ResNet and PolyNet Based Identification and (MPC) Control of Dynamical Systems: A Promising Way

Abstract

This paper deals with model predictive control synthesis which take benefits from artificial neural networks to model (non-linear) dynamical system. More precisely, thanks to a systematic and rigorous methodology, it is shown that residual networks (ResNet) and PolyInception networks (PolyNet) neural network architectures, developed initially for image recognition, are very good candidate for i) identification of dynamical systems, ii) being used as embedded model in a model predictive control laws. Concretely, the widely used non-linear dynamical system quadruple tank process is used as a benchmark. The neural network architectures studied are i) feedforward networks as a reference point, and the two other linked to Euler integration method ii) residual networks and iii) PolyInception networks. Networks training is performed by mixing classical back-propagation algorithm and hyperparameters optimisation through heuristics. The identification results provided show that neural networks of types ii) and iii) perform better than the classical one i), with a better generalisation capability. Finally, model predictive controllers are synthesized based on the various networks trained. The simulation results obtained for controlling water levels of a 4 tanks system benchmark give interesting insights. They show that residual networks based model predictive control is better suited than feedforward networks and PolyInception networks based ones, both taking into account computation time and set point errors.