Robust fault-sensitive synchronization of a class of nonlinear systems

Aiming at enhancing the quality as well as the reliability of synchronization, this paper is concerned with the fault detection issue within the synchronization process for a class of nonlinear systems in the existence of external disturbances. To handle such problems, the concept of robust fault-sensitive (RFS) synchronization is proposed, and a method of determining such a kind of synchronization is developed. Under the framework of RFS synchronization, the master and the slave systems are robustly synchronized, and at the same time, sensitive to possible faults based on a mixed H_-/H_∞ performance. The design of desired output feedback controller is realized by solving a linear matrix inequality, and the fault sensitivity H_- index can be optimized via a convex optimization algorithm. A master-slave configuration composed of identical Chua's circuits is adopted as a numerical example to demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of the analytical results.