LMI-Based Robust Stabilization of a Class of Input-Constrained Uncertain Nonlinear Systems with Application to a Helicopter Model

This paper is concerned with the robust stabilization of a class of continuous-time nonlinear systems, with an application to the pitch dynamics of a simple helicopter model, via an affine state-feedback control law using the linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach. The nonlinear dynamics is subject to norm-bounded parametric uncertainties and disturbances. In addition, the problem of actuator nonlinearity is addressed by considering the saturation effect of the control law. We demonstrate first that the synthesis problem of the saturated controller is expressed in terms of bilinear matrix inequalities (BMIs). Thanks to the Schur complement lemma and the matrix inversion lemma, we convert these BMIs into LMIs allowing the simultaneous computation of the two gains of the affine controller. Furthermore, we address in this work the estimation problem of the domain of attraction using the invariant set concept. This is solved by computing the largest attractive invariant ellipsoid. Compared with previous works, the research procedure of such ellipsoidal set is achieved in a single step with a reduced number of LMI constraints and then with less conservative conditions. A portfolio of numerical results is presented. The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed saturated controller in the stabilization of the adopted helicopter pitch model toward parametric uncertainties and disturbances are illustrated through simulation results.