Parallel Implementation of Iterative Learning Controllers on Multi-core Platforms

This paper presents design and implementation techniques for iterative learning controllers (ILCs) targeting predictable multi-core embedded platforms. Implementation on embedded platforms results in a number of timing artifacts. Sensor-to-actuator delay (referred to as delay) is an important timing artifact which influences the control performance by changing the dynamic behavior of the system. We propose a delay-based design for ILCs that identifies and operates in the performance-optimal delay region. We then propose two implementation methods - sequential and parallel - for ILCs targeting the predictable multi-core platforms. The proposed methods enable the designer to carefully adjust the scheduling to achieve the optimal delay region in the resulting control system. We validate our results by the hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation, considering a motion system as a case-study. Index Terms - Embedded control, Iterative learning control, Sensor-to-actuator-delay, Predictable multi-core platform.