On-line estimation of time delay and continuous-time process parameters†

Abstract

A simple technique is presented for on-line estimation of constant or slowly-varying continuous-time process parameters and time delay. The method is shown to allow considerable flexibility for application to systems of varying complexity. A major advantage of the algorithm lies in its ability to track time-delay variations over a practically unlimited range. The technique is based on approximation of time delay in the frequency domain by a rational transfer function, construction of the derivatives of process input and output using multiple filters, and estimation using a model which is non-linear in the desired parameters. In spite of this inherent non-linearity with respect to the sought parameters, in general the estimation schemes lead to the true, unique solution. The cases when this is not true are shown not to be of serious consequence.