Design of general model-following control systems

The general problem of multivariable model-following systems is formulated and analysed. Necessary and sufficient conditions for a solution to the problem to exist are introduced. A condition for a plant with state feedback to follow a lower order model in a stable fashion which is related to the number of the left half plane zeros of the plant is introduced. A detailed checking and design procedure for the general problem that also ensures the stability of the resulting closed-loop system is given and illustrated by means of three examples.