Conference PaperWorking Memory Augmentation for Improved Learning in Neural Adaptive ControlMuthirayan, Deepan; Khargonekar, Pramod P.In this paper, we propose a novel control architecture, inspired from neuroscience, for adaptive control of continuous time systems. The objective here is to design control architectures and algorithms that can learn and adapt quickly to changes that are even abrupt. The proposed architecture, in the setting of standard neural network (NN) based adaptive control, augments an external working memory to the NN. The learning system stores, in its external working memory, recently observed feature vectors from the hidden layer of the NN that are relevant and forgets the older irrelevant values. It retrieves relevant vectors from the working memory to modify the final control signal generated by the controller. The use of external working memory improves the context inducing the learning system to search in a particular direction. This directed learning allows the learning system to find a good approximation of the unknown function even after abrupt changes quickly. We consider two classes of controllers for illustration of our ideas (i) a model reference NN adaptive controller for linear systems with matched uncertainty (ii) backstepping NN controller for strict feedback systems. Through extensive simulations and specific metrics we show that memory augmentation improves learning significantly even when the system undergoes sudden changes. Importantly, we also provide evidence for the proposed mechanism by which this specific memory augmentation improves learning.2019-12-01101907992019 IEEE Conference on Decision and Control6785 to 6792https://doi.org/10.1109/CDC40024.2019.90295491839429National Science Foundation