Reachable Set Estimation and Control of Systems with Switching Dynamics

Abstract

Systems governed by switching dynamics—characterized by discrete transitions between operational modes—provide a powerful modelling paradigm for a wide range of practical applications. These include power converters under periodically switching, robotic systems with adaptive control, and communication networks with varying topologies. While existing research on these systems has extensively addressed stability and robust disturbance-attenuation performance, the transient reachability crucial for safety verification remains under-explored. My research addresses this gap by developing novel methods for reachable set estimation and control, effectively evaluating and confining system evolution under switching dynamics. This work encompasses both single systems and multi-agent systems under various switching schemes, including periodic and other dwell-time switching dynamics. The ultimate goal is to endow complex switched dynamic systems with greater robustness and safety, thereby improving their reliability in applications like complex industrial process control and multi-agent coordination.

Speaker

Dr Chenchen Fan received her Bachelor of Engineering in Automation and Master of Engineering in Control Science and Engineering from the Harbin Institute of Technology, China, in 2014 and 2016, respectively, and her PhD in control engineering from the University of Hong Kong in 2021. She is currently a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Previously, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hong Kong. Her research interests include robust control and filtering, reachable set estimation and control, switched systems, multi-agent systems, and safe control of robotics. Dr Fan was awarded the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) in 2016.