Joint Observer-Based Output-Feedback Robust Guidance and Control Funnel Synthesis

Abstract

A joint guidance and robust observer-based output-feedback synthesis framework is developed for discrete-time nonlinear systems subject to bounded process disturbances and measurement noise. The method co-designs a reference trajectory, time-varying Luenberger observer and observer-based linear output-feedback gains, and coupled ellipsoidal funnels that certify conditioned-invariant bounds on tracking and estimation errors. Nonlinear residuals are bounded by incremental quadratic constraints (QCs) parameterized by local Lipschitz constants, estimated via sampling approaches. The coupled stability conditions are formulated as linear matrix inequality (LMI) surrogates and solved using sequential convex programming with proximal regularization (prox-SCP) via semidefinite programming (SDP). Simulations of a unicycle model under persistent sensory noise and system disturbances demonstrate robust tracking and funnel-certified constraint satisfaction with respect to the jointly designed reference trajectory.