Learning-based MPC of sampled-data systems with partially unknown dynamics

In this paper, a novel learning-based model predictive control (LMPC) method is proposed for sampled-data control systems with partially unknown dynamics. Many real-world processes are subject to time-varying parameters and irregular data sampling, making accurate modeling and stability guarantees extremely challenging. To address this, the proposed method uses a neural ordinary differential equation (NODE) to learn unknown time-varying parameter dynamics from irregularly observed data. This learned model is then integrated into the sampled-data MPC framework. In particular, the LMPC method guarantees the system's ultimate boundedness by deriving conditions based on the Gronwall–Bellman inequality. Finally, two practical examples illustrate the applicability of the LMPC method to real-world systems and demonstrate its quantitative stability analysis.