Local exponential stabilization via boundary feedback controllers for a class of unstable semi-linear parabolic distributed parameter processes

This paper addresses the problem of local exponential stabilization via boundary feedback controllers for a class of nonlinear distributed parameter processes described by a scalar semi-linear parabolic partial differential equation (PDE). Both the domain-averaged measurement form and the boundary measurement form are considered. For the boundary measurement form, the collocated boundary measurement case and the non-collocated boundary measurement case are studied, respectively. For both domain-averaged measurement case and collocated boundary measurement case, a static output feedback controller is constructed. An observer-based output feedback controller is constructed for the non-collocated boundary measurement case. It is shown by the contraction semigroup theory and the Lyapunov's direct method that the resulting closed-loop system has a unique classical solution and is locally exponentially stable under sufficient conditions given in term of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). The estimation of domain of attraction is also discussed for the resulting closed-loop system in this paper. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control methods is illustrated by a numerical example.