Robust suboptimal feedback control for a fed-batch nonlinear time-delayed switched system

Abstract

The optimal control strategy constructed in the form of a state feedback is effective for small state perturbations caused by changes in modeling uncertainty. In this paper, we investigate a robust suboptimal feedback control (RSPFC) problem governed by a nonlinear time-delayed switched system with uncertain time delay arising in a 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) microbial fed-batch process. The feedback control strategy is designed based on the radial basis function to balance the two (possibly competing) objectives: (i) the system performance (concentration of 1,3-PD at the terminal time of the fermentation) is to be optimal; and (ii) the system sensitivity (the system performance with respect to the uncertainty of the time-delay) is to be minimized. The RSPFC problem is subject to the continuous state inequality constraints. An exact penalty method and a novel time scaling transformation approach are used to transform the RSPFC problem into the one subject only to box constraints. The resulting problem is solved by a hybrid optimization algorithm based on a filled function method and a gradient-based algorithm. Numerical results are given to verify the effectiveness of the developed hybrid optimization algorithm.