Observer-Based Path Tracking Controller Design for Autonomous Ground Vehicles With Input Saturation

This paper investigates the problem of path tracking control for autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs), where the input saturation, system nonlinearities and uncertainties are considered. Firstly, the nonlinear path tracking system is formulated as a linear parameter varying (LPV) model where the variation of vehicle velocity is taken into account. Secondly, considering the noise effects on the measurement of lateral offset and heading angle, an observer-based control strategy is proposed, and by analyzing the frequency domain characteristics of the derivative of desired heading angle, a finite frequency H-infinity index is proposed to attenuate the effects of the derivative of desired heading angle on path tracking error. Thirdly, sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee robust H-infinity performance of the path tracking system, and the calculation of observer and controller gains is converted into solving a convex optimization problem. Finally, simulation examples verify the advantages of the control method proposed in this paper.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the problem of path tracking control for Autonomous Ground Vehicles (AGVs), considering input saturation, system nonlinearities, and uncertainties. Firstly, a linear parameter varying (LPV) model is formulated for the nonlinear path tracking system, taking into account the variation of vehicle velocity. Secondly, an observer-based control strategy is proposed to mitigate the effects of noise on lateral offset and heading angle measurements, using a finite frequency H-infinity index to tackle the derivative of desired heading angle's impact on path tracking error. Thirdly, sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee robust H-infinity performance of the path tracking system, with the calculation of observer and controller gains converted into a convex optimization problem. Finally, simulation examples verify the advantages of the proposed control method in this study.