A neural network-based approximation method for discrete-time nonlinear servomechanism problem

A feedback controller that solves the discrete-time nonlinear servomechanism problem relies on the solution of a set of nonlinear functional equations known as the discrete regulator equations. The exact solution of the discrete regulator equations is usually unavailable due to the nonlinearity of the system. The paper proposes to approximately solve the discrete regulator equations using a feedforward neural network. This approach leads to an effective way to practically solve the discrete nonlinear servomechanism problem. The approach has been illustrated using the well-known inverted pendulum on a cart system. The simulation shows that the control law designed by the proposed approach performs much better than the conventional linear control law.