Qualitative robust fuzzy control with applications to 1992 ACC benchmark

Robust control has long been the purview of quantitative linear control techniques, while qualitative symbolic control has been deemed more suitable to obtaining complex control objectives that require only low-output precision. The intelligent techniques of fuzzy control have, however, shown promise in obtaining results comparable to those obtained from H_∞ and H₂ robust control techniques. Often though, these fuzzy control techniques ignore the original intent of fuzzy logic: implementation of symbolic linguistic control laws based on qualitative models of the plant and control behaviors. We show that robust control objectives, even for simple plants, can be achieved by first developing qualitative behaviors that stabilize the plant and then superimposing tracking behaviors that achieve control objectives. Specifically, by superimposing qualitative stability and tracking behaviors, we can achieve robustness and tracking stability comparable to the best published linear compensators for the 1992 ACC robust control benchmark