Issues, progress and new results in robust adaptive control

We overview recent progress in the field of robust adaptive control with special emphasis on methodologies that use multiple-model architectures. We argue that the selection of the number of models, estimators and compensators in such architectures must be based on a precise definition of the robust performance requirements. We illustrate some of the concepts and outstanding issues by presenting a new methodology that blends robust non-adaptive mixed µ-synthesis designs and stochastic hypothesis-testing concepts leading to the so-called robust multiple model adaptive control (RMMAC) architecture. A numerical example is used to illustrate the RMMAC design methodology, as well as its strengths and potential shortcomings. The later motivated us to develop a variant architecture, denoted as RMMAC/XI, that can be effectively used in highly uncertain exogenous plant disturbance environments. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.