Predictive Control for Time-Delayed Switching Control Systems

A methodology is proposed for the control of switching systems characterized by linear system dynamics with a time delay in the input channel. The method incorporates a state predictor that at each switching period determines the effect that the next control input will have on the future output of the system, and chooses the input that will take the system closest to the desired future state. The resulting control action is sub-optimal, but is computationally tractable and shown to provide a bounded tracking error for stable plants. The proposed predictive control methodology is demonstrated on a hot gas pressurization system that tracks a desired pressure trajectory via an on/off solenoid valve.