An uncertainty-based approach to discrete-time fault estimation observer design for nonuniformly sampled systems

This paper considers the fault estimation problem of nonuniformly sampled system in which sensor sampling is performed at aperiodic interval. After being discretized at sampling instant, the nonuniformly sampled system is modeled as an equivalent polytopic system with norm bounded uncertainties. A discrete-time time-varying fault estimation observer with multiple design freedom is then constructed, and a sufficient condition given in linear matrix inequality (LMI) is provided to obtain the constant filter gain and ensure not only the asymptotic stability of fault estimation error but also the robustness of uncertainties. Compared with the existing observer designed based on continuous-time delay approach, the proposed one has a better estimation accuracy and less conservatism and is easy for digital implementation. A numerical simulation and a quadruple-tank benchmark are used to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.