Sensitivity in the decoupling of non-linear control systems†

The problem of decoupling the inputs and outputs of non-linear control systems is considered for the situation where the system parameters are subject to variations or disturbances. The exact decoupling is obtained by an adaptive state feedback controller which requires full knowledge of the instantaneous values of the system parameters. By utilizing the parameter sensitivity concept an approximate adaptive decoupling controller is synthesized in the present paper which is shown to decouple the system to first (or higher) order in the variations of the system parameters from their known nominal values. The sensitivity equations which generate the state sensitivity function required for the synthesis are derived. The results of the paper actually provide the tools for reducing the system sensitivity to parameter variations when the final goal is the improvement of decoupling.