Robust H_∞ nonlinear control via measurement feedback

This paper deals with the problem of finite-time-horizon robust H_∞ control via measurement feedback, for affine nonlinear systems with nonlinear time-varying parameter uncertainty. The problem addressed is the design of a control law, which processes the measured output and guarantees a prescribed level of closed-loop disturbance attenuation. Conditions for the existence of such a controller are obtained by solving an auxiliary control problem for a related system which is obtained from the original one by converting the parameter uncertainty into exogenous bounded energy signals. This approach allows us to apply the recently developed H_∞ nonlinear control techniques to solve the robust control problem. The problem is investigated in both the continuous- and discrete-time cases. The results are demonstrated by a simple example.