Linear vs. nonlinear robustness analysis: a case study

Sajjad Fekri, Declan Bates, Ian Postlethwaite

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    2 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We present a case study designed to highlight some of the practical issues that can arise when using linear robustness analysis techniques such as the structured singular value mu to analyse the robustness of uncertain nonlinear systems. The problem considered in the case study is the familiar ball and beam position control task, where the mass of the ball and the time-delay in the beam actuator are assumed to be uncertain. Using a symbolic linear fractional transformation (LFT)-based modelling approach, it is shown how both the original nonlinear and linearised plants may be represented in the form of LFT's. A linear controller is designed for the uncertain linearised plant using a mu-synthesis approach. The robustness of the linear and nonlinear closed-loop systems is then checked using mu-analysis and the Popov criterion, respectively. It is shown that as the degree of nonlinearity in the plant is increased, a sharp fall in the robustness properties of the controller from those predicted by the linear analysis is observed. The results of the study highlight the need for additional nonlinear analysis to confirm robustness analysis results derived using linearised models of nonlinear systems, as is usually the case in practice.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2007 IEEE International Conference on Control Applications
    Place of PublicationPiscataway, NJ
    PublisherIEEE
    Pages753-758
    ISBN (Print)978-1424404421
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2007
    EventIEEE International Conference on Control Applications, 2007. CCA 2007 - SIngapore
    Duration: 1 Jan 2007 → …

    Conference

    ConferenceIEEE International Conference on Control Applications, 2007. CCA 2007
    Period1/01/07 → …

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