Model Reference Adaptive Control Research Articles

Supporting load frequency control process by using adaptive model reference virtual inertia controller when connecting renewable energy plants

Virtual inertia control can be used in combination with conventional load frequency controllers to support the system's inertia against the attenuation caused by renewables. As fractional-order controllers add more degrees of freedom, leading to a better response and improved controller robustness, this work proposes the implementation of a developed fractional-order model reference adaptive virtual inertia controller when integrating renewables in combination with fractional-order ID-P with filter controller as secondary controllers. To validate the introduced controllers, their results have been compared to those of using integer and fractional-order PID controllers as secondary controllers, in combination with adaptive and fixed parameters virtual inertia controllers. The Artificial Rabbits heuristic algorithm is used for the purpose of tuning secondary controllers and fixed parameters virtual inertia controllers. The proposed combination of adaptive model reference virtual inertia control with fractional-order ID-P with a filter achieves the best response among all the studied combinations. Using the proposed combination shows a relative percentage improvement in the cost function value of 26% to 160% compared to all the studied combinations. Additionally, the proposed combination shows a maximum frequency overshoot value of 0.04 Hz and a minimum undershoot value of -0.06 Hz.

Robust Adaptive Control Based on Incremental Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion for a Quadrotor in Presence of Partial Actuator Fault

This paper presents a novel nonlinear robust adaptive trajectory tracking control architecture for stabilizing and controlling a quadrotor in the presence of actuator partial faults. The proposed control strategy utilizes an Incremental Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion (INDI) algorithm as the baseline controller in the inner loop and augments a nonlinear model reference adaptive controller in the outer loop to ensure robustness against unmodeled faults. Additionally, a modified PID controller is introduced in the most outer-loop to track the desired path. The effects of actuator faults are modeled by considering sudden variations in motor thrust and torques. To enhance the control algorithm's robustness, a projection operator is employed in the robust adaptive structure. Comparative performance evaluations with a previous successful algorithm implemented on a quadrotor model demonstrate that the proposed controller achieves full controllability of the faulty quadrotor in pitch, roll, and yaw channels in the presence of actuator partial faults up to 50%.

Retrospective‐cost‐based model reference adaptive control of nonminimum‐phase systems

AbstractThis paper presents a novel approach to model reference adaptive control inspired by the adaptive pole‐placement controller (APPC) of Elliot and based on retrospective cost optimization. Retrospective cost model reference adaptive control (RC‐MRAC) is applicable to nonminimum‐phase (NMP) systems assuming that the NMP zeros are known. Under this assumption, the advantage of RC‐MRAC is a reduced need for persistency. The present paper compares APPC and RC‐MRAC under various levels of persistency in the command for minimum‐phase and NMP systems. It is shown numerically that the model‐following performance of RC‐MRAC is less sensitive to the persistency of the command compared to APPC at the cost of knowledge of the NMP zeros. RC‐MRAC is also shown to be applicable for disturbance rejection under unknown harmonic disturbances.

Adaptive positioning method for ball head based on impedance control

PurposeComponent positioning is an important part of aircraft assembly, aiming at the problem that it is difficult to accurately fall into the corresponding ball socket for the ball head connected with aircraft component. This study aims to propose a ball head adaptive positioning method based on impedance control.Design/methodology/approachFirst, a target impedance model for ball head positioning is constructed, and a reference positioning trajectory is generated online based on the contact force between the ball head and the ball socket. Second, the target impedance parameters were optimized based on the artificial fish swarm algorithm. Third, to improve the robustness of the impedance controller in unknown environments, a controller is designed based on model reference adaptive control (MRAC) theory and an adaptive impedance control model is built in the Simulink environment. Finally, a series of ball head positioning experiments are carried out.FindingsDuring the positioning of the ball head, the contact force between the ball head and the ball socket is maintained at a low level. After the positioning, the horizontal contact force between the ball head and the socket is less than 2 N. When the position of the contact environment has the same change during ball head positioning, the contact force between the ball head and the ball socket under standard impedance control will increase to 44 N, while the contact force of the ball head and the ball socket under adaptive impedance control will only increase to 19 N.Originality/valueIn this paper, impedance control is used to decouple the force-position relationship of the ball head during positioning, which makes the entire process of ball head positioning complete under low stress conditions. At the same time, by constructing an adaptive impedance controller based on MRAC, the robustness of the positioning system under changes in the contact environment position is greatly improved.

Robust engine slipping start control of hybrid electric vehicles with uncertainty in clutch slipping torque and change in driver demand torque

The engine slipping start (ESS) benefits parallel hybrid electric vehicles from stable ignition and emission reduction. However, inappropriate coordination between the traction motor torque and clutch slipping torque during the ESS will lead to poor smoothness of the vehicle and failed start of the engine. Uncertainty in clutch slipping torque and change in driver demand torque bring tough challenges with sluggish convergence and intensive vehicle jerk in practice. To deal with this problem, a novel two-layer model reference adaptive controller (MRAC) which contains two parallel reference models is proposed to improve robustness and convergence rate simultaneously. On one hand, uncertainties of clutch slipping torque are divided into a low-frequency part and a high-frequency part, and adaptive laws based on the output feedback are designed contrapuntally to enhance robustness. On the other hand, two parallel reference models are designed to accelerate the tracking error convergence rate without changing the reference profiles, which is generated according to the driver demand torque in real time. To test the robustness and convergence rate, the proposed two-layer MRAC is compared with the classical MRAC and proportional–integral controller under the driving scenario with uncertain clutch slipping torque and abrupt change in driver demand torque. The sensitivity with different adaptive gains and low-frequency and high-frequency uncertainties in clutch slipping torque are examined. Finally, hardware-in-the-loop experiments are performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed two-layer MRAC.

Fault-Tolerant Control for Aircraft with Structural Damage Using Sparse Online Gaussian Process Regression

AbstractThis paper presents the design of data-driven fault-tolerant control using sparse online Gaussian process regression (SOGPR) to stabilize an aircraft with left-wing damage. The structural damage causes changes in mass, moment of inertia, center of gravity, and aerodynamic coefficients. These parameter variations deteriorate the performance of model-based nonlinear control methods. Hence, Gaussian process-based nonlinear dynamic inversion (GP-NDI) is proposed to compensate for uncertainties in situations of structural damage. Unlike parametric adaptive control approaches, Gaussian process regression is a non-parametric method that does not need prior information about uncertainties. And the proposed method implements SOGPR to reduce computational time and memory by incrementally updating the mean and variance. To compensate for the error in the estimated uncertainty, a robust control input is designed. In addition, a weighted delete score is used to improve the transient response. Numerical simulation results are compared with model reference adaptive control (MRAC) and nonlinear disturbance observer (NDO) to analyze a stabilizing and tracking performance in a structural damage situation.

Singularity-free adaptive control of discrete-time linear systems without prior knowledge of the high-frequency gain

This paper proposes a new output feedback model reference adaptive control (MRAC) method for discrete-time linear time-invariant systems with arbitrary relative degrees. The proposed method does not require any prior knowledge of the high-frequency gain represented by kp, thereby completely eliminating the common design condition in the traditional discrete-time MRAC framework: the sign of kp is known, as well as an upper bound on |kp|. Specifically, an output feedback adaptive control law is developed, which incorporates a time-varying gain function to effectively address the singularity issue. The developed adaptive control law leads to the derivation of a linear estimation error equation for the closed-loop system. Consequently, a gradient algorithm based parameter update law is directly formulated by utilizing the estimation error and some other available signals without requiring any prior knowledge of kp. In comparison to the traditional MRAC and Nussbaum function-based methods, it does not necessitate any additional design conditions or involve any transient performance issues, while still ensuring closed-loop stability and asymptotic output tracking for any given bounded reference signal. The simulation study showcases the design procedure and evaluates the efficacy of the proposed control method.

A new output feedback adaptive control method for fractional order systems with inaccessible state

In this paper, the output tracking control problem for fractional-order (FO) systems with inaccessible state is investigated, and a new fractional-order model reference adaptive control (FOMRAC) method is proposed. The designed FO adaptive update law is able to adjust the controller parameters online in real time according to the system output information. Compared with the classical output feedback FOMRAC method, the proposed FOMRAC strategy only needs the online updating of a scalar function, which significantly reduces the complexity of the controller design and the online computational burden, and can achieve better control effect. Furthermore, the scheme ensures the boundedness of the closed-loop signals and that the mean value of the squared norm of the output error converges to zero. Finally, simulation results are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the established approach.

A new intelligently optimized model reference adaptive controller using GA and WOA-based MPPT techniques for photovoltaic systems

Recently, the integration of renewable energy sources, specifically photovoltaic (PV) systems, into power networks has grown in significance for sustainable energy generation. Researchers have investigated different control algorithms for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to enhance the efficiency of PV systems. This article presents an innovative method to address the problem of maximum power point tracking in photovoltaic systems amidst swiftly changing weather conditions. MPPT techniques supply maximum power to the load during irradiance fluctuations and ambient temperatures. A novel optimal model reference adaptive controller is developed and designed based on the MIT rule to seek global maximum power without ripples rapidly. The suggested controller is also optimized through two popular meta-heuristic algorithms: The genetic algorithm (GA) and the whale optimization algorithm (WOA). These meta-heuristic approaches have been exploited to overcome the difficulty of selecting the adaptation gain of the MRAC controller. The reference voltage for MPPT is generated in the study through an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system. The suggested controller’s performance is tested via MATLAB/Simulink software under varying temperature and radiation circumstances. Simulation is carried out using a Soltech 1sth-215-p module coupled to a boost converter, which powers a resistive load. Furthermore, to emphasize the recommended algorithm’s performance, a comparative study was done between the optimal MRAC using GA and WOA and the conventional incremental conductance (INC) method.

A Novel Distributed Adaptive Controller for Multi-Agent Systems with Double-Integrator Dynamics: A Hedging-Based Approach

In this paper, we focus on designing a model reference adaptive control-based distributed control law to drive a set of agents with double-integrator dynamics in a leader–follower fashion in the presence of system anomalies such as agent-based uncertainties, unknown control effectiveness, and actuator dynamics. In particular, we introduce a novel hedging-based reference model with second-order dynamics to allow an adaptation in the presence of actuator dynamics. We show the stability of the overall closed-loop multi-agent system by utilizing the Lyapunov Stability Theory, where we analyze the stability condition by using the Linear Matrix Inequalities method to show the boundedness of the reference model and actuator states. Finally, we illustrate the efficacy of the proposed distributed adaptive controller on an undirected and connected line graph in five cases.

Robust Adaptive Control of the Offshore Produced Water Treatment Process: An Improved Multivariable MRAC-Based Approach

The application of deoiling hydrocyclone systems as the downstream of three-phase gravity separator (TPGS) systems is one of the most commonly deployed produced water treatment processes in offshore oil and gas production. Due to the compact system’s complexity and tailor-made features, it is always challenging to develop some optimally coordinated control solution for the coupled hydrocyclone and TPGS systems. It is obvious that coordinated control can better fulfill legislative discharge regulation by robustly maintaining high separation efficiencies. This paper presents a new control solution for a set of integrated hydrocyclone and TPGS systems by applying an improved multi-variable model reference adaptive control (MV-MRAC) approach with the aim of achieving both asymptotic output tracking and unknown disturbance rejection. A robust MV-MRAC controller design is proposed based on a control parameterization derived from a factorization of a high-frequency gain matrix Kp=LDS as a product of three matrices, where L represents unity lower triangular, D=sign(D) represents diagonal, and S represents positive definite, and a teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm for optimizing the adaption rates. The developed solution is analyzed and compared with a commonly deployed PI control solution on a model that is derived from a lab-scale produced water treatment process. This simulation study demonstrates the promising potential of the proposed control solution compared with the currently deployed PI control solution.

Modeling and control of boiler in thermal power plant using model reference adaptive control

The boiler is a multi-variable system, which is very difficult to control due to its nonlinear behavior, uncertainties, interactions between variables, and unmeasured and frequent disturbances. Instead of conventional control techniques, modern control techniques are being implemented in most boilers by industries. Mathematical modeling is a useful tool to analyze a complex system’s performance and design a controller for the same. The mathematical model is derived from the open-loop data obtained from the process station. The mathematical equation is then derived using the decoupling technique in terms of transfer function. An adaptive controller is designed and implemented for the model and the simulation study for the same is carried out using MATLAB. The proposed method discussed in the paper can adjust the controller parameters in response to changes in plant and disturbance in real-time by referring to the reference model that specifies the properties of the desired control system.

Design of integral backstepping controller - sliding mode along with admittance controller of knee joint robot in the presence of noise

Robots are increasingly being used in rehabilitation to assist patients with physical disabilities, particularly the knee joint. Physiotherapists often practice the patient’s leg around the knee joint to strengthen the muscles. However, Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) devices face challenges such as lack of feedback and resistance. This thesis aims to address these issues by using admittance and impedance concepts to control the robot’s flexible behavior against individual foot forces. The research uses a combination of backstepping and admittance algorithms, Model Reference Adaptive Control (MRAC), Sliding-Backstepping and Admittance Control to create a soft interactive patient-robot interaction. The device is designed for both left and right legs.

Model Reference Adaptive Stabilizing Control With Application to Leaderless Consensus

Model Reference Adaptive Stabilizing Control With Application to Leaderless Consensus

Flexible Quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Spatially Distributed Modeling and Delay-Resistant Control

This paper introduces an analytical framework for the derivation of distributed-parameter equations of motion of a flexible quadrotor. This approach helps obtain rigid and elastic equations of motion simultaneously, in a decoupled form, to facilitate the controller design. A delay-resistant low-frequency adaptive controller is employed, which prevents excessive oscillations due to flexible dynamics, compensates uncertainties, and addresses the inherent time delay. In addition to this, a delay-dependent stability condition for the overall system dynamics is obtained including the human operator with reaction time delay, the adaptive controller, and the flexible quadrotor dynamics with input delay. With comparative simulation studies, it is demonstrated that the flexible arm tip oscillations are significantly reduced when the low-frequency delay-resistant closed-loop reference model adaptive controller is used, compared to a closed-loop reference model adaptive controller and a conventional model reference adaptive controller.

The nonlinear model reference adaptive impedance control for underwater manipulator operation objects in bilateral teleoperation system

The bilateral teleoperation system is susceptible to model parameter uncertainty and unknown disturbances in both the master and slave manipulators, resulting in instability and inaccuracies in the force and position tracking performance. To address these issues, a novel nonlinear model reference adaptive impedance controller has been designed to achieve coordinated force and position synchronization of dual manipulators. The adaptive control laws, based on sliding mode functions, have been designed to compensate for the uncertainty of the manipulator model. Furthermore, an adaptive estimation law has been employed to appraise the unknown upper bound of external disturbances. This ensures that the closed-loop model parameters of the dual manipulator converge to the reference impedance model respectively. Simultaneously, it enables the position error between the reference model response and the end-effector task space position to asymptotically converge to zero. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed controller, simulations have been conducted on the MATLAB platform and experiments on a single degree of freedom teleoperation system have been performed. The results demonstrate that the controller exhibits strong robustness and has the capability of force-position tracking ability.

Adaptive velocity control of an autonomous vehicle using input-error model reference approach

The input error model reference adaptive control (IE-MRAC) is employed to regulate the longitudinal velocity of an autonomous vehicle to desired values by controlling both the throttle and the braking system. The proposed method deals with matching the unknown longitudinal model of the vehicle with a predefined model in the presence of various disturbances, including road conditions and aerodynamic effects. Moreover, it is shown that the saturation on the throttle and the brake pedals are successfully handled due to the properties of the derived error equation. Besides analyzing the natural properties of IE-MRAC, a novel stability proof of the closed-loop system is presented, and a robust modification of the adaptive control law is given as well. By using the proposed control technique, higher-order tracking is captured, and the effects on enhancing the vehicle responses are investigated. The applicability of the presented theoretical results is validated via the CarSim simulator.

Disturbance rejection based on discrete-time adaptive preview control for unmanned aerial vehicle shipboard landing under structure damage

This article studies the shipboard landing control problem for unmanned aerial vehicle with external disturbance and structure damage. A novel discrete-time adaptive preview architecture is presented, where the model reference adaptive control is improved by introducing the preview control method, so that both the uncertainties (caused by the airwake and structure damage) and the control lag could be well compensated simultaneously. The proposed scheme guarantees a more rapid, accurate, and robust performance. For application, the reference input signal is generated by fusing the deck motion prediction information and glide path command. The effectiveness of the algorithm is validated by a longitudinal landing simulation.

Error-Based Switched Fractional Order Model Reference Adaptive Control for MIMO Linear Time Invariant Systems

This paper presents the design and analysis of Switched Fractional Order Model Reference Adaptive Controllers (SFOMRAC) for Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) linear systems with unknown parameters. The proposed controller uses adaptive laws whose derivation order switches between a fractional order and the integer order, according to a certain level of control error. The switching aims to use fractional orders when the control error is larger to improve transient response and system performance during large disturbed states, and to obtain smoother control signals, leading to a better control energy usage. Then, it switches to the integer order when the control error is smaller to improve steady state. Boundedness of all the signals in the scheme is analytically proved, as well as convergence of the control error to zero. Moreover, these properties are extended to the case when system states are affected by a bounded non-parametric disturbance. Simulation studies are carried out using different representative plants to be controlled, showing that fractional orders and switching error levels can be found in most of the cases, such as when SFOMRAC achieves a better balance among control energy and system performance than the non-switched equivalent strategies.

A novel strategy towards efficient and reliable electric vehicle charging for the realisation of a true sustainable transportation landscape

This paper proposes an innovative approach for improving the charging efficiency of electric vehicles (EVs) by combining photovoltaic (PV) systems with AC–DC Power Factor Correction (PFC). The proposed approach employs bi-directional power flow management within the PFC system, allowing for enhanced resource utilization and EV battery capacity under a variety of environmental circumstances. A modified Lyapunov-based robust model reference adaptive controller (M-LRMRAC) is developed to provide real-time Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) for the PV array. By quickly recording the MPP, this controller skilfully adjusts to shifting radiation and temperature dynamics. A noteworthy accomplishment is that the M-LRMRAC outperforms traditional Perturb and Observe (P&O) techniques by achieving quick MPP convergence (0.54 s). Additionally, the benefits of this integrated system go beyond effective MPPT. The method achieves operating at unity power factor and reduces total harmonic distortion, which results in improved power quality when charging EV Batteries (EVB). The entire solution provided by this multifaceted architecture improves the quality of electricity delivered to EV batteries while also increasing energy efficiency. This research helps to the evolution of sustainable and dependable EV charging infrastructure by solving difficulties and optimising performance. The combination of PV systems with AC–DC PFC, aided by the M-LRMRAC technology, presents a viable route for attaining efficient, clean, and high-quality EV charging, hence supporting the shift to a greener and more sustainable transportation landscape.