OCOct 4, 2022
Learning-based Design of Luenberger Observers for Autonomous Nonlinear SystemsMuhammad Umar B. Niazi, John Cao, Xudong Sun et al.
Designing Luenberger observers for nonlinear systems involves the challenging task of transforming the state to an alternate coordinate system, possibly of higher dimensions, where the system is asymptotically stable and linear up to output injection. The observer then estimates the system's state in the original coordinates by inverting the transformation map. However, finding a suitable injective transformation whose inverse can be derived remains a primary challenge for general nonlinear systems. We propose a novel approach that uses supervised physics-informed neural networks to approximate both the transformation and its inverse. Our method exhibits superior generalization capabilities to contemporary methods and demonstrates robustness to both neural network's approximation errors and system uncertainties.
SYMar 29, 2023
Learning Flow Functions from Data with Applications to Nonlinear OscillatorsMiguel Aguiar, Amritam Das, Karl H. Johansson
We describe a recurrent neural network (RNN) based architecture to learn the flow function of a causal, time-invariant and continuous-time control system from trajectory data. By restricting the class of control inputs to piecewise constant functions, we show that learning the flow function is equivalent to learning the input-to-state map of a discrete-time dynamical system. This motivates the use of an RNN together with encoder and decoder networks which map the state of the system to the hidden state of the RNN and back. We show that the proposed architecture is able to approximate the flow function by exploiting the system's causality and time-invariance. The output of the learned flow function model can be queried at any time instant. We experimentally validate the proposed method using models of the Van der Pol and FitzHugh Nagumo oscillators. In both cases, the results demonstrate that the architecture is able to closely reproduce the trajectories of these two systems. For the Van der Pol oscillator, we further show that the trained model generalises to the system's response with a prolonged prediction time horizon as well as control inputs outside the training distribution. For the FitzHugh-Nagumo oscillator, we show that the model accurately captures the input-dependent phenomena of excitability.
6.6SYApr 14Code
Data-driven Learning of LPV Surrogate Models of Fuel SloshingE. Javier Olucha, Valentin Preda, Amritam Das et al.
This paper aims to enhance the efficiency of validation and verification campaigns involving fuel sloshing phenomena. Our first contribution is the development of an open-source, high-fidelity and computationally efficient two-dimensional smoothed-particle hydrodynamics-based fuel sloshing simulator that reproduces the dynamics of a spacecraft with a partially filled tank with liquid propellant. Implemented in Python using Jax, the simulator leverages GPU parallelization and supports automatic differentiation, enabling rapid generation of simulation data and system linearizations for general surrogate modelling purposes. Our second contribution is the demonstration of a practical methodology for constructing surrogate models of fuel sloshing from input--output data generated by the simulator, targeting rapid simulation and model-based control applications. The surrogate model employs a Linear Parameter-Varying (LPV) state-space structure with affine dependence on the scheduling variables, providing an accurate yet computationally efficient approximation of the sloshing dynamics. The capabilities of the proposed approach are demonstrated through closed-loop simulations of a rigid spacecraft with a partially filled fuel tank for two manoeuvre profiles under zero-gravity conditions. The identified surrogate enables simulations that are two orders of magnitude faster than the high-fidelity model.
13.6SYMar 25
A Digital Twin of Evaporative Thermo-Fluidic Process in Fixation Unit of DoD Inkjet PrintersSamarth Toolhally, Joeri Roelofs, Siep Weiland et al.
In inkjet printing, optimal paper moisture is crucial for print quality, achieved through hot-air impingement in the fixation unit. This paper presents a modular digital twin of the fixation unit, modeling the thermo-fluidic drying process and monitoring its spatio-temporal performance. The novel approach formulates the digital twin as an infinite-dimensional state estimator that infers fixation states from limited sensor data, while remaining robust to disturbances. Modularity is achieved through a graph-theoretic model, where each node represents thermo-fluidic dynamics in different sections of the fixation unit. Evaporation is modeled as a nonlinear boundary effect coupled with node dynamics via Linear Fractional Representation. Using the Partial Integral Equation (PIE) framework, we develop a unified approach for stability, input-output analysis, simulation, and rapid prototyping, validated with operational data from a commercial printer. An $\mathcal{H}_{\infty}$-optimal Luenberger state estimator is then synthesized to estimate thermal states from available sensor data, enabling real-time monitoring of spatio-temporal thermal effects on paper sheets.
15.8LGMar 18
RHYME-XT: A Neural Operator for Spatiotemporal Control SystemsMarijn Ruiter, Miguel Aguiar, Jake Rap et al.
We propose RHYME-XT, an operator-learning framework for surrogate modeling of spatiotemporal control systems governed by input-affine nonlinear partial integro-differential equations (PIDEs) with localized rhythmic behavior. RHYME-XT uses a Galerkin projection to approximate the infinite-dimensional PIDE on a learned finite-dimensional subspace with spatial basis functions parameterized by a neural network. This yields a projected system of ODEs driven by projected inputs. Instead of integrating this non-autonomous system, we directly learn its flow map using an architecture for learning flow functions, avoiding costly computations while obtaining a continuous-time and discretization-invariant representation. Experiments on a neural field PIDE show that RHYME-XT outperforms a state-of-the-art neural operator and is able to transfer knowledge effectively across models trained on different datasets, through a fine-tuning process.
35.7SYApr 17
Analysis of Non-Square Nonlinear MIMO Systems using Scaled Relative GraphsJulius P. J. Krebbekx, Roland Tóth, Amritam Das
Scaled Relative Graphs (SRGs) provide a novel graphical frequency-domain method for the analysis of nonlinear systems. There have been recent efforts to generalize SRG analysis to Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems. However, these attempts yielded only results for square systems, due to the inherent Hilbert space structure of the SRG. In this paper, we develop an SRG analysis method that accommodates non-square operators. The key element is the embedding of operators to a space of operators acting on a common Hilbert space, while restricting the input space to the original input dimension, to avoid conservatism. We generalize SRG interconnection rules to restricted input spaces and develop stability theorems to guarantee causality, well-posedness and (incremental) $L_2$-gain bounds for the overall interconnection. We show utilization of the proposed theoretical concepts on the analysis of nonlinear systems in a Linear Fractional Representation (LFR) form, which is a rather general class of systems, and the LFR is directly utilizable for control. Moreover, we provide formulas for the computation of MIMO SRGs of stable LTI operators and diagonal and non-square static nonlinear operators. Finally, we demonstrate the advantages of our embedding approach on several examples.
LGMar 18, 2025
ON-Traffic: An Operator Learning Framework for Online Traffic Flow Estimation and Uncertainty Quantification from Lagrangian SensorsJake Rap, Amritam Das
Accurate traffic flow estimation and prediction are critical for the efficient management of transportation systems, particularly under increasing urbanization. Traditional methods relying on static sensors often suffer from limited spatial coverage, while probe vehicles provide richer, albeit sparse and irregular data. This work introduces ON-Traffic, a novel deep operator Network and a receding horizon learning-based framework tailored for online estimation of spatio-temporal traffic state along with quantified uncertainty by using measurements from moving probe vehicles and downstream boundary inputs. Our framework is evaluated in both numerical and simulation datasets, showcasing its ability to handle irregular, sparse input data, adapt to time-shifted scenarios, and provide well-calibrated uncertainty estimates. The results demonstrate that the model captures complex traffic phenomena, including shockwaves and congestion propagation, while maintaining robustness to noise and sensor dropout. These advancements present a significant step toward online, adaptive traffic management systems.
43.1SYMar 31
Learning Surrogate LPV State-Space Models with Uncertainty QuantificationE. Javier Olucha, Valentin Preda, Amritam Das et al.
The Linear Parameter-Varying (LPV) framework enables the construction of surrogate models of complex nonlinear and high-dimensional systems, facilitating efficient stability and performance analysis together with controller design. Despite significant advances in data-driven LPV modelling, existing approaches do not quantify the uncertainty of the obtained LPV models. Consequently, assessing model reliability for analysis and control or detecting operation outside the training regime requires extensive validation and user expertise. This paper proposes a Bayesian approach for the joint estimation of LPV state-space models together with their scheduling, providing a characterization of model uncertainty and confidence bounds on the predicted model response directly from input-output data. Both aleatoric uncertainty due to measurement noise and epistemic uncertainty arising from limited training data and structural bias are considered. The resulting model preserves the LPV structure required for controller synthesis while enabling computationally efficient simulation and uncertainty propagation. The approach is demonstrated on the surrogate modelling of a two-dimensional nonlinear interconnection of mass-spring-damper systems.