Model predictive control

Summary

Model predictive control (MPC) is an advanced method of process control that is used to control a process while satisfying a set of constraints. It has been in use in the process industries in chemical plants and oil refineries since the 1980s. In recent years it has also been used in power system balancing models and in power electronics. Model predictive controllers rely on dynamic models of the process, most often linear empirical models obtained by system identification. The main advantage of MPC is the fact that it allows the current timeslot to be optimized, while keeping future timeslots in account. This is achieved by optimizing a finite time-horizon, but only implementing the current timeslot and then optimizing again, repeatedly, thus differing from a linear–quadratic regulator (LQR). Also MPC has the ability to anticipate future events and can take control actions accordingly. PID controllers do not have this predictive ability. MPC is nearly universally implemented as a dig

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_predictive_control

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Real-Time Nonlinear Model Predictive Control for Fast Mechatronic Systems

Petr Listov

This thesis presents an efficient and extensible numerical software framework for real-time model-based control. We are motivated by complex and challenging mechatronic applications spanning from flight control of fixed-wing aircraft and thrust vector control drones to autonomous driving.In the first part, we present PolyMPC, a novel C++ software framework for real-time embedded nonlinear optimal control and optimisation. A key feature of the package is a highly optimised implementation of the pseudospectral collocation method that exploits instruction set parallelism available on many modern computer architectures. Polynomial representation of the state and control trajectories allows the tool to be used as a standalone controller and as an efficient solver for low-level tracking controllers in hierarchical schemes. Algorithmically, the choice is made towards computational speed. For nonlinear problems, we combine a sequential quadratic programming (SQP) strategy with the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) for quadratic programs (QP), which is especially favourable for embedded applications thanks to the low computational cost per iteration.In the second part, the developed numerical methods and software are used to experimentally study optimisation-based control of airborne wind energy (AWE) systems. For this purpose, we designed and built a small-scale prototype of a single-line rigid-wing AWE kite which comprises an aircraft fitted with necessary sensors and computers and a fully autonomous ground station for tether control. The prototype serves as a research platform for studying flight navigation and control systems thanks to very flexible custom mission management and control software. We further develop a dynamic optimisation based methodology for parameter identification and provide a validated flight simulator that matches well the real behaviour of the system. Finally, a model-predictive path following flight controller is designed and tested in real-world experiments.The third part of the thesis is concerned with the application of real-time nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) to autonomous driving at the limits of handling, which requires high sampling rates and robustness of the motion control system. We propose a dynamic optimization-based hierarchical framework for the local refinement of the racing lines that takes into account the nonlinear vehicle and actuator dynamics, adaptive tyre constraints, and the safety corridor around the initial path. The top layer receives a discrete obstacle-free local path computed by a coarse planner and transforms it into auto-differentiable look-up tables (LUT) for efficient continuous sampling.Separately, we investigated the problem of safe trajectory planning under parametric model uncertainties motivated by automotive applications. We use generalised polynomial chaos expansions for efficient nonlinear uncertainty propagation and distributionally robust inequalities for chance constraint approximation. Inspired by tube-based model predictive control, an ancillary feedback controller is used to control the deviations of stochastic modes from the nominal solution, and therefore, decrease the variance. Our approach reduces conservatism related to nonlinear uncertainty propagation while guaranteeing constraint satisfaction with a high probability.

EPFL2022

The objective of the thesis is to study the possibility of using input-output feedback linearization techniques for controlling nonlinear nonminimum-phase systems. Two methods are developed. The first one is based on an approximate input-output feedback linearization, where a part of the internal dynamics is neglected, while the second method focuses on the stabilization of the internal dynamics. The inverse of a nonminimum-phase system being unstable, standard input-output feedback linearization is not effective to control such systems. In this work, a control scheme is developed, based on an approximate input-output feedback linearization method, where the observability normal form is used in conjunction with input-output feedback linearization. The system is feedback linearized upon neglecting a part of the system dynamics, with the neglected part being considered as a perturbation. Stability analysis is provided based on the vanishing perturbation theory. However, this approximate input-output feedback linearization is only effective for very small values of the perturbation. In the general case, the internal dynamics cannot be crushed and need to be stabilized. On the other hand, predictive control is an effective approach for tackling problems with nonlinear dynamics, especially when analytical computation of the control law is difficult. Therefore, a cascade-control scheme that combines input-output feedback linearization and predictive control is proposed. Therein, inputoutput feedback linearization forms the inner loop that compensates the nonlinearities in the input-output behavior, and predictive control forms the outer loop that is used to stabilize the internal dynamics. With this scheme, predictive control is implemented at a re-optimization rate determined by the internal dynamics rather than the system dynamics, which is particularly advantageous when internal dynamics are slower than the input-output behavior of the controlled system. Exponential stability of the cascade-control scheme is provided using singular perturbation theory. Finally, both the approximate input-output feedback linearization and the cascade-control scheme are implemented successfully, on a polar pendulum 'pendubot' that is available at the Laboratoire d'Automatique of EPFL. The pendubot exhibits all the properties that suit the control methodologies mentioned above. From the approximate input-output feedback linearization point of view, the pendubot is a nonlinear system, not input-state feedback linearizable. Also, the pendubot is nonminimum phase, which prevents the use of standard input-output feedback linearization. From the cascade control point of view, although the pendubot has fast dynamics, the input-output feedback linearization separates the input-output system behavior from the internal dynamics, thus leading to a two-time-scale systems: fast input-output behavior, which is controlled using a linear controller, and slow reduced internal dynamics, which are stabilized using model predictive control. Therefore, the cascade-control scheme is effective, and model predictive control can be implemented at a low frequency compared to the input-output behavior.

EPFL2005

Model Predictive Control Strategies for Polygeneration systems and microgrids

Ramanunni Parakkal Menon

Increasing electricity and thermal demand in all sectors, an increasing focus on the reduction in carbon emissions and use of nuclear power, advent of distributed generation and greater use of renewable technologies on an aging electrical and thermal grid system has necessitated the need for modern control and management systems. These new control and management systems need to be able to integrate new technologies, stochasticities and maximise the utilisation of the existing infrastructure while satisfying demands, without requiring complete overhaul of the pre-existing centralised grid system and the transmission and distribution systems. A model predictive control system has been proposed and demonstrated here which is able to create strategies for thermal and electrical systems such that the grid efficiency and security is maintained while minimising resource usage and emissions, while, simultaneously reducing the operating costs in the grid. The model predictive control(MPC) utilises a fully energetic approach for low-voltage microgrids and houses in the residential and commercial sector which comprises of CHP units, heat pumps, storage systems(electric and thermal) and stochastic renewable resources, while accounting for the varying dynamics of the electrical and thermal systems. Finally, validation of the MPC is performed on a testbed with physical units and building emulators which have access to meteorological and resource market data. The capability of the MPC to provide strategies for systems with photovoltaics (PV), heat pumps and CHP units is demonstrated. The MPC implementation developed is input into an optimal system design algorithm based on a multi-objective optimisation genetic algorithm developed for microgrids and urban systems/grids with end-users and polygeneration systems and storage devices. The optimal design of the system is so that the optimal sizes of the polygeneration systems can be identified. This will help in maximising the utilisation of heat pumps, storage devices and other systems in a LV microgrid equipped with an MPC-based thermo-electric energy management system. The work also aims to compare the cost effectiveness versus ability of thermal storage devices compared to electrical storage devices for the same grid in question.

EPFL2017