to data reduction of the European astrometric mission Hipparcos. Technological studies in view of scientific and drag-free space missions, like Gaia and GOCE provided the opportunity of applying Embedded Model Control to drag-free satellites and to electrooptics. He contributed to the conception, design and implementation of the Nanobalance interferometric thrust-stand, capable of sub-micronewton accuracy. Presently he is involved in the design of the orbit, formation and attitude control of the Next Generation Gravity Missions of the European Space Agency. His research interests cover all the entire field of control problems that are challenging because of complexity, uncertainty and precision.
The key signal of the Embedded Model Control (EMC) is the model error, measured minus model output, which is used by Internal Model Control and in a more efficient way by Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC). EMC extends ADRC along four lines: a generic disturbance dynamics, design of the noise layout (where uncertainty enters the model), dynamic uncertainty estimation, a design degree of freedom similar to Youla parameterization. The latter freedom is shown to favor separation between control and estimation under uncertainty, a principle hidden in ADRC. As a result, control law can be practically designed model-based, only limited by command saturation. The main theorems are developed in some detail starting from two model classes (design and embedded model), that are essential to define uncertainty. The paper extends part of previous results from SISO to MIMO systems, but some theorems and the free feedback dynamics are original. Theory is accompanied by a study case.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.