SUMMARYThis paper extends tube-based model predictive control of linear systems to achieve robust control of nonlinear systems subject to additive disturbances. A central or reference trajectory is determined by solving a nominal optimal control problem. The local linear controller, employed in tube-based robust control of linear systems, is replaced by an ancillary model predictive controller that forces the trajectories of the disturbed system to lie in a tube whose center is the reference trajectory thereby enabling robust control of uncertain nonlinear systems to be achieved.