An interpolation theory approach to \(H^{\infty}\) controller degree bounds (Q1100161)

This paper derives an upper bound for the McMillan degree of all \(H^{\infty}\)-optimal controllers associated with design problems which may be embedded in a certain generalized regulator configuration. The work presented here, which uses interpolation theory, complements a previous article of the first author and \textit{Y. S. Hung} [SIAM J. Control Optimization 25, 1425-1493 (1987)] which is based on approximation theory. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a matrix interpolating function are derived using a matrix generalization of the classical Schur algorithm. It is demonstrated that the interpolation theory approach is more direct and circumvents a number of the technical difficulties of the previous approach. As a by-product, a new result on the degree of all optimal solutions to the matrix Nevanlinna-Pick problem is derived.