Robust Tube-based Model Predictive Control for Time-constrained Robot Navigation

Abstract: This paper deals with the problem of time-constrained navigation of a robot modeled by uncertain nonlinear non-affine dynamics in a bounded workspace of $\mathbb{R}^n$. Initially, we provide a novel class of robust feedback controllers that drive the robot between Regions of Interest (RoI) of the workspace. The control laws consists of two parts: an on-line controller which is the outcome of a Finite Horizon Optimal Control Problem (FHOCP); and a backstepping feedback law which is tuned off-line and guarantees that the real trajectory always remains in a bounded hyper-tube centered along the nominal trajectory of the robot. The proposed controller falls within the so-called tube-based Nonlinear Model Predictive control (NMPC) methodology. Then, given a desired high-level specification for the robot in Metric Interval Temporal Logic (MITL), by utilizing the aforementioned controllers, a framework that provably guarantees the satisfaction of the formula is provided. The proposed framework can handle the rich expressiveness of MITL in both safety and reachability specifications. Finally, the proposed framework is validated by numerical simulations.