This dissertation focuses on the frequency response analysis and design of Linear Time- Invariant systems (LTI) reset feedback control systems for precision motion applications. In the precision motion industry, there is a growing demand for control systems that deliver higher positioning resolution, faster response, and enhanced stability. However, inherent limitations in linear controllers, such as the “waterbed effect” and the Bode phase gain trade-off, limit their performance, posing challenges in meeting these evolving requirements.

Reset feedback control has emerged as an effective solution to address the limitations of linear control systems in precision motion applications. The practical implementation of control strategies relies on reliable analysis methods. Among these, frequency response analysis stands out as an effective and widely utilized method across industries. However, existing frequency response analysis methods for both open-loop and closed-loop reset control systems face challenges, including accuracy limitations and restrictions to specific control system structures. The first category of contributions in this dissertation addresses these challenges by introducing frequency response analysis methods for open-loop and closed-loop Single-Input and Single-Output (SISO) LTI reset control systems within a generalized control system structure. Moreover, to further realize the potential of reset control, the second category of contributions focuses on proposing novel reset control designs to enhance system performance. The content is organized into nine chapters…

Reset control enhances the performance of high-precision mechatronics systems. This paper introduces a generalized reset feedback control structure that integrates a single reset-state reset controller, a shaping filter for tuning reset actions, and linear compensators arranged in series and parallel configurations with the reset controller. This structure offers greater tuning flexibility to optimize reset control performance. However, frequency-domain analysis for such systems remains underdeveloped. To address this gap, this study makes three key contributions: (1) developing Higher-Order Sinusoidal Input Describing Functions (HOSIDFs) for open-loop reset control systems; (2) deriving HOSIDFs for closed-loop reset control systems and establishing a connection with open-loop analysis; and (3) creating a MATLAB-based App to implement these methods, providing mechatronics engineers with a practical tool for reset control system design and analysis. The accuracy of the proposed methods is validated through simulations and experiments. Finally, the utility of the proposed methods is demonstrated through case studies that analyze and compare the performance of three controllers: a PID controller, a reset controller, and a shaped reset controller on a precision motion stage. Both analytical and experimental results demonstrate that the shaped reset controller provides higher tracking precision while reducing actuation forces, outperforming both the reset and PID controllers. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the proposed frequency-domain methods in analyzing and optimizing the performance of reset-controlled mechatronics systems.

This study presents a shaped reset feedback control strategy to enhance the performance of precision motion systems. The approach utilizes a phase-lead compensator as a shaping filter to tune the phase of reset instants, thereby shaping the nonlinearity in the first-order reset control. The design achieves either an increased phase margin while maintaining gain properties or improved gain without sacrificing phase margin, compared to reset control without the shaping filter. Then, frequency-domain design procedures are provided for both Clegg Integrator (CI)-based and First-Order Reset Element (FORE)-based reset control systems. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed strategy is demonstrated through two experimental case studies on a precision motion stage. In the first case, the shaped reset control leverages phase-lead benefits to achieve zero overshoot in the transient response. In the second case, the shaped reset control strategy enhances the gain advantages of the previous reset element, resulting in improved steady-state performance, including better tracking precision and disturbance rejection, while reducing overshoot for an improved transient response.

This work proposes a novel nonlinear Proportional-Integral (PI) controller, which utilizes a generalized first-order reset element. The proposed element can achieve similar magnitude-characteristics as its linear counterpart but with less phase lag at the open-loop crossover frequency (i.e. the control bandwidth), according to a sinusoidal-input describing function (SIDF) analysis. The same can be achieved with an existing reset-based integrator, the Clegg integrator (CI). However, it is known that a Proportional-CI (PCI) element can excessively generate higher-order harmonics of its input, which are neglected in the SIDF-analysis. Furthermore, a PCI can cause a limit cycle when placed in closed-loop with certain types of plants. The novel PI controller proposed in this work can prevent the limit cycle and can reduce the generation of higher-order harmonics, while retaining the beneficial phase advantage that is associated with existing reset-based PI controllers.

Reset controllers have demonstrated their effectiveness in enhancing performance in precision motion systems. To further exploiting the potential of reset controllers, this study introduces a parallel-partial reset control structure. Frequency response analysis is effective for the design and fine-tuning of controllers in industries. However, conducting frequency response analysis for reset control systems poses challenges due to their nonlinearities. We develop frequency response analysis methods for both the open-loop and closed-loop parallel-partial reset systems. Simulation results validate the accuracy of the analysis methods, showcasing precision enhancements exceeding 100% compared to the traditional describing function method. Furthermore, we design a parallel-partial reset controller within the Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control structure for a mass-spring-damper system. The frequency response analysis of the designed system indicates that, while maintaining the same bandwidth and phase margin of the first-order harmonics, the new system exhibits lower magnitudes of higher-order harmonics, compared to the traditional reset system. Moreover, simulation results demonstrate that the new system achieves lower overshoot and quicker settling time compared to both the traditional reset and linear systems.

Current reset elements mainly rely on the traditional zero-crossing resetting mechanism. This study introduces a reset element with a new resetting mechanism that distributes multiple resets within a single period for reset controllers with sinusoidal reference inputs. This new control element is termed "Fixed-Phase Reset Control (FPRC)". A higher-order sinusoidal input describing function is developed to analyze the frequency-domain properties of the new controller. The accuracy of this frequency-domain analytical approach is validated through simulations on three systems. Through the analysis, the new FPRC demonstrates phase lead compared to zero-crossing reset control, but it introduces nonlinearities at low frequencies.

The frequency response analysis describes the steady-state responses of a system to sinusoidal inputs at different frequencies, providing control engineers with an effective tool for designing control systems in the frequency domain. However, conducting this analysis for closed-loop reset systems is challenging due to system nonlinearity. This paper addresses this challenge through two key contributions. First, it introduces novel analysis methods for both open-loop and closed-loop reset control systems at steady states. These methods decompose the frequency responses of reset systems into base-linear and nonlinear components. Second, building upon this analysis, the paper develops closed-loop higher-order sinusoidal-input describing functions for reset control systems at steady states. These functions facilitate the analysis of frequency-domain properties, establish a connection between open-loop and closed-loop analysis. The accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed methods are successfully validated through simulations and experiments conducted on a reset Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID) controlled precision motion system.

The frequency response describes the steady-state behavior of a control system to sinusoidal inputs across varying frequencies and serves as an effective tool for system design. In closed-loop reset control systems, frequency response analysis reveals two distinct scenarios: systems with two reset instants per steady-state cycle and systems with multiple (more than two) reset instants per cycle. Existing frequency response analyses often assume only two reset instants, which can result in inaccuracies for systems with multiple resets. Additionally, multiple resets can generate high-magnitude higher-order harmonics, which may result in system performance degradation. This study introduces a novel method to identify conditions where only two reset instants occur in closed-loop reset systems. This method allows designers to avoid multiple-reset actions during the system design phase. By ensuring the system operates with only two resets per cycle, this method enhances the accuracy of frequency response analyses that assume this condition. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through simulations and experimental tests on a precision motion system.

Reset controllers have demonstrated their efficacy in enhancing transient responses, such as the overshoot and response time in motion control systems. Designing these systems to meet specific transient requirements requires a method for analyzing transient responses. However, the inherent nonlinearity of reset control systems presents challenges in this regard, limiting their widespread application. This study introduces a novel method for analyzing the step responses of closed-loop reset control systems. By decomposing the step response of the reset system into piece-wise functions, with each piece-wise function computed based on linear systems, this analysis method offers new insights into understanding reset systems. Experimental validation conducted on eleven reset Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control systems implemented on a precision motion stage confirms the effectiveness of the proposed method. The experimental results also underscore the applicability of the method as a tool for selecting optimized parameters and reset control structures to achieve enhanced transient responses.

Reset control systems have possessed the potential to meet the demands of machines, such as faster response times, improved disturbance rejection and enhanced tracking performance. However, prior research on the analysis and design of reset controllers has been restricted to the assumption of two resets per period, neglecting multiple-reset scenarios. In light of this, we focus on the frequency-domain analysis of Infinite-reset Control Systems, which serve as the limit case of multiple-reset control systems, and propose a new model for their analysis. Through this model, the sensitivity functions of Infinite-reset Control Systems are characterised, linking their frequency-domain and time-domain behaviour. The effectiveness of the infinite-reset system is evaluated through simulation of a reset control system case. The results reveal that the infinitereset system demonstrates improved accuracy in prediction in multiple-reset systems compared to the previous analysis methods. Furthermore, this study provides a deeper understanding of the reset systems.

In this paper, we introduce a new representation for open-loop reset systems. We show that at steady-state a reset integrator can be modelled as a parallel interconnection of the base-linear system and piece-wise constant nonlinearity. For sinusoidal input signals, this nonlinearity takes a form of a square wave. Subsequently, we show how the behaviour of a general open-loop reset system is related to the nonlinearity of a reset integrator. The proposed approach simplifies the analysis of reset elements in the frequency domain and provides new insights into the behaviour of reset control systems.