Online suboptimal control of linearized models

A novel approach to approximately solving the restricted-control LQR problem online is substantiated and applied in two case-studies. The first example is a one-dimensional system whose exact solution is known. The other one refers to the temperature control of a metallic strip at the exit of a multi-stand rolling mill. The new (online-feedback) strategy employs a convenient version of the gradient method, where partial derivatives of the cost are taken with respect to the final penalization matrix coefficients and to the switching times where the control (de)saturates. The calculations are based on exact algebraic formula, which do not involve trajectory simulations, and so reducing in principle the computational effort associated with receding horizon or nonlinear programming methods. Fil: Costanza, Vicente. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico Para la Industria Química (i); Argentina Fil: Rivadeneira Paz, Pablo Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico Para la Industria Química (i); Argentina