Novel model reference adaptive control architecture using semi‐initial excitation‐based switched parameter estimator

Abstract

SummaryThis paper is a generalization of the recently developed techniques of initial excitation (IE)–based adaptive control with an introduction to the definition of semi‐initial excitation (semi‐IE), a still more relaxed notion than IE. Classical adaptive controllers typically ensure Lyapunov stability of the extended error dynamics (tracking error + parameter estimation error) and asymptotic tracking, while requiring a stringent condition of persistence of excitation (PE) for parameter convergence. Of late, the authors have proposed a new adaptive control architecture, which guarantees parameter convergence under the online‐verifiable IE condition leading to exponential stability of the extended error dynamics. In earlier works, it has been established that the IE condition is significantly milder than the classical PE condition. The current work further slackens the excitation condition by proposing the concept of semi‐IE. The proposed adaptive controller is proved to ensure convergence of the parameter estimation error to a lower‐dimensional manifold under the weaker semi‐IE condition, while the stronger condition of IE guarantees convergence of the parameter estimation error to zero. The designed algorithm is shown to improve transient response of tracking error sufficiently in contrast to conventional adaptive controllers.