On formalism and stability of switched systems

In this paper,we formulate a uniform mathematical framework for studying switched systems with piecewise linear partitioned state space and state dependent switching.Based on known results from the the...     

The problem of absolute stability: a dynamic programming approach

We consider the problem of absolute stability of a feedback system composed of a linear plant and a single sector-bounded nonlinearity. Pyatnitskiy and Rapoport used a variational approach and the Maximum Principle to derive an implicit characterization of the “most destabilizing” nonlinearity. In this paper, we address the same problem using a dynamic programming approach. We show that the corresponding value function is composed of simple building blocks which are the generalized first integrals of appropriate linear systems. We demonstrate how the results can be used to design stabilizing switched controllers.     

Improved results on stability of continuous-time switched positive linear systems

In this paper, the problems of stability for switched positive linear systems (SPLSs) under arbitrary switching are investigated in a continuous-time context. The so-called “copositive polynomial Lyapunov function” (CPLF) giving a generalization of copositive types of Lyapunov function is first proposed, which is formulated in a higher order form of the positive states of the underlying systems. It is illustrated in this paper that some classical types of Lyapunov functions can be seen as special cases of the proposed CPLF. Then, new stability conditions are developed by the new Lyapunov function approach. It is also proved that the conservativeness of the obtained criteria can be further reduced as the degree of the Lyapunov function increases. A numerical example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness and less conservativeness of the developed techniques.     

Absolute exponential stability and stabilization of switched nonlinear systems

This paper is concerned with the problems of absolute exponential stability and stabilization for a class of switched nonlinear systems whose system matrices are Metzler. Nonlinearity of the systems is constrained in a sector field, which is bounded by two odd symmetric piecewise linear functions. Multiple Lyapunov functions are introduced to deal with the stability of such nonlinear systems. Compared with some existing results obtained by the common Lyapunov function approach in the literature, the conservatism of our results is reduced. All present conditions can be solved by linear programming. Furthermore, the absolute exponential stabilization for the considered systems is designed by the state-feedback and average dwell time switching strategy. Two examples are also given to illustrate the validity of the theoretical findings.     

A numerical algorithm for stability testing of fractional delay systems

This paper presents an effective numerical algorithm for testing the BIBO stability of fractional delay systems described by fractional-order delay-differential equations. It is based on using Cauchy's integral theorem and solving an initial-value problem. The algorithm has a reliable result which is illustrated by several examples, and hence is practically useful in the analysis and design of feedback control for both integer- and fractional-order systems having time delays.     

Passivity and stability of switched systems: A multiple storage function method

This paper presents a concept of passivity for switched systems using multiple storage functions. This passivity property is invariant under compatible feedback interconnection. Branicky's stability theorem of multiple Lyapunov functions is generalized by relaxing the non-increasing condition on values of Lyapunov-like functions. Using this result we show that a passive switched system is stable in the sense of Lyapunov. Moreover, asymptotic stability is reached if all subsystems are asymptotically detectable.     

Exponential stability of stochastic systems with hysteresis switching

For stochastic systems with state-dependent switching which are motivated by active regions of subsystems, the exponential stability is studied in this paper. Distinct from most of the existing references, the existence of the solution to stochastic switched systems is not given as a priori information but can be proved under some easily verified conditions. By the aid of Dynkin’s formula, Itô’s formula and exponential martingale inequality, the criteria on moment exponential stability and almost sure exponential stability of the stochastic switched system are established based on Lyapunov-like techniques. Simulation examples are presented to illustrate the validity of the results.     

Stability analysis of switched systems using variational principles: An introduction

Many natural and artificial systems and processes encompass several modes of operation with a different dynamical behavior in each mode. Switched systems provide a suitable mathematical model for such processes, and their stability analysis is important for both theoretical and practical reasons. We review a specific approach for stability analysis based on using variational principles to characterize the “most unstable” solution of the switched system. We also discuss a link between the variational approach and the stability analysis of switched systems using Lie-algebraic considerations. Both approaches require the use of sophisticated tools from many different fields of applied mathematics. The purpose of this paper is to provide an accessible and self-contained review of these topics, emphasizing the intuitive and geometric underlying ideas.     

Optimal control of discrete-time bilinear systems with applications to switched linear stochastic systems

This paper aims at characterizing the most destabilizing switching law for discrete-time switched systems governed by a set of bounded linear operators. The switched system is embedded in a special class of discrete-time bilinear control systems. This allows us to apply the variational approach to the bilinear control system associated with a Mayer-type optimal control problem, and a second-order necessary optimality condition is derived. Optimal equivalence between the bilinear system and the switched system is analyzed, which shows that any optimal control law can be equivalently expressed as a switching law. This specific switching law is most unstable for the switched system, and thus can be used to determine stability under arbitrary switching. Based on the second-order moment of the state, the proposed approach is applied to analyze uniform mean-square stability of discrete-time switched linear stochastic systems. Numerical simulations are presented to verify the usefulness of the theoretic results.     

Root-mean-square gains of switched linear systems: A variational approach

We consider the problem of computing the root-mean-square (RMS) gain of switched linear systems. We develop a new approach which is based on an attempt to characterize the “worst-case” switching law (WCSL), that is, the switching law that yields the maximal possible gain. Our main result provides a sufficient condition guaranteeing that the WCSL can be characterized explicitly using the differential Riccati equations (DREs) corresponding to the linear subsystems. This condition automatically holds for first-order SISO systems, so we obtain a complete solution to the RMS gain problem in this case.     

Region stability and stabilisation of switched linear systems with multiple equilibria

This paper studies stability and stabilisation issues of switched linear time-invariant systems with stable/unstable multiple equilibria. Investigation of such switched systems is motivated by a switching economic system. The well-known common Lyapunov function method is shown to be ineffecctive in analysing region stability of switched systems with multiple equilibria via a counterexample. When every subsystem has an equilibrium point and all multiple equilibria pairwise differ, this paper proposes some sufficient conditons for region stability/instability of such switched systems with respect to a region containing all multiple equilibria under arbitrary quasi-periodical switchings. These novel results imply that there may exist stable limit cycles of such switched systems. Based on the stability results, a global asymptotic region-stabilising controller, quasi-periodical switching path, and corresponding algorithm are all designed for such switched control systems. Several illustrative examples demonstrate the effectiveness and practicality of our new results.     

Exponential stability of triangular differential inclusion systems

We consider a differential inclusion system of the form , where is a collection of upper triangular matrices. Conditions for exponential stability of all the possible solutions are given.     

Design of two-layer switching rule for stabilization of switched linear systems with mismatched switching

A two-layer switching architecture and a two-layer switching rule for stabilization of switched linear control systems are proposed, under which the mismatched switching between switched systems and their candidate hybrid controllers can be allowed. In the low layer, a state-dependent switching rule with a dwell time constraint to exponentially stabilize switched linear systems is given; in the high layer, supervisory conditions on the mismatched switching frequency and the mismatched switching ratio are presented, under which the closed-loop switched system is still exponentially stable in case of the candidate controller switches delay with respect to the subsystems. Different from the traditional switching rule, the two-layer switching architecture and switching rule have robustness, which in some extend permit mismatched switching between switched subsystems and their candidate controllers.     

Stabilization and optimization of switched linear systems

In this paper, we establish the equivalence among switched convergency, asymptotic stabilizability, and exponential stabilizability for force-free switched linear systems, and discuss the implication to the infinite-time horizon optimal switching problem. We show that, for a general cost function under mild assumptions, the finiteness of the optimal cost is equivalent to the asymptotic stabilizability of the switched linear system. Finally, we prove the equality between the optimal costs for the switched system and for the relaxed differential inclusion.     

Stabilizing switching design for switched linear systems: A state-feedback path-wise switching approach

This paper addresses the problem of switching stabilization for discrete-time switched linear systems. Based on the abstraction-aggregation methodology, we propose a state-feedback path-wise switching law, which is a state-feedback concatenation from a finite set of switching paths each defined over a finite time interval. We prove that the set of state-feedback path-wise switching laws is universal in the sense that any stabilizable switched linear system admits a stabilizing switching law in this set. We further develop a computational procedure to calculate a stabilizing switching law in the set.     

Robust observer-driven switching stabilization of switched linear systems

In this work, we study the robust observer-driven switching stabilization problem of switched linear systems. Under the condition that each subsystem is completely observable, with the observer-driven switching law which makes the system exponentially stable for the nominal system, we prove that the overall system is robust against structural/switching perturbations and is input/output to state stable for unstructural perturbations.     

A Lagrange duality characterisation for stability under arbitrary switching in switched positive linear systems

The present communication is concerned with uniform exponential stability, under arbitrary switching, in discrete-time switched positive linear systems. Lagrange duality is used in order to obtain a new characterisation for uniform exponential stability which is in terms of sets of inequalities involving each of the matrices that represent the modes of the system. These sets of inequalities are shown to generalise the classical linear Lyapunov inequality that characterises, in positive matrices, the property of being Schur. Each solution to these sets of inequalities is shown to provide a representation, in terms of a number of linear functionals, for a common Lyapunov function for the switched positive linear system. A result is further presented which conveys to, a conservative upper bound on the minimum required number of linear functionals (in the above mentioned representation), and also to a method for computing them. Our proof for the aforementioned characterisation is based on another (equivalent) characterisation, in terms of the solvability of a dynamic programming equation associated to the switched positive linear system, which is also reported in the paper. In particular, it is shown that the associated dynamic programming equation has at most one solution. And this solution is shown to be convex, monotonic, positively homogeneous, and it yields a common Lyapunov function for the switched positive linear system.     

Asynchronously switched control of switched linear systems with average dwell time

This paper concerns the asynchronously switched control problem for a class of switched linear systems with average dwell time (ADT) in both continuous-time and discrete-time contexts. The so-called asynchronous switching means that the switchings between the candidate controllers and system modes are asynchronous. By further allowing the Lyapunov-like function to increase during the running time of active subsystems, the extended stability results for switched systems with ADT in nonlinear setting are first derived. Then, the asynchronously switched stabilizing control problem for linear cases is solved. Given the increase scale and the decrease scale of the Lyapunov-like function and the maximal delay of asynchronous switching, the minimal ADT for admissible switching signals and the corresponding controller gains are obtained. A numerical example is given to show the validity and potential of the developed results.     

Complete stability robustness of third-order LTI multiple time-delay systems

A unique procedure is presented in this paper, for a complete stability robustness of the third-order LTI multiple time-delay systems (LTI-MTDS). The uniqueness of the treatment is simply due to the fact that there is no comparable methodology, presently, in the literature. The end result of this procedure is an exhaustive and precise determination of the stable regions in the domain of time delays. The backbone of the method is a novel framework called “the cluster treatment of characteristic roots, (CTCR)”. CTCR is constructed over two fundamental propositions. The first proposition claims the existence of a bounded number of so-called “kernel curves”, where the only imaginary characteristic roots occur. The second proposition is on an interesting directional invariance property of the crossing tendencies of these imaginary roots. For simplicity of conveyance and without loss of generality, the number of time delays is taken as two in this document. The new methodology is expandable to higher-order dynamics with more time delays than two, as the authors intend to demonstrate in future publications.     

A geometry-based algorithm for the stability of planar switching systems

This paper describes a geometric procedure, whose aim is to provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the stability of a class of planar switching systems against arbitrary switching. The main idea is to build the worst switching sequence and to exploit it to get information about the stability for every switching sequence. The analysis is conveyed initially for LTI subsystems, then it is extended to homogeneous subsystems of the same degree having the origin as the unique equilibrium point. Finally, a simple method to build suitable Lyapunov functions to verify the stability of such systems is provided.