Multi-layer switching structure with periodic feedback control

In this paper, a novel switching control architecture for linear time-invariant (LTI) systems using generalized sampled-data hold functions (GSHF) is proposed to reduce the magnitude of the transient response. It is assumed that the plant model belongs to a finite set of known models. The output of the system is periodically sampled and a control signal is being generated by using a suitable hold function from a set of GSHFs. A control architecture consisting of a layer of high-performance GSHFs (one for each plant model) and some other layers of simultaneous stabilizing GSHFs is introduced. It is shown that using the above sets of GSHFs and a proper switching path, one can reduce the number of switchings to destabilizing GSHFs. As a result, the transient performance which is the main shortcoming of most switching control schemes is improved using the proposed strategy. Furthermore, it is shown that using GSHFs instead of continuous-time controllers reduces the complexity of online computations required to obtain the upperbound signals. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed method in improving the transient performance.