Global stabilization of switched nonlinear systems in non-triangular form and its application

This paper investigates the problem of global stabilization of switched nonlinear systems in non-triangular form whose subsystems are not assumed to be asymptotically stabilizable. The use of multiple Lyapunov functions (MLFs) method permits removal of a common restriction in which the nonlinear tires in the non-switched nonlinear systems are restricted to a triangular structure when applying backstepping. Using the MLFs method and the adding a power integrator technique, we design state-feedback controllers for individual subsystems and construct a switching law to guarantee asymptotic stability of the closed-loop switched system. As an application of the proposed design method, the global stabilization problem of a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) system and two inverted pendulums which cannot be handled by the existing methods is investigated. (C) 2013 The Franklin Institute. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.