Linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) observer and controller design synthesis for parabolic PDE

Abstract In this work, an observer based controller synthesis is proposed based on the linear matrix inequality (LMI) framework to achieve stabilization of the parabolic PDE in the presence of input constraints. A novel feature of the proposed synthesis is to construct the LMI formulation within the modal space by converting the original parabolic PDE into an infinite-dimensional abstract state space setting. The state feedback controller and the Luenberger observer are developed by accounting for the entire infinite number of modal states, thereby stabilizing the system and reconstructing the state rigorously. The input constraints naturally existing in realistic applications are considered in the design framework. Finally, since initial modal states are hardly known in advance, the LMI formulation, based on the augmented modal state space, including unstable modal states, its estimation error and fast modal output, is developed to maximize the region of attraction (ROA) for the real process state, such that the controller and the observer are robust enough to the error in the initial state guess. By considering a numerical example of an unstable parabolic PDE, we demonstrate that if feasible, the state feedback controller and the observer, generated by the LMI formulation, have capability to drive the process state to the equilibrium steady state.