Average Modeling and Nonlinear Observer Design for Pneumatic Actuators With On/Off Solenoid Valves

This paper presents a state-averaged model and the design of nonlinear observers for an on/off pneumatic actuator. The actuator is composed of two chambers and four on/off solenoid valves. The elaborated state-averaged model has the advantage of using only one continuous input instead of four binary inputs. Based on this new model, a high-gain observer and a sliding-mode observer are designed using the actuator position and the pressure measurements in one of the chambers. Finally, their closed-loop performance is verified and compared on an experimental benchmark.