Control design and analysis for autonomous underwater vehicles using integral quadratic constraints

This paper addresses the design and analysis of path-following controllers for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) using a robustness analysis framework based on integral quadratic constraints (IQCs). The AUV is modeled as a linear fractional transformation (LFT) on uncertainties and is affected by exogenous inputs such as measurement noise and ocean currents. The proposed approach leverages a learning-based method to approximate the nonlinear hydrodynamic model with a linear parameter-varying one. Additionally, modeling uncertainties are incorporated into the other subsystem models of the AUV to capture the discrepancies between the outputs of the postulated mathematical abstractions and the experimental data. The resulting uncertain LFT system adequately captures the AUV behavior within a desired envelope. Ocean current disturbances are treated as uncertainties within the LFT system and properly characterized to reduce conservatism. The robust performance level, obtained from IQC analysis, serves as a qualitative measure of a controller’s performance, and is utilized in guiding the controller design process. The proposed approach is employed to design $H_{\infty }$ and $H_2$ controllers for the AUV. A comprehensive IQC-based analysis is subsequently conducted to demonstrate the robustness of the designed controllers to modeling uncertainties and disturbances. To validate the analysis results, extensive nonlinear simulations and underwater experiments are performed. The outcomes showcase the efficacy and reliability of the proposed approach in achieving robust control for the AUV.