arXiv subjects

Felix Brändle

Publications and source records attributed to Felix Brändle.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

IMMPC: An Internal Model Based MPC for Rejecting Unknown Disturbances

Model predictive control (MPC) is a powerful control method that allows for the direct inclusion of state and input constraints into the controller design. However, errors in the model, e.g., caused by unknown disturbances, can lead to constraint violation, loss of feasibility, and deteriorate closed-loop performance. In this paper, we propose a new MPC scheme based on the internal model principle. This enables the MPC to reject unknown disturbances if the dynamics of the linear signal generator are known. We formulate the disturbance rejection problem as a stability problem to ensure feasibility, constraint satisfaction, and convergence to the optimal reachable output trajectory. The controller is validated on a fourtank system.

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arXiv2026

Beyond Bounded Noise: Stochastic Set-Membership Estimation for Nonlinear Systems

In this paper, we derive a novel procedure for set-membership estimation of dynamical systems affected by stochastic noise with unbounded support. Employing a bound on the sample covariance matrix, we are able to provide a finite- sample uncertainty set containing the true system parameters with high probability. Our approach can be natively applied to a wide class of nonlinear systems affected by sub-Gaussian noise. Our analysis provides conditions under which the proposed uncertainty set converges to the true system parameters and establishes an upper bound on the convergence rate. The proposed uncertainty set can be used directly for robust controller synthesis with probabilistic stability and performance guarantees. Concluding numerical examples demonstrate the advantages of the proposed formulation over established approaches.

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arXiv2026

Robust IMMPC: An Offset-free MPC for Rejecting Unknown Disturbances

Output regulation is the problem of finding a control input to asymptotically track reference trajectories and reject disturbances. This can be addressed by using the internal model principle to embed a model of the disturbance in the controller. In this work, we present a Model Predictive Control scheme to achieve offset-free control. To do so, we extend Internal Model MPC to general bounded disturbances that must not be generated by the disturbance model. We show recursive feasibility, constraint satisfaction, and provide convergence conditions for the optimal reachable output. The proposed controller is validated on a four-tank system.

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arXiv2025

On the effects of angular acceleration in orientation estimation using inertial measurement units

In this paper, we analyze the orientation estimation problem using inertial measurement units. Many estimation algorithms suffer degraded performance when accelerations other than gravity affect the accelerometer. We show that linear accelerations resulting from rotational accelerations cannot be treated as external disturbance to be attenuated, rather, they change the dynamic behavior of the filter itself. In particular, this results in the introduction of additional zeros in the linearized transfer functions. These zeros lead to nonminimum phase behavior, which is known to be challenging for control. We validate these findings experimentally. Further, we demonstrate that Mahony and Madgwick filters can attenuate the acceleration at the expense of reduced bandwidth. In addition, we show that validation schemes based on precollected data fail to capture these closed-loop effects accurately.

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arXiv2025

A System Parameterization for Direct Data-Driven Estimator Synthesis

This paper introduces a novel parameterization to characterize unknown linear time-invariant systems using noisy data. The presented parameterization describes exactly the set of all systems consistent with the available data. We then derive verifiable conditions, when the consistency constraint reduces the set to the true system and when it does not have any impact. Furthermore, we demonstrate how to use this parameterization to perform a direct data-driven estimator synthesis with guarantees on the H_{\infty}-norm. Lastly, we conduct numerical experiments to compare our approach to existing methods.

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arXiv2025

Path-following model predictive control for autonomous e-scooters

In order to mitigate economical, ecological, and societal challenges in electric scooter (e-scooter) sharing systems, we develop an autonomous e-scooter prototype. Our vision is to design a fully autonomous prototype that can find its way to the next parking spot, high-demand area, or charging station. In this work, we propose a path-following model predictive control solution to enable localization and navigation in an urban environment with a provided path to follow. We design a closed-loop architecture that solves the localization and path following problem while allowing the e-scooter to maintain its balance with a previously developed reaction wheel mechanism. Our model predictive control approach facilitates state and input constraints, e.g., adhering to the path width, while remaining executable on a Raspberry Pi 5. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach in a real-world experiment on our prototype.

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arXiv2025

A System Parametrization for Direct Data-Driven Analysis and Control with Error-in-Variables

In this paper, we present a new parametrization to perform direct data-driven analysis and controller synthesis for the error-in-variables case. To achieve this, we employ the Sherman-Morrison-Woodbury formula to transform the problem into a linear fractional transformation (LFT) with unknown measurement errors and disturbances as uncertainties. For bounded uncertainties, we apply robust control techniques to derive a guaranteed upper bound on the H2-norm of the unknown true system. To this end, a single semidefinite program (SDP) needs to be solved, with complexity that is independent of the amount of data. Furthermore, we exploit the signal-to-noise ratio to provide a data-dependent condition, that characterizes whether the proposed parametrization can be employed. The modular formulation allows to extend this framework to controller synthesis with different performance criteria, input-output settings, and various system properties. Finally, we validate the proposed approach through a numerical example.

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arXiv2025

Data-driven Estimator Synthesis with Instantaneous Noise

Data-driven controller design based on data informativity has gained popularity due to its straightforward applicability, while providing rigorous guarantees. However, applying this framework to the estimator synthesis problem introduces technical challenges, which can only be solved so far by adding restrictive assumptions. In this work, we remove these restrictions to improve performance guarantees. Moreover, our parameterization allows the integration of additional structural knowledge, such as bounds on parameters. Our findings are validated using numerical examples.

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arXiv2024

Data-Driven Min-Max MPC for LPV Systems with Unknown Scheduling Signal

This paper presents a data-driven min-max model predictive control (MPC) scheme for linear parameter-varying (LPV) systems. Contrary to existing data-driven LPV control approaches, we assume that the scheduling signal is unknown during offline data collection and online system operation. Assuming a quadratic matrix inequality (QMI) description for the scheduling signal, we develop a novel data-driven characterization of the consistent system matrices using only input-state data. The proposed data-driven min-max MPC minimizes a tractable upper bound on the worst-case cost over the consistent system matrices set and over all scheduling signals satisfying the QMI. The proposed approach guarantees recursive feasibility, closed-loop exponential stability and constraint satisfaction if it is feasible at the initial time. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in simulation.

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arXiv2024

Collision Avoidance Safety Filter for an Autonomous E-Scooter using Ultrasonic Sensors

In this paper, we propose a collision avoidance safety filter for autonomous electric scooters to enable safe operation of such vehicles in pedestrian areas. In particular, we employ multiple low-cost ultrasonic sensors to detect a wide range of possible obstacles in front of the e-scooter. Based on possibly faulty distance measurements, we design a filter to mitigate measurement noise and missing values as well as a gain-scheduled controller to limit the velocity commanded to the e-scooter when required due to imminent collisions. The proposed controller structure is able to prevent collisions with unknown obstacles by deploying a reduced safe velocity ensuring a sufficiently large safety distance. The collision avoidance approach is designed such that it may be easily deployed in similar applications of general micromobility vehicles. The effectiveness of our proposed safety filter is demonstrated in real-world experiments.

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