Delay-Adaptive Linear Control

"Uncertainty is inherent in control systems. Consider the following example: as an aircraft flies, it consumes fuel, which causes its mass to decrease. In order to maintain stability, the autopilot mechanism must adapt to this (a priori unknown) change in mass. Delays also pose a challenge in control systems. If you have tried to maintain a comfortable water temperature while showering in a building with outdated plumbing, you will understand the difficulties that arise when a control system has significant delays: the controller (you) is forced to make decisions based on "old" information. The intersection of these two problems (estimating unknown parameters when a system has delays) poses a significant mathematical challenge. Delay-Adaptive Linear Control presents new mathematical techniques to handle the intersection of the two distinct types of uncertainty described above: adaptive constraints, and uncertainties caused by delays. Traditionally, the problems of adaption and delays have been treated separately. This book considers the intersection of these two problems, developing new techniques for addressing different combinations of uncertainty-all within a single, unified framework. This work has applications in electrical and mechanical engineering (unmanned aerial vehicles, robotic manipulators), biomedical engineering (3D printing, neuromuscular electrical stimulation), and management and traffic science (supply chains, traffic flow), among others. Beyond its practical importance, this work is also of significant theoretical interest, as it addresses mathematical challenges involved in the analysis and design of these systems"--