Robust Control of Nonlinear Uncertain Systems

Book excerpt: This timely work presents the definitive treatment of stability analysis and robust control design for nonlinear uncertain systems. While other books on the subject deal with robust control in linear systems, this is the first book to tackle robust control design for such nonlinear entities as power systems, robotics, and more. It combines examples, proofs, and applications-clearly showing how to build high performance and better control into systems that are too complex to be modeled accurately. A unique feature of this book is its Lyapunov-based approach to control design, which is the only universal approach for nonlinear systems. The Lyapunov direct method is used here to develop all design procedures, to correlate leading techniques in the field to the structural properties of uncertain systems, and to compare robust and nonrobust types of controls such as adaptive control, learning control, and optimal control. The subject is introduced with a self-contained treatment of the nonlinear stability theory originally proposed by Lyapunov and LaSalle. Emphasizing the basics, the introductory chapters incorporate three types of solutions, stability concepts, and various theorems. The main body of the text offers a comprehensive treatment for current design methods, including state space robust control designs, properties of various robust controllers, input-output control, and discrete robust control designs. In Robust Control of Nonlinear Uncertain Systems, author Zhihua Qu presents the complete set of control design procedures for nonlinear uncertain systems, including backward recurisve design, forward recursive design, recursive-interlacing design, feedback linearization, nonlinear optimal control, and sub-optimal control. Also featured here is the breakthrough recursive interlacing design that facilitates robust control for uncertain systems with all cascaded, feedback, and feedforward dynamics. Throughout, Professor Qu presents the pros and cons of specific methods, rationales for choosing particular design parameters,and tips on questions of stability, performance, and systems structure. For engineers and graduate students in mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering, Robust Control of Nonlinear Uncertain Systems imparts the technical know-how for effective design, explores key theoretical issues in control, and provides insight into future trends in the field.