Model Predictive Control Toolbox 3.1.1

Switching MPC Controllers with Multiple MPC Controllers Block

Contents

This demonstration shows how to use an Multiple MPC Controllers block in a multi-controller set-up to achieve a simple nonlinear control scheme.

Author: A. Bemporad

System Description

The system is composed by two masses M1 and M2 connected to two springs k1 and k2 respectively. The collision is assumed completely inelastic. Mass M1 is pulled by a force F, which is the manipulated variable. The objective is to make mass M1's position y1 track a given reference r.

The dynamics are twofold: when the masses are detached, M1 moves freely. Otherwise, M1+M2 move together. We assume that only M1 position and a contact sensor are available for feedback. The latter is used to trigger switching the MPC controllers. Note that position and velocity of mass M2 are not controllable.

                         /-----\     k1                 ||
                  F <--- | M1  |----/\/\/\-------------[|| wall
    ||                   | |---/                        ||
    ||     k2            \-/      /----\                ||
wall||]--/\/\/\-------------------| M2 |                ||
    ||                            \----/                ||
    ||                                                  ||
----yeq2------------------ y1 ------ y2 ----------------yeq1----> y axis

The model is a simplified version of the model proposed in the following reference:

A. Bemporad, S. Di Cairano, I. V. Kolmanovsky, and D. Hrovat, "Hybrid modeling and control of a multibody magnetic actuator for automotive applications," in Proc. 46th IEEE® Conf. on Decision and Control, New Orleans, LA, 2007.

Model Parameters

M1=1;       % mass
M2=5;       % mass
k1=1;       % spring constant
k2=0.1;     % spring constant
b1=0.3;     % friction coefficient
b2=0.8;     % friction coefficient
yeq1=10;    % wall mount position
yeq2=-10;   % wall mount position

State Space Models

states: position and velocity of mass M1; manipulated variable: pull force F measured disturbance: a constant value of 1 which provides calibrates spring force to the right value measured output: position of mass M1

State-space model of M1 when masses are not in contact.

A1=[0 1;-k1/M1 -b1/M1];
B1=[0 0;-1/M1 k1*yeq1/M1];
C1=[1 0];
D1=[0 0];
sys1=ss(A1,B1,C1,D1);
sys1=setmpcsignals(sys1,'MD',2);

-->Assuming unspecified input signals are manipulated variables.

State-space model when the two masses are in contact.

A2=[0 1;-(k1+k2)/(M1+M2) -(b1+b2)/(M1+M2)];
B2=[0 0;-1/(M1+M2) (k1*yeq1+k2*yeq2)/(M1+M2)];
C2=[1 0];
D2=[0 0];
sys2=ss(A2,B2,C2,D2);
sys2=setmpcsignals(sys2,'MD',2);

-->Assuming unspecified input signals are manipulated variables.

Multi-MPC Control Setup

Ts=0.2;     % sampling time
p=20;       % prediction horizon
m=1;        % control horizon

Define MPC object for mass M1 detached from M2

MPC1=mpc(sys1,Ts,p,m);
MPC1.Weights.OV=1;

-->The "Weights.ManipulatedVariables" property of "mpc" object is empty. 
Assuming default 0.00000.
-->The "Weights.ManipulatedVariablesRate" property of "mpc" object is emp
ty. Assuming default 0.10000.
-->The "Weights.OutputVariables" property of "mpc" object is empty. Assum
ing default 1.00000.

Define constraints on the manipulated variable

MPC1.MV=struct('Min',0,'Max',Inf,'RateMin',-1e3,'RateMax',1e3);

Define MPC object for mass M1 and M2 stuck together

MPC2=mpc(sys2,Ts,p,m);
MPC2.Weights.OV=1;

-->The "Weights.ManipulatedVariables" property of "mpc" object is empty. 
Assuming default 0.00000.
-->The "Weights.ManipulatedVariablesRate" property of "mpc" object is emp
ty. Assuming default 0.10000.
-->The "Weights.OutputVariables" property of "mpc" object is empty. Assum
ing default 1.00000.

Define constraints on the manipulated variable

MPC2.MV=MPC1.MV;

Simulation with Multiple MPC Controllers Block

if ~mpcchecktoolboxinstalled('simulink')
    disp('Simulink(R) is required to run this demo.')
    return
end

Simulate with Multiple MPC Controllers block

Tstop=100;      % Simulation time
y1initial=0;    % Initial positions
y2initial=10;
open_system('mpc_switching');
if exist('animationmpc_switchoff','var') && animationmpc_switchoff
    set_param('mpc_switching/Animation','OFF','true');
    clear animationmpc_switchoff
end

disp('Start simulation by switching control between MPC1 and MPC2 ...');
set_param('mpc_switching/signals','Open','On');
sim('mpc_switching',Tstop);

Start simulation by switching control between MPC1 and MPC2 ...
-->Converting model to discrete time.
-->Integrated white noise added on measured output channel #1.
-->The "Model.Noise" property of the "mpc" object is empty. Assuming whit
e noise on each measured output channel.
-->Converting model to discrete time.
-->Integrated white noise added on measured output channel #1.
-->The "Model.Noise" property of the "mpc" object is empty. Assuming whit
e noise on each measured output channel.

Use of two controllers provides good performance under all conditions.

Repeat Simulation Using MPC1 Only (Assumes Masses Never in Contact)

disp('Now repeat simulation by using only MPC1 ...');
disp('When two masses stick together, control performance deteriorates.');
MPC2save=MPC2;
MPC2=MPC1;
sim('mpc_switching',Tstop);

Now repeat simulation by using only MPC1 ...
When two masses stick together, control performance deteriorates.

In this case, performance degrades whenever the two masses join.

Repeat Simulation Using MPC2 Only (Assumes Masses Always in Contact)

disp('Now repeat simulation by using only MPC2 ...');
disp('When two masses are detached, control performance deteriorates.');
MPC1=MPC2save;
MPC2=MPC1;
sim('mpc_switching',Tstop);

Now repeat simulation by using only MPC2 ...
When two masses are detached, control performance deteriorates.

In this case, performance degrades when the masses separate, causing the controller to apply excessive force.

% Close this model
bdclose('mpc_switching')
close(findobj('Tag','mpc_switching_demo'))