2024, 11(9): 1918-1932.
doi: 10.1109/JAS.2024.124479
Abstract:
This paper presents a risk-informed data-driven safe control design approach for a class of stochastic uncertain nonlinear discrete-time systems. The nonlinear system is modeled using linear parameter-varying (LPV) systems. A model-based probabilistic safe controller is first designed to guarantee probabilistic $\lambda $-contractivity (i.e., stability and invariance) of the LPV system with respect to a given polyhedral safe set. To obviate the requirement of knowing the LPV system model and to bypass identifying its open-loop model, its closed-loop data-based representation is provided in terms of state and scheduling data as well as a decision variable. It is shown that the variance of the closed-loop system, as well as the probability of safety satisfaction, depends on the decision variable and the noise covariance. A minimum-variance direct data-driven gain-scheduling safe control design approach is presented next by designing the decision variable such that all possible closed-loop system realizations satisfy safety with the highest confidence level. This minimum-variance approach is a control-oriented learning method since it minimizes the variance of the state of the closed-loop system with respect to the safe set, and thus minimizes the risk of safety violation. Unlike the certainty-equivalent approach that results in a risk-neutral control design, the minimum-variance method leads to a risk-averse control design. It is shown that the presented direct risk-averse learning approach requires weaker data richness conditions than existing indirect learning methods based on system identification and can lead to a lower risk of safety violation. Two simulation examples along with an experimental validation on an autonomous vehicle are provided to show the effectiveness of the presented approach.
B. Esmaeili and H. Modares, “Risk-informed model-free safe control of linear parameter-varying systems,” IEEE/CAA J. Autom. Sinica, vol. 11, no. 9, pp. 1918–1932, Sept. 2024. doi: 10.1109/JAS.2024.124479.