This paper first offers a transversal view through microfluidics theory and applications, starting from a brief overview on microfluidic systems and related theoretical issues, covering different kinds of phenomena, from continuous to multiphase flow. Multidimensional models, from lumped parameters to numerical models and computational solutions, are then considered as preliminary tools for the characterization of spatio-temporal dynamics in microfluidic flows. Following these, experimental approaches through original monitoring opto-electronic interfaces and systems are discussed. Finally, a vision of two phase microfluidic phenomena is given through nonlinear analyses applied to experimental time series.

Reinforcement Learning and Adaptive Dynamic Programming for Feedback Control

This brief addresses the fixed-time event/self-triggered leader–follower consensus problems for networked multi-agent systems subject to nonlinear dynamics. First, we present an event-triggered control strategy to achieve the fixed-time consensus, and a new measurement error is designed to avoid Zeno behavior. Then, two new self-triggered control strategies are presented to avoid continuous triggering condition monitoring. Moreover, under the proposed self-triggered control strategies, a strictly positive minimal triggering interval of each follower is given to exclude Zeno behavior. Compared with the existing fixed-time event-triggered results, we propose two new self-triggered control strategies, and the nonlinear term is more general. Finally, the performances of the consensus tracking algorithms are illustrated by a simulation example.

Fixed-Time Leader–Follower Consensus of Networked Nonlinear Systems via Event/Self-Triggered Control

Fixed-time consensus of multi-agent systems with input delay and uncertain disturbances via event-triggered control

Appointed-time prescribed performance attitude tracking control via double performance functions

This paper presents a novel control protocol for robust distance-based formation control with prescribed performance in which agents are subjected to unknown external disturbances. Connectivity maintenance and collision avoidance among neighboring agents are also handled by the appropriate design of certain performance bounds that constrain the inter-agent distance errors. As an extension to the proposed scheme, distance-based formation centroid maneuvering is also studied for disturbance-free agents, in which the formation centroid tracks a desired time-varying velocity. The proposed control laws are decentralized, in the sense that each agent employs local relative information regarding its neighbors to calculate its control signal. Therefore, the control scheme is implementable on the agents' local coordinate frames. Using rigid graph theory, input-to-state stability, and Lyapunov based analysis, the results are established for minimally and infinitesimally rigid formations in 2-D or 3-D space. Furthermore, it is argued that the proposed approach increases formation robustness against shape distortions and can prevent formation convergence to incorrect shapes, which is likely to happen in conventional distance-based formation control methods. Finally, extensive simulation studies clarify and verify the proposed approach.

Prescribed Performance Distance-Based Formation Control of Multi-Agent Systems (Extended Version).

This paper investigates a novel leader-following attitude control approach for spacecraft formation under the preassigned two-layer performance with consideration of unknown inertial parameters, external disturbance torque, and unmodeled uncertainty. First, two-layer prescribed performance is preselected for both the attitude angular and angular velocity tracking errors. Subsequently, a distributed two-layer performance controller is devised, which can guarantee that all the involved closed-loop signals are uniformly ultimately bounded. In order to tackle the defect of statically two-layer performance controller, learning-based control strategy is introduced to serve as an adaptive supplementary controller based on adaptive dynamic programming technique. This enhances the adaptiveness of the statically two-layer performance controller with respect to unexpected uncertainty dramatically, without any prior knowledge of the inertial information. Furthermore, by employing the robustly positively invariant theory, the input-to-state stability is rigorously proven under the designed learning-based distributed controller. Finally, two groups of simulation examples are organized to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed distributed control approach.

Guangren Duan

Papers

Learning-Based Adaptive Attitude Control of Spacecraft Formation With Guaranteed Prescribed Performance