The Parameter Variation Problem in State Feedback Control Systems

Abstract : The plant parameter variation problem in multivariable linear systems described by state vector equations is formulated using a new sensitivity measure. This formulation involves a direct comparison of open-loop and state feedback performance in the presence of parameter variations, and provides a basis for guaranteeing the superiority of the feedback design. Results are obtained for both continuous and discrete multiinput multi-output systems. Furthermore, it is shown for single-input multi-output plants that a low sensitivity design is also an optimal feedback control design with respect to a quadratic performance index. This provides a new interpretation of a similar result previously obtained by Kalman. (Author)