nlmpc

Nonlinear model predictive controller

Description

A nonlinear model predictive controller computes optimal control moves across the prediction horizon using a nonlinear prediction model, a nonlinear cost function, and nonlinear constraints. For more information on nonlinear MPC, see Nonlinear MPC.

Creation

Syntax

nlobj = nlmpc(nx,ny,nu)

nlobj = nlmpc(nx,ny,'MV',mvIndex,'MD',mdIndex)

nlobj = nlmpc(nx,ny,'MV',mvIndex,'UD',udIndex)

nlobj = nlmpc(nx,ny,'MV',mvIndex,'MD',mdIndex,'UD',udIndex)

Description

nlobj = nlmpc(nx,ny,nu) creates an nlmpc object whose prediction model has nx states, ny outputs, and nu inputs, where all inputs are manipulated variables. Use this syntax if your model has no measured or unmeasured disturbance inputs.

nlobj = nlmpc(nx,ny,'MV',mvIndex,'MD',mdIndex) creates an nlmpc object whose prediction model has measured disturbance inputs. Specify the input indices for the manipulated variables, mvIndex, and measured disturbances, mdIndex.

nlobj = nlmpc(nx,ny,'MV',mvIndex,'UD',udIndex) creates an nlmpc object whose prediction model has unmeasured disturbance inputs. Specify the input indices for the manipulated variables and unmeasured disturbances, udIndex.

nlobj = nlmpc(nx,ny,'MV',mvIndex,'MD',mdIndex,'UD',udIndex) creates an nlmpc object whose prediction model has both measured and unmeasured disturbance inputs. Specify the input indices for the manipulated variables, measured disturbances, and unmeasured disturbances.

Input Arguments

nx — Number of prediction model states

positive integer

Number of prediction model states, specified as a positive integer. This value is stored in the Dimensions.NumberOfStates controller read-only property. You cannot change the number of states after creating the controller object.

ny — Number of prediction model outputs

positive integer

Number of prediction model outputs, specified as a positive integer. This value is stored in the Dimensions.NumberOfOutputs controller read-only property. You cannot change the number of outputs after creating the controller object.

nu — Number of prediction model inputs

positive integer

Number of prediction model inputs, which are all set to be manipulated variables, specified as a positive integer. This value is stored in the Dimensions.NumberOfInputs controller read-only property. You cannot change the number of manipulated variables after creating the controller object.

mvIndex — Manipulated variable indices

vector of positive integers

Manipulated variable indices, specified as a vector of positive integers. This value is stored in the Dimensions.MVIndex controller read-only property. You cannot change these indices after creating the controller object.

The combined set of indices from mvIndex, mdIndex, and udIndex must contain all integers from 1 through N_u, where N_u is the number of prediction model inputs.

mdIndex — Measured disturbance indices

vector of positive integers

Measured disturbance indices, specified as a vector of positive integers. This value is stored in the Dimensions.MDIndex controller read-only property. You cannot change these indices after creating the controller object.

The combined set of indices from mvIndex, mdIndex, and udIndex must contain all integers from 1 through N_u, where N_u is the number of prediction model inputs.

udIndex — Unmeasured disturbance indices

vector of positive integers

Unmeasured disturbance indices, specified as a vector of positive integers. This value is stored in the Dimensions.UDIndex controller read-only property. You cannot change these indices after creating the controller object.

The combined set of indices from mvIndex, mdIndex, and udIndex must contain all integers from 1 through N_u, where N_u is the number of prediction model inputs.

Properties

Ts — Prediction model sample time

1 (default) | positive finite scalar

Prediction model sample time, specified as a positive finite scalar. The controller uses a discrete-time model with a sample time of Ts for prediction. If you specify a continuous-time prediction model (Model.IsContinuousTime is true), then the controller discretizes the model using the built-in implicit trapezoidal rule with a sample time of Ts.

PredictionHorizon — Prediction horizon

10 (default) | positive integer

Prediction horizon steps, specified as a positive integer. The product of PredictionHorizon and Ts is the prediction time, that is, how far the controller looks into the future.

ControlHorizon — Control horizon

2 (default) | positive integer | vector of positive integers

Control horizon, specified as one of the following:

• Positive integer, m, between 1 and p, inclusive, where p is equal to PredictionHorizon. In this case, the controller computes m free control moves occurring at times k through k+m–1, and holds the controller output constant for the remaining prediction horizon steps from k+m through k+p–1. Here, k is the current control interval.

• Vector of positive integers [m₁, m₂, …], specifying the lengths of blocking intervals. By default the controller computes M blocks of free moves, where M is the number of blocking intervals. The first free move applies to times k through k+m₁–1, the second free move applies from time k+m₁ through k+m₁+m₂–1, and so on. Using block moves can improve the robustness of your controller. The sum of the values in ControlHorizon must match the prediction horizon p. If you specify a vector whose sum is:

  • Less than the prediction horizon, then the controller adds a blocking interval. The length of this interval is such that the sum of the interval lengths is p. For example, if p=10 and you specify a control horizon of ControlHorizon=[1 2 3], then the controller uses four intervals with lengths [1 2 3 4].

  • Greater than the prediction horizon, then the intervals are truncated until the sum of the interval lengths is equal to p. For example, if p=10 and you specify a control horizon of ControlHorizon= [1 2 3 6 7], then the controller uses four intervals with lengths [1 2 3 4].

Piecewise constant blocking moves are often too restrictive for optimal path planning applications. To produce a less-restrictive, better-conditioned nonlinear programming problem, you can specify piecewise linear manipulated variable blocking intervals. To do so, set the Optimization.MVInterpolationOrder property of your nlmpc controller object to 1.

For more information on how manipulated variable blocking works with different interpolation methods, see Manipulated Variable Blocking.

Dimensions — Prediction model dimensional information

structure

This property is read-only.

Prediction model dimensional information, specified when you create the controller and stored as a structure with the following fields.

NumberOfStates — Number of states

positive integer

Number of states in the prediction model, specified as a positive integer. This value corresponds to nx.

NumberOfOutputs — Number of outputs

positive integer

Number of outputs in the prediction model, specified as a positive integer. This value corresponds to ny.

NumberOfInputs — Number of inputs

positive integer

Number of inputs in the prediction model, specified as a positive integer. This value corresponds to either nu or the sum of the lengths of mvIndex, mdIndex, and udIndex.

MVIndex — Manipulated variable indices

vector of positive integers

Manipulated variable indices for the prediction model, specified as a vector of positive integers. This value corresponds to mvIndex.

MDIndex — Measured disturbance indices

vector of positive integers

Measured disturbance indices for the prediction model, specified as a vector of positive integers. This value corresponds to mdIndex.

UDIndex — Unmeasured disturbance indices

vector of positive integers

Unmeasured disturbance indices for the prediction model, specified as a vector of positive integers. This value corresponds to udIndex.

Model — Prediction model

structure

Prediction model, specified as a structure with the following fields.

StateFcn — State function

string | character vector | function handle

State function, specified as a string, character vector, or function handle. For a continuous-time prediction model, StateFcn is the state derivative function. For a discrete-time prediction model, StateFcn is the state update function.

If your state function is continuous-time, the controller automatically discretizes the model using the implicit trapezoidal rule. This method can handle moderately stiff models, and its prediction accuracy depends on the controller sample time Ts; that is, a large sample time leads to inaccurate prediction.

If the default discretization method does not provide satisfactory prediction for your application, you can specify your own discrete-time prediction model that uses a different method, such as the multistep forward Euler rule.

You can specify your state function in one of the following ways:

• Name of a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB^® path, specified as a string or character vector

  Model.StateFcn = "myStateFunction";

• Handle to a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path

  Model.StateFcn = @myStateFunction;

• Anonymous function

  Model.StateFcn = @(x,u,params) myStateFunction(x,u,params)

For more information, see Specify Prediction Model for Nonlinear MPC.

OutputFcn — Output function

[] (default) | string | character vector | function handle

Output function, specified as a string, character vector, or function handle. If the number of states and outputs of the prediction model are the same, you can omit OutputFcn, which implies that all states are measurable; that is, each output corresponds to one state.

Note

You output function cannot have direct feedthrough from any manipulated variable to any output at any time.

You can specify your output function in one of the following ways:

• Name of a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path, specified as a string or character vector

  Model.OutputFcn = "myOutputFunction";

• Handle to a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path

  Model.OutputFcn = @myOutputFunction;

• Anonymous function

  Model.OutputFcn = @(x,u,params) myOutputFunction(x,u,params)

For more information, see Specify Prediction Model for Nonlinear MPC.

IsContinuousTime — Flag indicating prediction model time domain

true (default) | false

Flag indicating the prediction model time domain, specified as one of the following:

• true — Continuous-time prediction model. In this case, the controller automatically discretizes the model during prediction using Ts.

• false — Discrete-time prediction model. In this case, Ts is the sample time of the model.

Note

IsContinuousTime must be consistent with the functions specified in Model.StateFcn and Model.OutputFcn.

If IsContinuousTime is true, StateFcn must return the derivative of the state with respect to time, at the current time. Otherwise StateFcn must return the state at the next control interval.

NumberOfParameters — Number of optional model parameters

0 (default) | nonnegative integer

Number of optional model parameters used by the prediction model, custom cost function, and custom constraint functions, specified as a nonnegative integer. The number of parameters includes all the parameters used by these functions. For example, if the state function uses only parameter p1, the constraint functions use only parameter p2, and the cost function uses only parameter p3, then NumberOfParameters is 3.

States — State information, bounds, and scale factors

structure array

State information, bounds, and scale factors, specified as a structure array with N_x elements, where N_x is the number of states. Each structure element has the following fields.

Min — State lower bound

-Inf (default) | scalar | vector

State lower bound, specified as a scalar or vector. By default, this lower bound is -Inf.

To use the same bound across the prediction horizon, specify a scalar value.

To vary the bound over the prediction horizon from time k+1 to time k+p, specify a vector of up to p values. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. If you specify fewer than p values, the final bound is used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

State bounds are always hard constraints.

Max — State upper bound

Inf (default) | scalar | vector

State upper bound, specified as a scalar or vector. By default, this upper bound is +Inf.

To use the same bound across the prediction horizon, specify a scalar value.

To vary the bound over the prediction horizon from time k+1 to time k+p, specify a vector of up to p values. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. If you specify fewer than p values, the final bound is used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

State bounds are always hard constraints.

Name — State name

string | character vector

State name, specified as a string or character vector. The default state name is "x#", where # is its state index.

Units — State units

"" (default) | string | character vector

State units, specified as a string or character vector.

ScaleFactor — State scale factor

1 (default) | positive finite scalar

State scale factor, specified as a positive finite scalar. In general, use the operating range of the state. Specifying the proper scale factor can improve numerical conditioning for optimization.

OutputVariables — Output variable information, bounds, and scale factors

structure array

Output variable (OV) information, bounds, and scale factors, specified as a structure array with N_y elements, where N_y is the number of output variables. To access this property, you can use the alias OV instead of OutputVariables.

Each structure element has the following fields.

Min — OV lower bound

-Inf (default) | scalar | vector

OV lower bound, specified as a scalar or vector. By default, this lower bound is -Inf.

To use the same bound across the prediction horizon, specify a scalar value.

To vary the bound over the prediction horizon from time k+1 to time k+p, specify a vector of up to p values. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. If you specify fewer than p values, the final bound is used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

Max — OV upper bound

Inf (default) | scalar | vector

OV upper bound, specified as a scalar or vector. By default, this upper bound is +Inf.

To use the same bound across the prediction horizon, specify a scalar value.

To vary the bound over the prediction horizon from time k+1 to time k+p, specify a vector of up to p values. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. If you specify fewer than p values, the final bound is used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

MinECR — OV lower bound softness

1 (default) | nonnegative finite scalar | vector

OV lower bound softness, where a larger ECR value indicates a softer constraint, specified as a nonnegative finite scalar or vector. By default, OV upper bounds are soft constraints.

To use the same ECR value across the prediction horizon, specify a scalar value.

To vary the ECR value over the prediction horizon from time k+1 to time k+p, specify a vector of up to p values. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. If you specify fewer than p values, the final ECR value is used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

MaxECR — OV upper bound softness

1 (default) | nonnegative finite scalar | vector

OV upper bound softness, where a larger ECR value indicates a softer constraint, specified as a nonnegative finite scalar or vector. By default, OV lower bounds are soft constraints.

To use the same ECR value across the prediction horizon, specify a scalar value.

To vary the ECR value over the prediction horizon from time k+1 to time k+p, specify a vector of up to p values. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. If you specify fewer than p values, the final ECR value is used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

Name — OV name

string | character vector

OV name, specified as a string or character vector. The default OV name is "y#", where # is its output index.

Units — OV units

"" (default) | string | character vector

OV units, specified as a string or character vector.

ScaleFactor — OV scale factor

1 (default) | positive finite scalar

OV scale factor, specified as a positive finite scalar. In general, use the operating range of the output variable. Specifying the proper scale factor can improve numerical conditioning for optimization.

ManipulatedVariables — Manipulated variable information, bounds, and scale factors

structure array

Manipulated Variable (MV) information, bounds, and scale factors, specified as a structure array with N_mv elements, where N_mv is the number of manipulated variables. To access this property, you can use the alias MV instead of ManipulatedVariables.

Each structure element has the following fields.

Min — MV lower bound

-Inf (default) | scalar | vector

MV lower bound, specified as a scalar or vector. By default, this lower bound is -Inf.

To use the same bound across the prediction horizon, specify a scalar value.

To vary the bound over the prediction horizon from time k to time k+p–1, specify a vector of up to p values. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. If you specify fewer than p values, the final bound is used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

Max — MV upper bound

Inf (default) | scalar | vector

MV upper bound, specified as a scalar or vector. By default, this upper bound is +Inf.

To use the same bound across the prediction horizon, specify a scalar value.

To vary the bound over the prediction horizon from time k to time k+p–1, specify a vector of up to p values. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. If you specify fewer than p values, the final bound is used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

MinECR — MV lower bound softness

0 (default) | nonnegative scalar | vector

MV lower bound softness, where a larger ECR value indicates a softer constraint, specified as a nonnegative scalar or vector. By default, MV lower bounds are hard constraints.

To use the same ECR value across the prediction horizon, specify a scalar value.

To vary the ECR value over the prediction horizon from time k to time k+p–1, specify a vector of up to p values. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. If you specify fewer than p values, the final ECR value is used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

MaxECR — MV upper bound

0 (default) | nonnegative scalar | vector

MV upper bound softness, where a larger ECR value indicates a softer constraint, specified as a nonnegative scalar or vector. By default, MV upper bounds are hard constraints.

To use the same ECR value across the prediction horizon, specify a scalar value.

To vary the ECR value over the prediction horizon from time k to time k+p–1, specify a vector of up to p values. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. If you specify fewer than p values, the final ECR value is used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

RateMin — MV rate of change lower bound

-Inf (default) | nonpositive scalar | vector

MV rate of change lower bound, specified as a nonpositive scalar or vector. The MV rate of change is defined as MV(k) - MV(k–1), where k is the current time. By default, this lower bound is -Inf.

To use the same bound across the prediction horizon, specify a scalar value.

To vary the bound over the prediction horizon from time k to time k+p–1, specify a vector of up to p values. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. If you specify fewer than p values, the final bound is used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

RateMax — MV rate of change upper bound

Inf (default) | nonnegative scalar | vector

MV rate of change upper bound, specified as a nonnegative scalar or vector. The MV rate of change is defined as MV(k) - MV(k–1), where k is the current time. By default, this upper bound is +Inf.

To use the same bound across the prediction horizon, specify a scalar value.

To vary the bound over the prediction horizon from time k to time k+p–1, specify a vector of up to p values. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. If you specify fewer than p values, the final bound is used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

RateMinECR — MV rate of change lower bound softness

0 (default) | nonnegative finite scalar | vector

MV rate of change lower bound softness, where a larger ECR value indicates a softer constraint, specified as a nonnegative finite scalar or vector. By default, MV rate of change lower bounds are hard constraints.

To use the same ECR value across the prediction horizon, specify a scalar value.

To vary the ECR values over the prediction horizon from time k to time k+p–1, specify a vector of up to p values. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. If you specify fewer than p values, the final ECR values are used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

RateMaxECR — MV rate of change upper bound softness

0 (default) | nonnegative finite scalar | vector

MV rate of change upper bound softness, where a larger ECR value indicates a softer constraint, specified as a nonnegative finite scalar or vector. By default, MV rate of change upper bounds are hard constraints.

To use the same ECR value across the prediction horizon, specify a scalar value.

To vary the ECR values over the prediction horizon from time k to time k+p–1, specify a vector of up to p values. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. If you specify fewer than p values, the final ECR values are used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

Name — MV name

string | character vector

MV name, specified as a string or character vector. The default MV name is "u#", where # is its input index.

Units — MV units

"" (default) | string | character vector

MV units, specified as a string or character vector.

ScaleFactor — MV scale factor

1 (default) | positive finite scalar

MV scale factor, specified as a positive finite scalar. In general, use the operating range of the manipulated variable. Specifying the proper scale factor can improve numerical conditioning for optimization.

MeasuredDisturbances — Measured disturbance information and scale factors

structure array

Measured disturbance (MD) information and scale factors, specified as a structure array with N_md elements, where N_md is the number of measured disturbances. If your model does not have measured disturbances, then MeasuredDisturbances is []. To access this property, you can use the alias MD instead of MeasuredDisturbances.

Each structure element has the following fields.

Name — MD name

string | character vector

MD name, specified as a string or character vector. The default MD name is "u#", where # is its input index.

Units — MD units

"" (default) | string | character vector

MD units, specified as a string or character vector.

ScaleFactor — MD scale factor

1 (default) | positive finite scalar

MD scale factor, specified as a positive finite scalar. In general, use the operating range of the disturbance. Specifying the proper scale factor can improve numerical conditioning for optimization.

Weights — Standard cost function tuning weights

structure

Standard cost function tuning weights, specified as a structure. The controller applies these weights to the scaled variables. Therefore, the tuning weights are dimensionless values.

Note

If you define a custom cost function using Optimization.CustomCostFcn and set Optimization.ReplaceStandardCost to true, then the controller ignores the standard cost function tuning weights in Weights.

Weights has the following fields.

ManipulatedVariables — Manipulated variable tuning weights

row vector | array

Manipulated variable tuning weights, which penalize deviations from MV targets, specified as a row vector or array of nonnegative values. The default weight for all manipulated variables is 0.

To use the same weights across the prediction horizon, specify a row vector of length N_mv, where N_mv is the number of manipulated variables.

To vary the tuning weights over the prediction horizon from time k to time k+p-1, specify an array with N_mv columns and up to p rows. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. Each row contains the manipulated variable tuning weights for one prediction horizon step. If you specify fewer than p rows, the weights in the final row are used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

To specify MV targets at run time, create an nlmpcmoveopt object, and set its MVTarget property.

ManipulatedVariablesRate — Manipulated variable rate tuning weights

row vector | array

Manipulated variable rate tuning weights, which penalize large changes in control moves, specified as a row vector or array of nonnegative values. The default weight for all manipulated variable rates is 0.1.

To use the same weights across the prediction horizon, specify a row vector of length N_mv, where N_mv is the number of manipulated variables.

To vary the tuning weights over the prediction horizon from time k to time k+p-1, specify an array with N_mv columns and up to p rows. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. Each row contains the manipulated variable rate tuning weights for one prediction horizon step. If you specify fewer than p rows, the weights in the final row are used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

OutputVariables — Output variable tuning weights

vector | array

Output variable tuning weights, which penalize deviation from output references, specified as a row vector or array of nonnegative values. The default weight for all output variables is 1.

To use the same weights across the prediction horizon, specify a row vector of length N_y, where N_y is the number of output variables.

To vary the tuning weights over the prediction horizon from time k+1 to time k+p, specify an array with N_y columns and up to p rows. Here, k is the current time and p is the prediction horizon. Each row contains the output variable tuning weights for one prediction horizon step. If you specify fewer than p rows, the weights in the final row are used for the remaining steps of the prediction horizon.

ECR — Slack variable tuning weight

1e5 (default) | positive scalar

Slack variable tuning weight, specified as a positive scalar.

Optimization — Custom optimization functions and solver

structure

Custom optimization functions and solver, specified as a structure with the following fields.

CustomCostFcn — Custom cost function

[] | string | character vector | function handle

Custom cost function, specified as one of the following:

• Name of a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path, specified as a string or character vector

  Optimization.CustomCostFcn = "myCostFunction";

• Handle to a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path

  Optimization.CustomCostFcn = @myCostFunction;

• Anonymous function

  Optimization.CustomCostFcn = @(X,U,e,data,params) myCostFunction(X,U,e,data,params);

Your cost function must have the signature:

function J = myCostFunction(X,U,e,data,params)

For more information, see Specify Cost Function for Nonlinear MPC.

ReplaceStandardCost — Flag indicating whether to replace the standard cost function

true (default) | false

Flag indicating whether to replace the standard cost function with the custom cost function, specified as one of the following:

• true — The controller uses the custom cost alone as the objective function during optimization. In this case, the Weights property of the controller is ignored.

• false — The controller uses the sum of the standard cost and custom cost as the objective function during optimization.

If you do not specify a custom cost function using CustomCostFcn, then the controller ignores RepalceStandardCost.

For more information, see Specify Cost Function for Nonlinear MPC.

CustomEqConFcn — Custom equality constraint function

[] (default) | string | character vector | function handle

Custom equality constraint function, specified as one of the following:

• Name of a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path, specified as a string or character vector

  Optimization.CustomEqConFcn = "myEqConFunction";

• Handle to a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path

  Optimization.CustomEqConFcn = @myEqConFunction;

• Anonymous function

  Optimization.CustomEqConFcn = @(X,U,data,params) myEqConFunction(X,U,data,params);

Your equality constraint function must have the signature:

function ceq = myEqConFunction(X,U,data,p1,p2,...)

For more information, see Specify Constraints for Nonlinear MPC.

CustomIneqConFcn — Custom inequality constraint function

[] (default) | string | character vector | function handle

Custom inequality constraint function, specified as one of the following:

• Name of a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path, specified as a string or character vector

  Optimization.CustomIneqConFcn = "myIneqConFunction";

• Handle to a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path

  Optimization.CustomIneqConFcn = @myIneqConFunction;

• Anonymous function

  Optimization.CustomIneqConFcn = @(X,U,e,data,params) myIneqConFunction(X,U,e,data,params);

Your equality constraint function must have the signature:

function cineq = myIneqConFunction(X,U,e,data,params)

For more information, see Specify Constraints for Nonlinear MPC.

CustomSolverFcn — Custom nonlinear programming solver

[] (default) | string | character vector | function handle

Custom nonlinear programming solver function, specified as a string, character vector, or function handle. If you do not have Optimization Toolbox™ software, you must specify your own custom nonlinear programming solver. You can specify your custom solver function in one of the following ways:

• Name of a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path, specified as a string or character vector

  Optimization.CustomSolverFcn = "myNLPSolver";

• Handle to a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path

  Optimization.CustomSolverFcn = @myNLPSolver;

For more information, see Configure Optimization Solver for Nonlinear MPC.

SolverOptions — Solver options

options object for fmincon | []

Solver options, specified as an options object for fmincon or [].

If you have Optimization Toolbox software, SolverOptions contains an options object for the fmincon solver.

If you do not have Optimization Toolbox, SolverOptions is [].

For more information, see Configure Optimization Solver for Nonlinear MPC.

RunAsLinearMPC — Flag indicating whether to simulate as a linear controller

"off" (default) | "Adaptive" | "TimeVarying"

Flag indicating whether to simulate as a linear controller, specified as one of the following:

• "off" — Simulate the controller as a nonlinear controller with a nonlinear prediction model.

• "Adaptive" — For each control interval, a linear model is obtained from the specified nonlinear state and output functions at the current operating point and used across the prediction horizon. To determine if an adaptive MPC controller provides comparable performance to the nonlinear controller, use this option. For more information on adaptive MPC, see Adaptive MPC.

• "TimeVarying" — For each control interval, p linear models are obtained from the specified nonlinear state and output functions at the p operating points predicted from the previous interval, one for each prediction horizon step. To determine if a linear time-varying MPC controller provides comparable performance to the nonlinear controller, use this option. For more information on time-varying MPC, see Time-Varying MPC.

To use the either the "Adaptive" or "TimeVarying" option, your controller must have no custom constraints and no custom cost function.

For an example that simulates a nonlinear MPC controller as a linear controller, see Optimization and Control of a Fed-Batch Reactor Using Nonlinear MPC.

UseSuboptimalSolution — Flag indicating whether a suboptimal solution is acceptable

false (default) | true

Flag indicating whether a suboptimal solution is acceptable, specified as a logical value. When the nonlinear programming solver reaches the maximum number of iterations without finding a solution (the exit flag is 0), the controller:

• Freezes the MV values if UseSuboptimalSolution is false

• Applies the suboptimal solution found by the solver after the final iteration if UseSuboptimalSolution is true

To specify the maximum number of iterations, use Optimization.SolverOptions.MaxIter.

MVInterpolationOrder — Linear interpolation order used for block moves

0 (default) | 1

Linear interpolation order used by block moves, specified as one of the following:

• 0 — Use piecewise constant manipulated variable intervals.

• 1 — Use piecewise linear manipulated variable intervals.

If the control horizon is a scalar, then the controller ignores MVInterpolationOrder.

For more information on manipulated variable blocking, see Manipulated Variable Blocking.

Jacobian — Jacobians of model functions, and custom cost and constraint functions

structure

Jacobians of model functions, and custom cost and constraint functions, specified as a structure. As a best practice, use Jacobians whenever they are available, since they improve optimization efficiency. If you do not specify a Jacobian for a given function, the nonlinear programming solver must numerically compute the Jacobian.

The Jacobian structure contains the following fields.

StateFcn — Jacobian of state function

[] (default) | string | character vector | function handle

Jacobian of state function z from Model.StateFcn, specified as one of the following

• Name of a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path, specified as a string or character vector

  Model.StateFcn = "myStateJacobian";

• Handle to a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path

  Model.StateFcn = @myStateJacobian;

• Anonymous function

  Model.StateFcn = @(x,u,params) myStateJacobian(x,u,params)

For more information, see Specify Prediction Model for Nonlinear MPC.

OutputFcn — Jacobian of output function

[] (default) | string | character vector | function handle

Jacobian of output function y from Model.OutputFcn, specified as one of the following:

• Name of a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path, specified as a string or character vector

  Model.StateFcn = "myOutputJacobian";

• Handle to a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path

  Model.StateFcn = @myOutputJacobian;

• Anonymous function

  Model.StateFcn = @(x,u,params) myOutputJacobian(x,u,params)

For more information, see Specify Prediction Model for Nonlinear MPC.

CustomCostFcn — Jacobian of custom cost function

[] | string | character vector | function handle

Jacobian of custom cost function J from Optimization.CustomCostFcn, specified as one of the following:

• Name of a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path, specified as a string or character vector

  Jacobian.CustomCostFcn = "myCostJacobian";

• Handle to a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path

  Jacobian.CustomCostFcn = @myCostJacobian;

• Anonymous function

  Jacobian.CustomCostFcn = @(X,U,e,data,params) myCostJacobian(X,U,e,data,params)

Your cost Jacobian function must have the signature:

function [G,Gmv,Ge] = myCostJacobian(X,U,e,data,params)

For more information, see Specify Cost Function for Nonlinear MPC.

CustomEqConFcn — Jacobian of custom equality constraints

[] (default) | string | character vector | function handle

Jacobian of custom equality constraints ceq from Optimization.CustomEqConFcn, specified as one of the following:

• Name of a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path, specified as a string or character vector

  Jacobian.CustomEqConFcn = "myEqConJacobian";

• Handle to a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path

  Jacobian.CustomEqConFcn = @myEqConJacobian;

• Anonymous function

  Jacobian.CustomEqConFcn = @(X,U,data,params) myEqConJacobian(X,U,data,params);

Your equality constraint Jacobian function must have the signature:

function [G,Gmv] = myEqConJacobian(X,U,data,params)

For more information, see Specify Constraints for Nonlinear MPC.

CustomIneqConFcn — Jacobian of custom inequality constraints

[] (default) | string | character vector | function handle

Jacobian of custom inequality constraints c from Optimization.CustomIneqConFcn, specified as one of the following:

• Name of a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path, specified as a string or character vector

  Jacobian.CustomEqConFcn = "myIneqConJacobian";

• Handle to a function in the current working folder or on the MATLAB path

  Jacobian.CustomEqConFcn = @myIneqConJacobian;

• Anonymous function

  Jacobian.CustomEqConFcn = @(X,U,data,params) myIneqConJacobian(X,U,data,params);

Your inequality constraint Jacobian function must have the signature:

function [G,Gmv,Ge] = myIneqConJacobian(X,U,data,params)

For more information, see Specify Constraints for Nonlinear MPC.

Object Functions

nlmpcmove	Compute optimal control action for nonlinear MPC controller
validateFcns	Examine prediction model and custom functions of nlmpc or nlmpcMultistage objects for potential problems
convertToMPC	Convert nlmpc object into one or more mpc objects
createParameterBus	Create Simulink bus object and configure Bus Creator block for passing model parameters to Nonlinear MPC Controller block

Examples

Create Nonlinear MPC Controller with Discrete-Time Prediction Model

Create a nonlinear MPC controller with four states, two outputs, and one input.

nx = 4;
ny = 2;
nu = 1;
nlobj = nlmpc(nx,ny,nu);

In standard cost function, zero weights are applied by default to one or more OVs because there are fewer MVs than OVs.

Specify the sample time and horizons of the controller.

Ts = 0.1;
nlobj.Ts = Ts;
nlobj.PredictionHorizon = 10;
nlobj.ControlHorizon = 5;

Specify the state function for the controller, which is in the file pendulumDT0.m. This discrete-time model integrates the continuous time model defined in pendulumCT0.m using a multistep forward Euler method.

nlobj.Model.StateFcn = "pendulumDT0";
nlobj.Model.IsContinuousTime = false;

The discrete-time state function uses an optional parameter, the sample time Ts, to integrate the continuous-time model. Therefore, you must specify the number of optional parameters as 1.

nlobj.Model.NumberOfParameters = 1;

Specify the output function for the controller. In this case, define the first and third states as outputs. Even though this output function does not use the optional sample time parameter, you must specify the parameter as an input argument (Ts).

nlobj.Model.OutputFcn = @(x,u,Ts) [x(1); x(3)];

Validate the prediction model functions for nominal states x0 and nominal inputs u0. Since the prediction model uses a custom parameter, you must pass this parameter to validateFcns.

x0 = [0.1;0.2;-pi/2;0.3];
u0 = 0.4;
validateFcns(nlobj, x0, u0, [], {Ts});

Model.StateFcn is OK.
Model.OutputFcn is OK.
Analysis of user-provided model, cost, and constraint functions complete.

Create Nonlinear MPC Controller with Measured and Unmeasured Disturbances

Create a nonlinear MPC controller with three states, one output, and four inputs. The first two inputs are measured disturbances, the third input is the manipulated variable, and the fourth input is an unmeasured disturbance.

nlobj = nlmpc(3,1,'MV',3,'MD',[1 2],'UD',4);

To view the controller state, output, and input dimensions and indices, use the Dimensions property of the controller.

nlobj.Dimensions

ans = struct with fields:
     NumberOfStates: 3
    NumberOfOutputs: 1
     NumberOfInputs: 4
            MVIndex: 3
            MDIndex: [1 2]
            UDIndex: 4

Specify the controller sample time and horizons.

nlobj.Ts = 0.5;
nlobj.PredictionHorizon = 6;
nlobj.ControlHorizon = 3;

Specify the prediction model state function, which is in the file exocstrStateFcnCT.m.

nlobj.Model.StateFcn = 'exocstrStateFcnCT';

Specify the prediction model output function, which is in the file exocstrOutputFcn.m.

nlobj.Model.OutputFcn = 'exocstrOutputFcn';

Validate the prediction model functions using the initial operating point as the nominal condition for testing and setting the unmeasured disturbance state, x0(3), to 0. Since the model has measured disturbances, you must pass them to validateFcns.

x0 = [311.2639; 8.5698; 0];
u0 = [10; 298.15; 298.15];
validateFcns(nlobj,x0,u0(3),u0(1:2)');

Model.StateFcn is OK.
Model.OutputFcn is OK.
Analysis of user-provided model, cost, and constraint functions complete.

Validate Nonlinear MPC Prediction Model and Custom Functions

Create nonlinear MPC controller with six states, six outputs, and four inputs.

nx = 6;
ny = 6;
nu = 4;
nlobj = nlmpc(nx,ny,nu);

In standard cost function, zero weights are applied by default to one or more OVs because there are fewer MVs than OVs.

Specify the controller sample time and horizons.

Ts = 0.4;
p = 30;
c = 4;
nlobj.Ts = Ts;
nlobj.PredictionHorizon = p;
nlobj.ControlHorizon = c;

Specify the prediction model state function and the Jacobian of the state function. For this example, use a model of a flying robot.

nlobj.Model.StateFcn = "FlyingRobotStateFcn";
nlobj.Jacobian.StateFcn = "FlyingRobotStateJacobianFcn";

Specify a custom cost function for the controller that replaces the standard cost function.

nlobj.Optimization.CustomCostFcn = @(X,U,e,data) Ts*sum(sum(U(1:p,:)));
nlobj.Optimization.ReplaceStandardCost = true;

Specify a custom constraint function for the controller.

nlobj.Optimization.CustomEqConFcn = @(X,U,data) X(end,:)';

Validate the prediction model and custom functions at the initial states (x0) and initial inputs (u0) of the robot.

x0 = [-10;-10;pi/2;0;0;0];
u0 = zeros(nu,1); 
validateFcns(nlobj,x0,u0);

Model.StateFcn is OK.
Jacobian.StateFcn is OK.
No output function specified. Assuming "y = x" in the prediction model.
Optimization.CustomCostFcn is OK.
Optimization.CustomEqConFcn is OK.
Analysis of user-provided model, cost, and constraint functions complete.

Create Linear MPC Controllers from Nonlinear MPC Controller

Create a nonlinear MPC controller with four states, one output variable, one manipulated variable, and one measured disturbance.

nlobj = nlmpc(4,1,'MV',1,'MD',2);

Specify the controller sample time and horizons.

nlobj.PredictionHorizon = 10;
nlobj.ControlHorizon = 3;

Specify the state function of the prediction model.

nlobj.Model.StateFcn = 'oxidationStateFcn';

Specify the prediction model output function and the output variable scale factor.

nlobj.Model.OutputFcn = @(x,u) x(3);
nlobj.OutputVariables.ScaleFactor = 0.03;

Specify the manipulated variable constraints and scale factor.

nlobj.ManipulatedVariables.Min = 0.0704;
nlobj.ManipulatedVariables.Max = 0.7042;
nlobj.ManipulatedVariables.ScaleFactor = 0.6;

Specify the measured disturbance scale factor.

nlobj.MeasuredDisturbances.ScaleFactor = 0.5;

Compute the state and input operating conditions for three linear MPC controllers using the fsolve function.

options = optimoptions('fsolve','Display','none');

uLow = [0.38 0.5];
xLow = fsolve(@(x) oxidationStateFcn(x,uLow),[1 0.3 0.03 1],options);

uMedium = [0.24 0.5];
xMedium = fsolve(@(x) oxidationStateFcn(x,uMedium),[1 0.3 0.03 1],options);

uHigh = [0.15 0.5];
xHigh = fsolve(@(x) oxidationStateFcn(x,uHigh),[1 0.3 0.03 1],options);

Create linear MPC controllers for each of these nominal conditions.

mpcobjLow = convertToMPC(nlobj,xLow,uLow);
mpcobjMedium = convertToMPC(nlobj,xMedium,uMedium);
mpcobjHigh = convertToMPC(nlobj,xHigh,uHigh);

You can also create multiple controllers using arrays of nominal conditions. The number of rows in the arrays specifies the number controllers to create. The linear controllers are returned as cell array of mpc objects.

u = [uLow; uMedium; uHigh];
x = [xLow; xMedium; xHigh];
mpcobjs = convertToMPC(nlobj,x,u);

View the properties of the mpcobjLow controller.

mpcobjLow

 
MPC object (created on 26-Feb-2022 12:03:45):
---------------------------------------------
Sampling time:      1 (seconds)
Prediction Horizon: 10
Control Horizon:    3

Plant Model:        
                                      --------------
      1  manipulated variable(s)   -->|  4 states  |
                                      |            |-->  1 measured output(s)
      1  measured disturbance(s)   -->|  2 inputs  |
                                      |            |-->  0 unmeasured output(s)
      0  unmeasured disturbance(s) -->|  1 outputs |
                                      --------------
Indices:
  (input vector)    Manipulated variables: [1 ]
                    Measured disturbances: [2 ]
  (output vector)        Measured outputs: [1 ]

Disturbance and Noise Models:
        Output disturbance model: default (type "getoutdist(mpcobjLow)" for details)
         Measurement noise model: default (unity gain after scaling)

Weights:
        ManipulatedVariables: 0
    ManipulatedVariablesRate: 0.1000
             OutputVariables: 1
                         ECR: 100000

State Estimation:  Default Kalman Filter (type "getEstimator(mpcobjLow)" for details)

Constraints:
 0.0704 <= u1 <= 0.7042, u1/rate is unconstrained, y1 is unconstrained

Plan Optimal Trajectory Using Nonlinear MPC

Create a nonlinear MPC controller with six states, six outputs, and four inputs.

nx = 6;
ny = 6;
nu = 4;
nlobj = nlmpc(nx,ny,nu);

In standard cost function, zero weights are applied by default to one or more OVs because there are fewer MVs than OVs.

Specify the controller sample time and horizons.

Ts = 0.4;
p = 30;
c = 4;
nlobj.Ts = Ts;
nlobj.PredictionHorizon = p;
nlobj.ControlHorizon = c;

Specify the prediction model state function and the Jacobian of the state function. For this example, use a model of a flying robot.

nlobj.Model.StateFcn = "FlyingRobotStateFcn";
nlobj.Jacobian.StateFcn = "FlyingRobotStateJacobianFcn";

Specify a custom cost function for the controller that replaces the standard cost function.

nlobj.Optimization.CustomCostFcn = @(X,U,e,data) Ts*sum(sum(U(1:p,:)));
nlobj.Optimization.ReplaceStandardCost = true;

Specify a custom constraint function for the controller.

nlobj.Optimization.CustomEqConFcn = @(X,U,data) X(end,:)';

Specify linear constraints on the manipulated variables.

for ct = 1:nu
    nlobj.MV(ct).Min = 0;
    nlobj.MV(ct).Max = 1;
end

Validate the prediction model and custom functions at the initial states (x0) and initial inputs (u0) of the robot.

x0 = [-10;-10;pi/2;0;0;0];
u0 = zeros(nu,1); 
validateFcns(nlobj,x0,u0);

Model.StateFcn is OK.
Jacobian.StateFcn is OK.
No output function specified. Assuming "y = x" in the prediction model.
Optimization.CustomCostFcn is OK.
Optimization.CustomEqConFcn is OK.
Analysis of user-provided model, cost, and constraint functions complete.

Compute the optimal state and manipulated variable trajectories, which are returned in the info.

[~,~,info] = nlmpcmove(nlobj,x0,u0);

Slack variable unused or zero-weighted in your custom cost function. All constraints will be hard.

Plot the optimal trajectories.

FlyingRobotPlotPlanning(info,Ts)

Optimal fuel consumption =   1.884953

Simulate Closed-Loop Control using Nonlinear MPC Controller

Create a nonlinear MPC controller with four states, two outputs, and one input.

nlobj = nlmpc(4,2,1);

In standard cost function, zero weights are applied by default to one or more OVs because there are fewer MVs than OVs.

Specify the sample time and horizons of the controller.

Ts = 0.1;
nlobj.Ts = Ts;
nlobj.PredictionHorizon = 10;
nlobj.ControlHorizon = 5;

Specify the state function for the controller, which is in the file pendulumDT0.m. This discrete-time model integrates the continuous time model defined in pendulumCT0.m using a multistep forward Euler method.

nlobj.Model.StateFcn = "pendulumDT0";
nlobj.Model.IsContinuousTime = false;

The prediction model uses an optional parameter, Ts, to represent the sample time. Specify the number of parameters.

nlobj.Model.NumberOfParameters = 1;

Specify the output function of the model, passing the sample time parameter as an input argument.

nlobj.Model.OutputFcn = @(x,u,Ts) [x(1); x(3)];

Define standard constraints for the controller.

nlobj.Weights.OutputVariables = [3 3];
nlobj.Weights.ManipulatedVariablesRate = 0.1;
nlobj.OV(1).Min = -10;
nlobj.OV(1).Max = 10;
nlobj.MV.Min = -100;
nlobj.MV.Max = 100;

Validate the prediction model functions.

x0 = [0.1;0.2;-pi/2;0.3];
u0 = 0.4;
validateFcns(nlobj, x0, u0, [], {Ts});

Model.StateFcn is OK.
Model.OutputFcn is OK.
Analysis of user-provided model, cost, and constraint functions complete.

Only two of the plant states are measurable. Therefore, create an extended Kalman filter for estimating the four plant states. Its state transition function is defined in pendulumStateFcn.m and its measurement function is defined in pendulumMeasurementFcn.m.

EKF = extendedKalmanFilter(@pendulumStateFcn,@pendulumMeasurementFcn);

Define initial conditions for the simulation, initialize the extended Kalman filter state, and specify a zero initial manipulated variable value.

x = [0;0;-pi;0];
y = [x(1);x(3)];
EKF.State = x;
mv = 0;

Specify the output reference value.

yref = [0 0];

Create an nlmpcmoveopt object, and specify the sample time parameter.

nloptions = nlmpcmoveopt;
nloptions.Parameters = {Ts};

Run the simulation for 10 seconds. During each control interval:

1. Correct the previous prediction using the current measurement.

2. Compute optimal control moves using nlmpcmove. This function returns the computed optimal sequences in nloptions. Passing the updated options object to nlmpcmove in the next control interval provides initial guesses for the optimal sequences.

3. Predict the model states.

4. Apply the first computed optimal control move to the plant, updating the plant states.

5. Generate sensor data with white noise.

6. Save the plant states.

Duration = 10;
xHistory = x;
for ct = 1:(Duration/Ts)
    % Correct previous prediction
    xk = correct(EKF,y);
    % Compute optimal control moves
    [mv,nloptions] = nlmpcmove(nlobj,xk,mv,yref,[],nloptions);
    % Predict prediction model states for the next iteration
    predict(EKF,[mv; Ts]);
    % Implement first optimal control move
    x = pendulumDT0(x,mv,Ts);
    % Generate sensor data
    y = x([1 3]) + randn(2,1)*0.01;
    % Save plant states
    xHistory = [xHistory x];
end

Plot the resulting state trajectories.

figure
subplot(2,2,1)
plot(0:Ts:Duration,xHistory(1,:))
xlabel('time')
ylabel('z')
title('cart position')
subplot(2,2,2)
plot(0:Ts:Duration,xHistory(2,:))
xlabel('time')
ylabel('zdot')
title('cart velocity')
subplot(2,2,3)
plot(0:Ts:Duration,xHistory(3,:))
xlabel('time')
ylabel('theta')
title('pendulum angle')
subplot(2,2,4)
plot(0:Ts:Duration,xHistory(4,:))
xlabel('time')
ylabel('thetadot')
title('pendulum velocity')

Version History

Introduced in R2018b