Robust Control: Systems with Uncertain Physical Parameters

Many plants have large variations in operating conditions. To ensure smooth running, it is essential to find a simple fixed gain controller that guarantees rapidly decaying and well-damped transients for all admissible operating conditions. This study presents design tools, developed by the authors, for the solution of this design problem. Examples of simple and complex cases such as a crane, a flight control problem and the automatic and active four-wheel steering of a car illustrate the use of these tools. The book is intended for anyone who has taken an undergraduate course in feedback control systems and who seeks an advanced treatment of robust control with applications. Drawing on the resources and authoritative research of a leading aerospace institute, it will mainly be of interest to mechanical and electrical engineers in universities, institutes and industrial research centres.