Although the problem of nonlinear controller design is as old as that of linear controller design, the systematic design methods framed in response are more sparse. Given the range and complexity of nonlinear systems, effective new methods of control design are therefore of significant importance. Dynamic Surface Control of Uncertain Nonlinear Systems provides a theoretically rigorous and practical introduction to nonlinear control design. The convex optimization approach applied to good effect in linear systems is extended to the nonlinear case using the new dynamic surface control (DSC) algorithm developed by the authors. A variety of problems – DSC design, output feedback, input saturation and fault-tolerant control among them – are considered. The inclusion of applications material demonstrates the real significance of the DSC algorithm, which is robust and easy to use, for nonlinear systems with uncertainty in automotive and robotics. Written for the researcher and graduate student of nonlinear control theory, this book will provide the applied mathematician and engineer alike with a set of powerful tools for nonlinear control design. It will also be of interest to practitioners working with a mechatronic systems in aerospace, manufacturing and automotive and robotics, milieux.

Nonlinear problems in flight control have stimulated cooperation among engineers and scientists from a range of disciplines. Developments in computer technology allowed for numerical solutions of nonlinear control problems, while industrial recognition and applications of nonlinear mathematical models in solving technological problems is increasing. The aim of the book Advances in Flight Control Systems is to bring together reputable researchers from different countries in order to provide a comprehensive coverage of advanced and modern topics in flight control not yet reflected by other books. This product comprises 14 contributions submitted by 38 authors from 11 different countries and areas. It covers most of the currents main streams of flight control researches, ranging from adaptive flight control mechanism, fault tolerant flight control, acceleration based flight control, helicopter flight control, comparison of flight control systems and fundamentals. According to these themes the contributions are grouped in six categories, corresponding to six parts of the book.

The authors here provide a detailed treatment of the design of robust adaptive controllers for nonlinear systems with uncertainties. They employ a new tool based on the ideas of system immersion and manifold invariance. New algorithms are delivered for the construction of robust asymptotically-stabilizing and adaptive control laws for nonlinear systems. The methods proposed lead to modular schemes that are easier to tune than their counterparts obtained from Lyapunov redesign.

Nonlinear Control of Vehicles and Robots develops a unified approach to the dynamic modeling of robots in terrestrial, aerial and marine environments. The main classes of nonlinear systems and stability methods are summarized and basic nonlinear control methods, useful in manipulator and vehicle control, are presented. Formation control of ground robots and ships is discussed. The book also deals with the modeling and control of robotic systems in the presence of non-smooth nonlinearities. Robust adaptive tracking control of robotic systems with unknown payload and friction in the presence of uncertainties is treated. Theoretical and practical aspects of the control algorithms under discussion are detailed. Examples are included throughout the book allowing the reader to apply the control and modeling techniques in their own research and development work. Some of these examples demonstrate state estimation based on the use of advanced sensors as part of the control system.

This book offers a timely overview of nonlinear control methods applied to a set of vehicles and their applications to study vehicle dynamics. The first part on the book presents the mathematical models used for describing motion of three class of vehicles such as underwater vehicles, hovercrafts and airships. In turn, each model is expressed in terms of Inertial Quasi-Velocities. Various control strategies from the literature, including model-free ones, are then analyzed. The second part and core of the book guides readers to developing model-based control algorithms using Inertial Quasi-Velocities. Both non-adaptive and adaptive versions are covered. Each controller is validated through simulation tests, which are reported in detail. In turn, this part shows how to use the controllers to gain information about vehicle dynamics, thus describing an important relationship between the dynamics of the moving object and its motion control. The effects of mechanical couplings between variables describing vehicle motion due to inertial forces are also discussed. All in all, this book offers a timely guide and extensive information on nonlinear control schemes for unmanned marine and aerial vehicles. It covers specifically the simulation tests and is therefore meant as a starting point for engineers and researchers that would like to verify experimentally the suitability of the proposed models in real vehicles. Further, it also supports advanced-level students and educators in their courses on vehicle dynamics, control engineering and robotics.