Recursive scaling design for robust global nonlinear stabilization via output feedback

This paper proposes a novel approach to robust backstepping for global stabilization of uncertain nonlinear systems via output feedback. The design procedure developed in this paper is based on the concept of state-dependent scaling, which handles output-feedback stabilization problems of strict-feedback systems with various structures of uncertainties in a uni"ed way. The proposed method is suitable for numerical computation. The theory of the method employs the Schur complements formula instead of Young's inequality and completing the squares. This paper shows a condition of allowable uncertainty size under which an uncertain system is globally stabilized by output feedback. A class of systems is shown to be always globally stabilizable for arbitrarily large nonlinear size of uncertainties. A recursive procedure of robust observer design for such a class of uncertain systems is presented. Copyright ( 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.