Almost non-interacting control by measurement feedback (Q1091995)

Consider a linear system \(\Sigma\) that, apart from a control input and a measurement output, has two exogeneous inputs and two exogeneous ouptputs. Controlling such a system by means of a measurement feedback compensator \(\Sigma_ c\) results in a closed loop system with two inputs and two outputs. Hence, the closed loop transfer matrix can be partitioned as a two by two block matrix. The problem addressed in this paper consists of the following. Given \(\Sigma\) and any positive number \(\epsilon\), is it possible to find \(\Sigma_ c\) such that the off- diagonal blocks of the closed transfer matrix, in a suitable norm, are smaller than \(\epsilon\) ? For the solvability of this problem necessary and sufficient conditions will be derived.