Analysis and synthesis of dynamic systems via block-pulse functions

The paper presents a method of numerically integrating a system of differential equations based on an idea of orthogonal approximation of functions. Here, block-pulse functions are chosen as the orthogonal set. The method gives piecewise constant solutions with minimal mean-square error and is computationally similar to the familiar trapezoidal rule of integration. Design of piecewise constant controls or feedback gains for dynamic systems can be simplified following this approach.