arXiv subjects

Amir Shakouri

Publications and source records attributed to Amir Shakouri.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Robust stabilization of discrete-time linear systems requires nonlinear dynamic feedback

This paper studies the problem of robust stabilization of linear input-state systems in discrete time. We prove that for any compact set of stabilizable systems, there exists a dynamic state-feedback controller that globally asymptotically stabilizes all systems in the set. In addition, we show that for some compact sets of stabilizable systems, no nonlinear static or linear dynamic state-feedback law can achieve this task. This proves that, in general, robust stabilization requires a feedback law that is both nonlinear and dynamic. We extend our study to robust exponential stabilization with a given rate of decay. Finally, for polytopic sets of systems, we introduce an algorithm for the design of robust feedback laws.

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arXiv2026

Experiment Design for Set-membership Identification: From Prior Knowledge to Universal Inputs

We consider the problem of designing input signals for an unknown linear time-invariant system in such a way that the resulting data, within a finite horizon, is suitable for identification with a desired accuracy. We consider both noise-free and noisy settings with $\ell_\infty$--bounded noise models. We will take into account general prior knowledge of the system parameters. Central in our study is the concept of universal inputs. An input is called universal for identification if, when applied to any system complying with the prior knowledge, it yields data suitable for accurate identification. We provide new methods for designing such universal inputs. Our results generalize the experiment design approach based on Willems et al.'s fundamental lemma that relies on persistently exciting inputs, and that is limited to prior knowledge on controllability. It turns out that for other types of prior knowledge, there exist universal inputs that outperform the persistently exciting ones, e.g., in terms of sample efficiency. Moreover, we investigate types of prior knowledge that enable experiment design for exact identification in the presence of noise.

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arXiv2025

Experiment design using prior knowledge on controllability and stabilizability

In this paper, we consider the problem of designing input signals for an unknown linear time-invariant system in such a way that the resulting input-state data is suitable for identification or stabilization. We will take into account prior knowledge on system-theoretic properties of the system, in particular, controllability and stabilizability. For this, we extend the notion of universal inputs to incorporate prior knowledge on the system. An input is called universal for identification (resp., stabilization) if, when applied to any system complying with the prior knowledge, it results in data suitable for identification (resp., stabilization) regardless of the initial condition. We provide a full characterization of such universal inputs. In addition, we discuss online experiment design using prior knowledge, and we study cases where this approach results in the shortest possible experiment for identification and stabilization.

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arXiv2025

Data-Driven Stabilization Using Prior Knowledge on Stabilizability and Controllability

In this work, we study data-driven stabilization of linear time-invariant systems using prior knowledge of system-theoretic properties, specifically stabilizability and controllability. To formalize this, we extend the concept of data informativity by requiring the existence of a controller that stabilizes all systems consistent with the data and the prior knowledge. We show that if the system is controllable, then incorporating this as prior knowledge does not relax the conditions required for data-driven stabilization. Remarkably, however, we show that if the system is stabilizable, then using this as prior knowledge leads to necessary and sufficient conditions that are weaker than those for data-driven stabilization without prior knowledge. In other words, data-driven stabilization is easier if one knows that the underlying system is stabilizable. We also provide new data-driven control design methods in terms of linear matrix inequalities that complement the conditions for informativity.

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arXiv2025

Chebyshev centers and radii for sets induced by quadratic matrix inequalities

This paper studies sets of matrices induced by quadratic inequalities. In particular, the center and radius of a smallest ball containing the set, called a Chebyshev center and the Chebyshev radius, are studied. In addition, this work studies the diameter of the set, which is the farthest distance between any two elements of the set. Closed-form solutions are provided for a Chebyshev center, the Chebyshev radius, and the diameter of sets induced by quadratic matrix inequalities (QMIs) with respect to arbitrary unitarily invariant norms. Examples of these norms include the Frobenius norm, spectral norm, nuclear norm, Schatten p-norms, and Ky Fan k-norms. In addition, closed-form solutions are presented for the radius of the largest ball within a QMI-induced set. Finally, the paper discusses applications of the presented results in data-driven modeling and control.

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arXiv2025

Fragility Analysis of Data-Driven Feedback Gains

For linear time-invariant systems, input-state data collected during an open-loop experiment can remedy the lack of knowledge of system parameters. However, such data do not contain information about other system uncertainties such as feedback perturbations. In this paper, we study the effect of additive perturbations on control parameters in a data-based setting. To this end, we parameterize the set of quadratically stabilizing feedback gains obtained from noisy input-state data. We study the case where a stabilizing data-driven feedback gain is extremely sensitive to feedback perturbations, i.e., a small perturbation in the control parameters, no matter how small, could destabilize the unknown true system. We refer to this case as extreme fragility for which we provide a full characterization. We also present necessary and sufficient conditions for the case where the closed-loop system is completely immune to feedback perturbations. For the general case where the feedback gain is neither extremely fragile nor immune, we provide a measure by which one can quantize the control fragility directly based on the collected data. We also study the problem of designing the least fragile data-driven feedback gain. The results are presented either in closed-form, or in terms of linear matrix inequalities and semi-definite programs.

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arXiv2025

A new perspective on Willems' fundamental lemma: Universality of persistently exciting inputs

In this letter, we provide new insight into Willems et al.'s fundamental lemma by studying the concept of universal inputs. An input is called universal if, when applied to any controllable system, it leads to input-output data that parametrizes all finite trajectories of the system. By the fundamental lemma, inputs that are persistently exciting of sufficiently high order are universal. The main contribution of this work is to prove the converse. Therefore, universality and persistency of excitation are equivalent.

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arXiv2022

Suboptimal Control of Unknown Second-order Nonlinear Systems with Guaranteed Global Convergence

A suboptimal active disturbance rejection controller (S-ADRC) is proposed for second-order systems with unknown time-varying nonlinear dynamics. The output-feedback controller guarantees a global convergence to the vicinity of an optimal solution by means of dynamic control gains, based on the estimated main and extended state variables obtained through a high-gain observer. Three numerical examples compare the performance of the proposed control scheme applied to linear and nonlinear systems with that of a fixed-gain conventional ADRC as well as several model-based optimal and suboptimal controllers.

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arXiv2021

On the prescribed-time attractivity and frozen-time eigenvalues of linear time-varying systems

A system is called prescribed-time attractive if its solution converges at an arbitrary user-defined finite time. In this note, necessary and sufficient conditions are developed for the prescribed-time attractivity of linear time-varying (LTV) systems. It is proved that the frozen-time eigenvalues of a prescribed-time attractive LTV system have negative real parts when the time is sufficiently close to the convergence moment. This result shows that the ubiquitous singularity problem of prescribed-time attractive LTV systems can be avoided without instability effects by switching to the corresponding frozen-time system at an appropriate time. Consequently, it is proved that the time-varying state-feedback gain of a prescribed-time controller, designed for an unknown linear time-invariant system, approaches the set of stabilizing constant state-feedback gains.

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arXiv2021

A Framework for Prescribed-Time Control Design via Time-Scale Transformation

This letter presents a unified framework for the design of prescribed-time controllers under time-varying input and state constraints for normal-form unknown nonlinear systems with uncertain input gain. The proposed approach is based on a time-domain mapping method by which any infinite-time system can be corresponded to a prescribed-time system and vice versa. It is shown that the design of a constrained nonasymptotic prescribed-time controller can be reduced to the asymptotic control design for an associated constrained infinite-time system. Faà di Bruno's formula and Bell polynomials are used for a constructive representation of the associated infinite-time system. The presented results are not confined to a particular mapping function, which adds to the flexibility of the proposed scheme. It is shown that necessary and sufficient conditions on the uniform (practical) prescribed-time stability and attractivity can be obtained as corollaries of the main result.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2021

Prescribed-time Control for Perturbed Euler-Lagrange Systems with Obstacle Avoidance

This paper introduces a class of time-varying controllers for Euler-Lagrange systems such that the convergence occurs at an arbitrary finite time, independently of initial conditions, and free of chattering. The proposed controller is based on a mapping technique and is designed in two steps: First, a conventional (obstacle avoidance) asymptotically stable controller is specified for the nominal system; then, by a simple substitution, a prescribed-time (obstacle avoidance) controller is achievable for the perturbed system. It is proved that the proposed scheme is uniformly prescribed-time stable for unperturbed systems and prescribed-time attractive for perturbed systems as it rejects matched disturbances with unknown upper bounds without disturbance observation. As an example, a two-link robot manipulator is considered for numerical simulations.

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arXiv2021

Prescribed-time control with linear decay for nonlinear systems

In this letter, a new notion of stability is introduced, which is called triangular stability. A system is called triangularly stable if the norm of its state vector is bounded by a decreasing linear function of time such that its intersection point with the time axis can be arbitrarily commanded by the user. Triangular stability implies prescribed-time stability, which means that the nonlinear system is converged to zero equilibrium at an arbitrary finite time. A prescribed-time controller with guaranteed triangular stability is developed for normal form nonlinear systems with uncertain input gain, which is able to reject the disturbances and unmodeled dynamics. Numerical simulations are carried out to visualize the results for second and fourth-order systems.

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arXiv2020

Multiple-impulse orbital maneuver with limited observation window

This paper proposes a solution for multiple-impulse orbital maneuvers near circular orbits for special cases where orbital observations are not globally available and the spacecraft is being observed through a limited window from a ground or a space-based station. The current study is particularly useful for small private launching companies with limited access to global observations around the Earth and/or for orbital maneuvers around other planets for which the orbital observations are limited to the in situ equipment. An appropriate cost function is introduced for the sake of minimizing the total control/impulse effort as well as the orbital uncertainty. It is subsequently proved that for a circle-to-circle maneuver, the optimization problem is quasi-convex with respect to the design variables. For near circular trajectories the same cost function is minimized via a gradient based optimization algorithm in order to provide a sub-optimal solution that is efficient both with respect to energy effort and orbital uncertainty. As a relevant case study, a four-impulse orbital maneuver between circular orbits under Mars gravitation is simulated and analyzed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

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arXiv2019

A New Shape-based Multiple-impulse Strategy for Coplanar Orbital Maneuvers

A new shape-based geometric method (SBGM) is proposed for generation of multi-impulse transfer trajectories between arbitrary coplanar oblique orbits via a heuristic algorithm. The key advantage of the proposed SBGM includes a significant reduction in the number of design variables for an N-impulse orbital maneuver leading to a lower computational effort and energy requirement. The SBGM generates a smooth transfer trajectory by joining a number of confocal elliptic arcs such that the intersections share common tangent directions. It is proven that the well-known classic Hohmann transfer and its bi-elliptic counterpart between circular orbits are special cases of the proposed SBGM. The performance and efficiency of the proposed approach is evaluated via computer simulations whose results are compared with those of optimal Lambert maneuver and traditional methods. The results demonstrate a good compatibility and superiority of the proposed SBGM in terms of required energy effort and computational efficiency.

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arXiv2019

On the Impulsive Formation Control of Spacecraft Under Path Constraints

This paper deals with the impulsive formation control of spacecraft in the presence of constraints on the position vector and time. Determining a set of path constraints can increase the safety and reliability in an impulsive relative motion of spacecraft. Specially, the feasibility problem of the position norm constraints is considered in this paper. Under assumptions, it is proved that if a position vector be reachable, then the reach time and the corresponding time of impulses are unique. The trajectory boundedness of the spacecraft between adjacent impulses are analyzed using the Gerschgorin and the RayleighRitz theorems as well as a finite form of the Jensen's inequality. Some boundaries are introduced regarding the Jordan-Brouwer separation theorem which are useful in checking the satisfaction of a constraint. Two numerical examples (approximate circular formation keeping and collision-free maneuver) are solved in order to show the applications and visualize the results.

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arXiv2018

Covariance-Based Multiple-Impulse Rendezvous Design

A novel trajectory design methodology is proposed in the current work to minimize the state uncertainty in the crucial mission of spacecraft rendezvous. The trajectory is shaped under constraints utilizing a multiple-impulse approach. State uncertainty is characterized in terms of covariance, and the impulse time as the only affective parameter in uncertainty propagation is selected to minimize the trace of the covariance matrix. Further, the impulse location is also adopted as the other design parameter to satisfy various translational constraints of the space mission. Efficiency and viability of the proposed idea have been investigated through some scenarios that include constraints on final time, control effort, and maximum thruster limit addition to considering safe corridors. The obtained results show that proper selection of the impulse time and impulse position fulfils a successful feasible rendezvous mission with minimum uncertainty.

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arXiv2018

Fault Detection and Isolation of Satellite Gyroscopes Using Relative Positions in Formation Flying

A fault detection and isolation method for satellite rate gyros is proposed based on using the satellite-to-satellite measurements such as relative position beside orbit parameters of the primary satellite. By finding a constant of motion, it is shown that the dynamic states in a relative motion are restricted in such a way that the angular velocity vector of primary satellite lies on a quadratic surface. This constant of motion is then used to detect the gyroscope faults and estimate the corresponding scale factor or bias values of the rate gyros of the primary satellite. The proposed algorithm works even in time variant fault situations as well, and does not impose any additional subsystems to formation flying satellites. Monte-Carlo simulations are used to ensure that the algorithm retains its performance in the presence of uncertainties. In presence of only measurement noise, the isolation process performs well by selecting a proper threshold. However, the isolation performance degrades as the scale factor approaches unity or bias approaches zero. Finally, the effect of orbital perturbations on isolation process is investigated by including the effect of zonal harmonics as well as drag and without loss of generality, it is shown that the perturbation effects are negligible.

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arXiv2018

Orbit Estimation Using a Horizon Detector in the Presence of Uncertain Celestial Body Rotation and Geometry

This paper presents an orbit estimation using non-simultaneous horizon detector measurements in the presence of uncertainties in the celestial body rotational velocity and its geometrical characteristics. The celestial body is modelled as a tri-axial ellipsoid with a three-dimensional force field. The non-simultaneous modelling provides the possibility to consider the time gap between horizon measurements. An unscented Kalman filter is used to estimate the spacecraft motion states and estimate the geometric characteristics as well as the rotational velocity of the celestial body. A Monte-Carlo simulation is implemented to verify the results. Simulations showed that using non-simultaneous horizon vector measurements, the spacecraft state errors converge to zero even in the presence of an uncertain geometry and rotational velocity of the celestial body.

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