Design of optimal linear controllers (Q1059601)

Let plants be described by differential equations of the form \(x^{(h)}(t)+\sum^{n-1}_{j=0}a_ jx^{(j)}(t)=ku(t),\) where u(t) is the scalar control, x(t) is the scalar controlled variable and \(a_ j\) and k are constants. Optimal linear controllers of the form \(u(t)=\sum^{m-1}_{j=0}b_ jx^{(j)}(t),\) \(m<n-1\), are constructed. The purpose is to maximize the degree of stability of the closed-loop system. Rather complicated conditions on the optimal values of parameters \(b_ j\) are obtained. Some low-dimensional examples (with small m and n) are considered.