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This paper aims to develop an efficient numerical method for mid-frequency analysis of built-up structures with large convex uncertainties.

Based on the Chebyshev polynomial approximation technique, a Chebyshev convex method (CCM) combined with the hybrid finite element/statistical energy analysis (FE-SEA) framework is proposed to fulfil the purpose. In CCM, the Chebyshev polynomials for approximating the response functions of built-up structures are constructed over the uncertain domain by using the marginal intervals of convex parameters; the bounds of the response functions are calculated by applying the convex Monte–Carlo simulation to the approximate functions. A relative improvement method is introduced to evaluate the truncated order of CCM.

CCM has an advantage in accuracy over CPM when the considered order is the same. Furthermore, it is readily to consider the CCM with the higher order terms of the Chebyshev polynomials for handling the larger convex parametric uncertainty, and the truncated order can be effectively evaluated by the relative improvement method.

The proposed CCM combined with FE-SEA is the first endeavor to efficiently handling large convex uncertainty in mid-frequency vibro-acoustic analysis of built-up structures. It also has the potential to serve as a powerful tool for other kinds of system analysis when large convex uncertainty is involved.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the pose control of rigid spacecraft subject to dead-zone input, unknown external disturbance and parametric uncertainty in space maneuvering mission.

First, a 6-Degree of Freedom (DOF) dynamic model of rigid spacecraft with dead-zone input, unknown external disturbances and parametric uncertainty is derived. Second, a super-twisting-like fixed-time disturbance observer (FTDO) with strong robustness is developed to estimate the lumped disturbances in fixed time. Based on the proposed observer, a non-singular fixed-time terminal sliding-mode (NFTSM) controller with superior performance is proposed.

Different from the existing sliding-mode controllers, the proposed control scheme can directly avoid the singularity in the controller design and speed up the convergence rate with improved control accuracy. Moreover, no prior knowledge of lumped disturbances’ upper bound and its first derivatives is required. The fixed-time stability of the entire closed-loop system is rigorously proved in the Lyapunov framework. Finally, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed control scheme are proved by comparison with existing approaches.

The proposed NFTSM controller can merely be applied to a specific type of spacecrafts, as the relevant system states should be measurable.

A NFTSM controller based on a super-twisting-like FTDO can efficiently deal with dead-zone input, unknown external disturbance and parametric uncertainty for spacecraft pose control.

This investigation uses NFTSM control and super-twisting-like FTDO to achieve spacecraft pose control subject to dead-zone input, unknown external disturbance and parametric uncertainty.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the attitude control problem of a certain and big flexible satellite with unmodeled dynamics and unknown bounded disturbances and control input saturation; and to present a design method of robust adaptive controllers (RACs).

First, using the Lyapunov stability theory, it is shown that the proposed adaptive controller can guarantee the stability of the nonlinear system. Then, the parameters regulation method of the RAC is introduced. Finally, an RAC is designed for the object satellite model consisted of all the error‐source models.

The simulation results are compared with other results that are derived by using the typical PID controller. It is proved that the designed RAC has some properties of quickly response, high steady‐state precision and strong robustness.

The paper is of value in presenting a design method of RACs aiming at the object satellite with uncertainties and control input saturation.

This paper aims to develop a robust controller to control vibration of a thin plate attached with two piezoelectric patches in the presence of uncertainties in the mass of the plate. The main goal of this study is to tackle dynamic perturbation that could lead to modelling error in flexible structures. The controller is designed to suppress first and second modal vibrations.

Out of various robust control strategies, μ-synthesis controller design algorithm has been used for active vibration control of a simply supported thin place excited and actuated using two piezoelectric patches. Parametric uncertainty in the system is taken into account so that the robust system will be achieved by maximizing the complex stability radius of the closed-loop system. Effectiveness of the designed controller is validated through robust stability and performance analysis.

Results obtained from numerical simulation indicate that implementation of the designed controller can effectively suppress the vibration of the system at the first and second modal frequencies by 98.5 and 88.4 per cent, respectively, despite the presence of structural uncertainties. The designed controller has also shown satisfactory results in terms of robustness and performance.

Although vibration control in designing any structural system has been an active topic for decades, Ordinary fixed controllers designed based on nominal parameters do not take into account the uncertainties present in and around the system and hence lose their effectiveness when subjected to uncertainties. This paper fulfills an identified need to design a robust control system that accommodates uncertainties.

The concept of uncertainty is a relevant yet little understood area within supply chain risk management. Risk is often associated with uncertainty, but in reality uncertainty is a much more elaborate concept and deserves more in-depth scrutiny. To bridge this gap, the purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework for assessing the levels and nature of uncertainty in this context.

The aim of the study is to link established theories of uncertainty to the management of risk in supply chains, to gain a holistic understanding of its levels and nature. The proposed conceptual model concerns the role of certainty and uncertainty in this context. Illustrative examples show the applicability of the model.

The study describes in detail a way of analysing the levels and nature of uncertainty in supply chains. Such analysis could provide crucial information enabling more efficient and effective implementation of supply chain risk management.

The study enhances understanding of the nature of the uncertainties faced in supply chains. Thus it should be possible to improve existing measures and analyses of risk, which could increase the efficiency and effectiveness of supply chain and logistics management.

The proposed conceptual framework of uncertainty types in the supply chain context is novel, and therefore could enhance understanding of uncertainty and risk in supply and logistics management and make it easier to categorise, as well as initiate further research in the field.

Aircraft pitch control is fundamental for the performance of micro aerial vehicles (MAVs). The purpose of this paper is to establish a simple experimental procedure to calibrate pitch instrumentation and classical control algorithms. This includes developing an efficient pitch angle observer with optimal estimation and evaluating controllers under uncertainty and external disturbances.

A wind tunnel test bench is designed to simulate fixed-wing aircraft dynamics. Key elements of the instrumentation commonly found in MAVs are characterized in a gyroscopic test bench. A data fusion algorithm is calibrated to match the gyroscopic test bench measurements and is then integrated into the autopilot platform. The elevator-angle to pitch-angle dynamic model is obtained experimentally. Two different control algorithms, based on model-free and model-based approaches, are designed. These controllers are analyzed in terms of parametric uncertainties due to wind speed variations and external perturbation because of sudden weight distribution changes. A series of experimental tests is performed in wind-tunnel facilities to highlight the main features of each control approach.

With regard to the instrumentation algorithms, a simple experimental methodology for the design of optimal pitch angle observer is presented and validated experimentally. In the context of the platform design and identification, the similitude among the theoretical and experimental responses shows that the platform is suitable for typical pitch control assessment. The wind tunnel experiments show that a fixed linear controller, designed using classical frequency domain concepts, is able to provide adequate responses in scenarios that approximate the operation of MAVs.

The aircraft orientation observer can be used for both pitch and roll angles. However, for simultaneousyaw angle estimation the proposed design method requires further research. The model analysis considers a wind speed range of 6-18 m/s, with a nominal operation of 12 m/s. The maximum experimentally tested reference for the pitch angle controller was 20°. Further operating conditions may require more complex control approaches (e.g. scheduling, non-linear, etc.). However, this operating range is enough for typical MAV missions.

The study shows the design of an effective pitch angle observer, based on a simple experimental approach, which achieved locally optimum estimates at the test conditions. Additionally, the instrumentation and design of a test bench for typical pitch control assessment in wind tunnel facilities is presented. Finally, the study presents the development of a simple controller that provides adequate responses in scenarios that approximate the operation of MAVs, including perturbations that resemble package delivery and parametric uncertainty due to wind speed variations.

The purpose of this paper is to present the synthesis of a robust controller for autonomous small‐scale helicopter hovering control using extended H_∞ loop shaping design techniques.

This work presents the development of a robust controller for smooth hovering operation required for many autonomous helicopter operations using H_∞ loop shaping technique incorporating the Vinnicombe‐gap (v‐gap) metric for validation of robustness to uncertainties due to parameter variation in the system model. Simulation study was conducted to evaluate the performance of the designed controller for robust stability to uncertainty, disturbance rejection, and time‐domain response in line with ADS‐33E level 1 requirements.

The proposed techniques for a robust controller exhibit an effective performance for both nominal plant and 20 percent variation in the nominal parameters in terms of robustness to uncertainty, disturbance wind gust attenuation up to 95 percent, and transient performance in compliance with ADS‐33E level 1 specifications.

The controller is limited to hovering and low‐speed flight envelope.

This is expected to provide efficient hovering/low‐speed autonomous helicopter flight control required in many civilian unmanned aerial vehicles applications. Also, the technique can be used to simplify the number of robust gain‐scheduled linear controllers required for wide‐envelope flight.

The research will facilitate the deployment of low cost, small‐scale autonomous helicopters in various civilian applications.

The research addresses the challenges of parametric variation inherent in helicopter hovering/low‐speed control using an extended H_∞ loop shaping technique with v‐gap metric.

The purpose of this paper is to design a discrete indirect adaptive fuzzy controller for a robotic manipulator. This paper addresses how to overcome the approximation error of the fuzzy system and uncertainties for asymptotic tracking control of robotic manipulators. The uncertainties include parametric uncertainty, un-modeled dynamics, discretization error and external disturbances.

The proposed controller is model-free and voltage-based in the form of discrete-time Mamdani fuzzy controller. The parameters of fuzzy controller are adaptively tuned for asymptotic tracking of a desired trajectory. A robust control term is used to compensate the approximation error of the fuzzy system. An adaptive mechanism is derived based on the stability analysis.

The proposed model-free discrete control is robust against all uncertainties associated with the robot manipulator and actuators. The approximation error of the fuzzy system is well compensated to achieve asymptotic tracking of the desired trajectories. Stability analysis and simulation results show its efficiency in the tracking control.

A novel discrete indirect adaptive fuzzy controller is designed for electrically driven robot manipulators using the voltage control strategy. The novelty of this paper is compensating the approximation error of the fuzzy system and discretizing error for asymptotic tracking of the desired trajectory.

The insurance industry, in general, accepts large risks due to the combined severity and frequency of catastrophic events; further, these risks are poorly defined given the small amount of data available for extreme events. It is important for the equitable transfer of risk to understand and quantify this risk as accurately as possible. As this risk is propagated to the capital markets, more and more parties will be exposed. An important part of pricing insurance‐linked securities (ILS) is quantifying the uncertainties existing in the physical parameters of the catastrophe models, including both the hazard and damage models. Given the amount of reliable data (1945 till present) on important storm parameters such as central pressure drop, radius to maximum winds, and non‐stationarity of the occurrence rate, moments estimated for these parameters are not highly reliable and knowledge uncertainty must be considered. Also, the engineering damage model for a given class of building in a large portfolio is subject to uncertainty associated with the quality of the buildings. A sample portfolio is used to demonstrate the impact of these knowledge uncertainties. Uncertainties associated with variability of statistics on central pressure drop, occurrence rate, and building quality were estimated and later propagated through a tropical cyclone catastrophe model to quantify the uncertainty of PML results. Finally their effect on the pricing of a typical insurance‐linked security (ILS) was estimated. Statistics of spread over LIBOR given different bond ratings/probability of attachment are presented using a pricing model (Lane [2000]). For a typical ILS, a relatively large coefficient of variation for both probability of attachment and spread over LIBOR was observed. This in turn leads to a rather large price uncertainty for a typical layer and may explain why rational investors expect a higher return for assuming catastrophe risk. The results hold independent of pricing model used. The objective of this study is to quantify this uncertainty for a simple call option and demonstrate its effect on pricing.

The uncertainty and nonlinearity are the challenging problems for the control of a nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot. To overcome these problems, many valuable methods have been proposed by using two control loops namely the kinematic control and the torque control so far. In majority of the proposed approaches the dynamics of actuators is omitted for simplicity in the control design. This drawback degrades the control performance in high-velocity tracking control. On the other hand, to guarantee stability and overcome uncertainties, the control methods become computationally extensive and may be impractical due to using all states. The purpose of this paper is to design a simple controller with guaranteed stability for overcoming the nonlinearity, uncertainty and actuator dynamics.

The control design includes two control loops, the kinematic control loop and the novel dynamic control loop. The dynamic control loop uses the voltage control strategy instead of the torque control strategy. Feedbacks of the robot orientation, robot position, robot linear and angular velocity, and motor currents are given to the control system.

To improve the precision, the dynamics of motors are taken into account. The most important advantages of the proposed control law is that it is free from the robot dynamics, thereby the controller is simple, fast response and robust with ignorable tracking error. The control approach is verified by stability analysis. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed control applied on an uncertain nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot driven by permanent magnet dc motors. A comparison with an adaptive sliding-mode dynamic control approach confirms the superiority of the proposed approach in terms of precision, simplicity of design and computations.

The originality of the paper is to present a new control design for an uncertain nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot by using voltage control strategy in replace of the torque control strategy. In addition, a novel state-space model of electrically driven nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot in the workspace is presented.