Intelligent control of a class of nonlinear systems

Ngo, Phuong D. Ph.D., Purdue University, August 2016. Intelligent Control of a Class of Nonlinear Systems. Major Professor: Dr. Yung C. Shin. The objective of this study is to improve and propose new fuzzy control algorithms for a class of nonlinear systems. In order to achieve the objectives, novel stability theorems as well as modeling techniques are also investigated. Fuzzy controllers in this work are designed based on the fuzzy basis function neural networks and the type-2 Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy models. For a class of single-input single-output nonlinear systems, a new stability condition is derived to facilitate the design process of proportional-integral Mamdani fuzzy controllers. The stability conditions require a new technique to calculate the dynamic gains of nonlinear systems represented by fuzzy basis function network models. The dynamic gain of a fuzzy basis function network can be approximated by finding the maximum of norm values of the locally linearized systems or by solving a non-smooth optimal control problem. Based on the new stability theorem, a multilevel fuzzy controller with self-tuning algorithm is proposed and simulated in a tower crane control system. For a class of multi-input multi-output nonlinear systems with measurable state variables, a new method for modeling unstructured uncertainties and robust control of unknown nonlinear dynamic systems is proposed by using a novel robust Takagi-Sugeno xii fuzzy controller. First, a new training algorithm for an interval type-2 fuzzy basis function network is presented. Next, a novel technique is derived to convert the interval type-2 fuzzy basis function network to an interval type-2 Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model. Based on the interval type-2 Takagi-Sugeno and type-2 fuzzy basis function network models, a robust controller is presented with an adjustable convergence rate. Simulation results on an electrohydraulic actuator show that the robust Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy controller can reduce steady-state error under different conditions while maintaining better responses than the other robust sliding mode controllers can. Next, the study presents an implementation of type-2 fuzzy basis function networks and robust Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy controllers to data-driven modeling and robust control of a laser keyhole welding process. In this work, the variation of the keyhole diameter during the welding process is approximated by a type-2 fuzzy-basis-function network, while the keyhole penetration depth is modelled by a type-1 fuzzy basis function network. During the laser welding process, a CMOS camera integrated with the welding system was used to provide a feedback signal of the keyhole diameter. An observer was implemented to estimate the penetration depth in real time based on the adaptive divided difference filter and the feedback signal from the camera. A robust Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy controller was designed based on the fuzzy basis function networks representing the welding process with uncertainties to adjust the laser power to ensure that the penetration depth of the keyhole is maintained at a desired value. Experimental results demonstrated that the fuzzy models provided an accurate estimation of both the welding geometry and its variations due to uncertainties, and the robust Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy controller successfully reduced the penetration depth variation and improved the quality of the welding process.