validation on an autonomous vehicle are provided to show the effectiveness of the presented approach.