Applications of QFT robust control techniques to marine systems

In this work an overview of the application of the Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) technique to different marine systems is presented. Namely the problems of the stabilization of a high-speed craft, the dynamic positioning of a moored platform and the tracking control of a hovercraft are studied. An interesting question is that the plants have less degree of freedom for actuation and is more difficult to control. The three multivariable nonlinear problems are tackled by different procedures. Performance evaluation analyses and simulations in different conditions are carried out. It is shown that robust techniques based on QFT methodology result feasible and very suitable; and therefore they constitute attractive alternatives in the application of stabilization, dynamic positioning and tracking control of advanced marine systems.