Advances in System Identification Using Fractional Models

This paper presents an up to date advances in time-domain system identification using fractional models. Both equation-error- and output-error-based models are detailed. In the former models, prior knowledge is generally used to fix differentiation orders; model coefficients are estimated using least squares. The latter models allow simultaneous estimation of model coefficients and differentiation orders using nonlinear programing. As an example, a thermal system is identified using a fractional model and is compared to a rational one.