Model-based event-triggered control of nonlinear dissipative systems

The Model-Based Networked Control System (MB-NCS) framework can be used to improve performance in applications where communication rates are limited. This framework has been studied for linear systems with state feedback, but little has been done for the nonlinear case or for the output feedback case. This paper approaches the problem of networking discrete-time nonlinear systems in the MB-NCS framework by using dissipativity theory and output feedback measurements. By combining the MB-NCS approach and aperiodic event-triggered updates, the NCS may operate open loop for long time intervals. Additionally, this paper considers model uncertainties and non-vanishing input disturbances as these factors can be destabilizing in the absence of continuous feedback. While these issues can be mitigated, traditional notions of stability are simply not achievable. The main contribution of this paper is a boundedness result on the system output with a constructive bound. The bound is guaranteed despite the presence of aperiodic updates, model uncertainties, and input disturbances.