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Conrad Gstöttner

Publications and source records attributed to Conrad Gstöttner.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

On the Linearization of Flat Multi-Input Systems via Prolongations

We examine when differentially flat nonlinear control systems with more than two inputs can be rendered static feedback linearizable by a minimal number of prolongations of suitably chosen inputs after applying a static input transformation. We derive sufficient conditions that guarantee such prolongations yield a static feedback linearizable system. For $(x,u)$-flat two-input systems, prior work established precise links between the relative degrees, the highest derivative orders occurring in the flat parameterization, and the minimal dimension of a linearizing dynamic extension, leading to necessary and sufficient criteria for flatness of systems that become static feedback linearizable after at most two prolongations of such suitably chosen inputs. Building on the structure of the time derivatives of a flat output, this work extends this analysis to systems with three inputs.

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arXiv2026

A Structurally Flat Triangular Form for Three-Input Systems

We present a broadly applicable structurally flat triangular form for x-flat control-affine systems with three inputs. Building on recent results for the derivative structure of flat outputs, we define the triangular form together with regularity conditions that guarantee structural flatness, and derive necessary and sufficient conditions for a system with a given x-flat output to be static feedback equivalent to this form. Further, we present sufficient conditions under which general x-flat three-input systems can be rendered static feedback equivalent to the proposed triangular form after a finite number of input prolongations.

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arXiv2025

A Flat Triangular Structure Based on a Multi-Chained Form

Determining whether a nonlinear multi-input system is differentially flat remains challenging. One way to obtain computationally tractable sufficient conditions is to give complete characterizations of flat normal forms. We introduce a structurally flat triangular form for control-affine systems with at least three inputs that is based on a multi-chained form. For two specific instances of this structure, we provide complete geometric characterizations, i.e., necessary and sufficient conditions under which a control-affine system is static-feedback equivalent to the respective triangular form. These characterizations yield sufficient conditions for differential flatness and, in turn, constructive procedures for computing flat outputs.

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arXiv2025

On Triangular Forms for x-Flat Control-Affine Systems With Two Inputs

This paper examines a broadly applicable triangular normal form for x-flat control-affine systems with two inputs. First, we show that this triangular form encompasses a wide range of established normal forms. Next, we prove that any x-flat system can be transformed into this triangular structure after a finite number of prolongations of each input. Finally, we introduce a refined algorithm for identifying candidates for x-flat outputs. Through illustrative examples, we demonstrate the usefulness of our results. In particular, we show that the refined algorithm exceeds the capabilities of existing methods for computing flat outputs based on triangular forms.

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arXiv2024

On the Exact Linearization of Minimally Underactuated Configuration Flat Lagrangian Systems in Generalized State Representation

In this paper, we examine the exact linearization of configuration flat Lagrangian control systems in generalized state representation with p degrees of freedom and p-1 control inputs by quasi-static feedback of its generalized state. We formally introduce generalized Lagrangian control systems, which are obtained when configuration variables are considered as inputs instead of forces. This work presents all possible lengths of integrator chains achieved by an exact linearization with a quasi-static feedback law of the generalized state that allows for rest-to-rest transitions. We show that such feedback laws can be systematically derived without using Brunovský states.

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arXiv2024

Tracking Control for $(x,u)$-Flat Systems by Quasi-Static Feedback of Classical States

It is well known that for flat systems the tracking control problem can be solved by utilizing a linearizing quasi-static feedback of generalized states. If measurements (or estimates) of a so-called generalized Brunovský state are available, a linear, decoupled and asymptotically stable tracking error dynamics can be achieved. However, from a practical point of view, it is often desirable to achieve the same tracking error dynamics by feedback of a classical state instead of a generalized one. This is due to the fact that the components of a classical state typically correspond to measurable physical quantities, whereas a generalized Brunovský state often contains higher order time derivatives of the (fictitious) flat output which are not directly accessible by measurements. In this paper, a systematic solution for the tracking control problem based on quasi-static feedback and measurements of classical states only is derived for the subclass of $(x,u)$-flat systems.

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arXiv2024

Exact Linearization of Minimally Underactuated Configuration Flat Lagrangian Control Systems by Quasi-Static Feedback of Classical States

We study the exact linearization of configuration flat Lagrangian control systems with p degrees of freedom and p-1 inputs by quasi-static feedback of classical states. First, we present a detailed analysis of the structure of the parameterization of the system variables by the flat output. Based on that, we systematically construct a linearizing quasi-static feedback law of the classical state such that the closed-loop system shows the behavior of decoupled integrator chains. Our approach shows that the construction of a generalized Brunovsky state can be completely circumvented. Furthermore, we present a method for determining the lengths of the integrator chains achieved by quasi-static feedback laws that allow for rest-to-rest transitions.

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arXiv2024

A Triangular Normal Form for x-Flat Control-Affine Two-Input Systems

This paper is devoted to normal forms for x-flat control-affine systems with two inputs. We propose a general triangular normal form which contains several other normal forms discussed in the literature as special cases. We derive conditions under which a system with given x-flat output can be transformed into the proposed triangular form. Based on the triangular form we motivate a simple algorithm for identifying candidates for flat outputs.

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arXiv2023

Normal forms for x-flat two-input control-affine systems in dimension five

In this paper, we give normal forms for flat two-input control-affine systems in dimension five that admit a flat output depending on the state only (we call systems with that property x-flat systems). We discuss relations of x-flatness in dimension five with static and dynamic feedback linearization and show that if a system is x-flat it becomes linearizable via at most three prolongations of a suitably chosen control. Therefore x-flat systems in dimension five can be, in general, brought into normal forms generalizing the Brunovsky canonical form. If a system becomes linear via at most two-fold prolongation, the normal forms are structurally similar to the Brunovsky form: they have a special triangular structure consisting of a linear chain and a nonlinear one with at most two nonlinearities. If a system becomes linear via a three-fold prolongation, we obtain not only triangular structures but also a nontriangular one, and face new interesting phenomena.

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arXiv2022

On the Exact Linearization and Control of Flat Discrete-time Systems

The paper addresses the exact linearization of flat nonlinear discrete-time systems by generalized static or dynamic feedbacks which may also depend on forward-shifts of the new input. We first investigate the question which forward-shifts of a given flat output can be chosen in principle as a new input, and subsequently how to actually introduce the new input by a suitable feedback. With respect to the choice of a feasible input, easily verifiable conditions are derived. Introducing such a new input requires a feedback which may in general depend not only on this new input itself but also on its forward-shifts. This is similar to the continuous-time case, where feedbacks which depend on time derivatives of the closed-loop input - and in particular quasi-static ones - have already been used successfully for the exact linearization of flat systems since the nineties of the last century. For systems with a flat output that does not depend on forward-shifts of the input, it is shown how to systematically construct a new input such that the total number of the corresponding forward-shifts of the flat output is minimal. Furthermore, it is shown that in this case the calculation of a linearizing feedback is particularly simple, and the subsequent design of a discrete-time flatness-based tracking control is discussed. The presented theory is illustrated by the discretized models of a wheeled mobile robot and a 3DOF helicopter.

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arXiv2022

Discrete-time Flatness and Linearization along Trajectories

The paper studies the relation between a nonlinear time-varying flat discrete-time system and the corresponding linear time-varying systems which are obtained by a linearization along trajectories. It is motivated by the continuous-time case, where it is well-known that the linearization of flat systems along trajectories results in linear time-varying systems which are again flat. Since flatness implies controllability, this constitutes an important verifiable necessary condition for flatness. In the present contribution, it is shown that this is also true in the discrete-time case: We prove that the linearized system is again flat, and that a possible flat output is given by the linearization of a flat output of the nonlinear system. Analogously, the map that describes the parameterization of the system variables of the linear system by this flat output coincides with the linearization of the corresponding map of the nonlinear system. The results are illustrated by two examples.

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arXiv2022

A Flat System Possessing no (x,u)-Flat Output

In general, flat outputs of a nonlinear system may depend on the system's state and input as well as on an arbitrary number of time derivatives of the latter. If a flat output which also depends on time derivatives of the input is known, one may pose the question whether there also exists a flat output which is independent of these time derivatives, i.e., an (x,u)-flat output. Until now, the question whether every flat system also possesses an (x,u)-flat output has been open. In this contribution, this conjecture is disproved by means of a counterexample. We present a two-input system which is differentially flat with a flat output depending on the state, the input and first-order time derivatives of the input, but which does not possess any (x,u)-flat output. The proof relies on the fact that every (x,u)-flat two-input system can be exactly linearized after an at most dim(x)-fold prolongation of one of its (new) inputs after a suitable input transformation has been applied.

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arXiv2020

On a Flat Triangular Form Based on the Extended Chained Form

In this paper, we present a structurally flat triangular form which is based on the extended chained form. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for an affine input system with two inputs to be static feedback equivalent to the proposed triangular form, and thus a sufficient condition for an affine input system to be flat.

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arXiv2020

A Structurally Flat Triangular Form Based on the Extended Chained Form

In this paper, we present a structurally flat triangular form which is based on the extended chained form. We provide a complete geometric characterization of the proposed triangular form in terms of necessary and sufficient conditions for an affine input system with two inputs to be static feedback equivalent to this triangular form. This yields a sufficient condition for an affine input system to be flat.

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arXiv2019

On the Linearization of Flat Two-Input Systems by Prolongations and Applications to Control Design

In this paper we consider $(x,u)$-flat nonlinear control systems with two inputs, and show that every such system can be rendered static feedback linearizable by prolongations of a suitably chosen control. This result is not only of theoretical interest, but has also important implications on the design of flatness based tracking controls. We show that a tracking control based on quasi-static state feedback can always be designed in such a way that only measurements of a (classical) state of the system, and not measurements of a generalized Brunovsky state, as reported in the literature, are required.

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