Control design for an AWD clutch system via the piecewise affine system framework

Piecewise affine (PWA) systems belong to a subclass of switched systems and provide good flexibility and traceability for modeling a variety of nonlinear systems. In this paper, application of the PWA system framework to the modeling and control of an automotive all-wheel drive clutch system is presented. The open-loop system is first modeled as a PWA system, followed by the design of a piecewise linear (i.e., switched) feedback controller. The stability of the closed-loop system, including model uncertainty and time delays, is examined using linear matrix inequalities based on Lyapunov theory. Finally, the responses of the closed-loop system under step reference signals and temperature disturbance signals are simulated to illustrate the effectiveness of the design.