Homothetic tube-based robust offset-free economic Model Predictive Control

Tube-based robust economic model predictive control

A hybrid Gaussian process approach to robust economic model predictive control

In this paper, the problem of optimal time-varying attitude tracking control for rigid spacecraft with system constraints and unknown additive disturbances is considered. Through the design of a new non-linear tube-based robust model predictive control (TRMPC) algorithm, a dual-loop cascaded tracking control framework is established. The proposed TRMPC algorithm explicitly considers the effect of disturbances and applies tightened system constraints to predict the motion of the nominal system. The obtained optimal control action is then combined with a non-linear feedback law such that the actual system trajectories can always be steered within a tube region centred around the nominal solution. To facilitate the recursive feasibility of the optimization process and guarantee the input-to-state stability of the tracking control process, the terminal controller and the corresponding terminal invariant set are also constructed. The effectiveness of using the proposed dual-loop TRMPC control scheme to track reference attitude trajectories is validated by experimental studies. A number of comparative studies were carried out, and the obtained results reveal that the proposed design is able to achieve more promising constraint handling and attitude tracking performance than that of the other newly developed methods investigated in this research.

I0639. Economic model predictive control is considered a suitable strategy to achieve the aforementioned economy goal. However, since the variable wind speed is difficult to measure efficiently, the wind speed error may lead to a series of problem for the traditional control. In this paper, a robust economic model predictive control is developed for variable speed variable pitch wind turbines. A linear feedback controller and corresponding robust control invariant set are designed off-line to ensure the wind turbine system's robustness. Simulation results are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

We address in the paper the problem of designing an economic model predictive control (EMPC) algorithm that asymptotically achieves the optimal performance despite the presence of plant-model mismatch. To motivate the problem, we present an example of a continuous stirred tank reactor in which available EMPC and tracking model predictive control (MPC) algorithms do not reach the optimal steady state operation. We propose to use an offset-free disturbance model and to modify the target optimization problem with a correction term that is iteratively computed to enforce the necessary conditions of optimality in the presence of plant-model mismatch. Then, we show how the proposed formulation behaves on the motivating example, highlighting the role of the stage cost function used in the finite horizon MPC problem.

Reconfiguration of flow-based networks with back-up components using robust economic MPC

In this work, the control of snake robot locomotion via economic model predictive control (MPC) is studied. Only very few examples of applications of MPC to snake robots exist and rigorous proofs for recursive feasibility and convergence are missing. We propose an economic MPC algorithm that maximizes the robot's forward velocity and integrates the choice of the gait pattern into the closed loop. We show recursive feasibility of the MPC optimization problem, where some of the developed techniques are also applicable for the analysis of a more general class of system. Besides, we provide performance results and illustrate the achieved performance by numerical simulations. We thereby show that the economic MPC algorithm outperforms a standard lateral undulation controller and achieves constraint satisfaction. Surprisingly, a gait pattern different to lateral undulation results from the optimization.

In this article, we propose a novel economic model-predictive control (MPC) algorithm for a group of disturbed linear systems and implement it in a distributed manner. The system consists of multiple subsystems interacting with each other via dynamics and aims to optimize an economic objective. Each subsystem is subject to constraints both on states and inputs as well as unknown but bounded disturbances. First, we divide the computation of control inputs into several local optimization problems based on each subsystem's local information. This is done by introducing compatibility constraints to confine the difference between the actual information and the previously published reference information of each subsystem, which is the key feature of the proposed distributed algorithm. Then, to ensure the satisfaction of both state and input constraints under disturbances, constraints are tightened on the state and the input of nominal systems by considering explicitly the effect of uncertainties. Moreover, based on an overall optimal steady state, a dissipativity constraint and a terminal constraint are designed and incorporated in the local optimization problems to establish recursive feasibility and guarantee stability for the resulting closed-loop system. Finally, the efficiency of the distributed economic MPC algorithm is demonstrated in a building temperature control case study.

This paper addresses a computationally efficient robust tube-based model predictive control (RTBMPC) strategy of linear systems in the presence of bounded disturbance. In the RTBMPC strategy, a nominal system is introduced by ignoring the disturbances of uncertain system, and then the uncertain system will be controlled in a robust manner through its nominal system as well as an additional feedback term which rejects a bounded additive disturbance. In this paper, the tracking problem is converted into the regulation problem by introducing an extra system called regulation nominal system that its constraints are translated from tracking into regulation. It leads to a reduction in complexity of the objective function and simplification of driving the stability theory. On the other hand, RTBMPC strategy solves optimization problem for nominal system which ignores the disturbances. Since in the absence of disturbances, the state measured at the following sample will be the same as the one predicted by model, a variable prediction horizon is suggested to reduce the computational burden. In addition, new constraints are introduced to prove the recursive feasibility, local and asymptotic stability. The constrained sampled double integrator is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed RTBMPC.

Estimation technique for offset-free economic MPC based on modifier adaptation

Catalytic naphtha reforming is a crucial process in producing gasoline or aromatic compounds. The characteristic of two production modes gives rise to different economic optimization and control objectives. In the present work, we design an economic model predictive control (EMPC) with a production mode switching strategy to cope with these problems. First, a rigorous dynamic process model is established to simulate the naphtha reforming process. Then, we formulate different economic objective functions and simplify the process model for each production mode, and also enable the EMPC controller to switch the production mode automatically according to empirical equations. Three case studies are presented to test the performance of our proposed control strategy. The results show that the designed EMPC controller with production mode switching can successfully overcome the economic disturbances and improve the production profits in different production modes. In addition, it also has a fast response time to drive the system to a new economic optimal operating point.

Application of economic MPC to the energy and demand minimization of a commercial building

Robust Time-Varying Model Predictive Control with Application to Mobile Robot Unmanned Path Tracking

The increasing use of electric vehicles connected to the power grid gives rise to challenges in the vehicle charging coordination, cost management, and provision of potential services to the grid. Scheduling of the power in an electric vehicle charging station is a quite challenging task, considering time-variant prices, customers with different charging time preferences, and the impact on the grid operations. The latter aspect can be addressed by exploiting the vehicle charging flexibility. In this article, a specific definition of flexibility to be used for an electric vehicle charging station is provided. Two optimal charging strategies are then proposed and evaluated, with the purpose of determining which strategy can offer spinning reserve services to the electrical grid, reducing at the same time the operation costs of the charging station. These strategies are based on a novel formulation of an economic model predictive control algorithm, aimed at minimising the charging station operation cost, and on a novel formulation of the flexibility capacity maximisation, while reducing the operation costs. These formulations incorporate the uncertainty in the arrival time and state of charge of the electric vehicles at their arrival. Both strategies lead to a considerable reduction of the costs with respect to a simple minimum time charging strategy, taken as the benchmark. In particular, the strategy that also accounts for flexibility maximisation emerges as a new tool for maintaining the grid balance giving cost savings to the charging stations.

This paper focuses on the design of a robust tube-based Model Predictive Control law for the control of constrained mobile robots. A time-varying trajectory tracking error model has been used, where uncertainties are assumed to be bounded and additive. The proposed solution to the control problem is a tube-based MPC ensuring robustness and stability. A comparative simulation example is presented showing the promising behavior of the robust MPC controller.