Value mapping and parameterization approach to robust stability analysis (Q1180017)

Recently there has been a great deal of interest in the control community in the problem of stability of interval polynomials, motivated by the work of Kharitonov. In this paper new proofs of several well-known results in the area of robust stability are given using the approaches of value mapping and parameterization. Specifically, the paper considers the problem of determining the \(D\)-stability (i.e., the problem of determining when the roots of a polynomial lie in a region \(D\)) of a polynomial family given by \[ Q=\left\{f(s,q): f(s,q)=\sum^ n_{i=0} \alpha_ i(q)s^ i, q\in Q\right\}, \] where the set \(Q\) defines a set of allowable parameter perturbations. First, using a value mapping approach, a boundary theorem is proven that relates the \(D\)-stability of the polynomial family to its stability properties along the boundary of \(D\). Next, using the boundary theorem, new proofs are given for several well-known results (the edge theorem, Kharitonov's theorem and the diamond theorem). Finally, the boundary theorem is used to study the stability properties of biparameter polynomial families. This analysis includes determination of maximum perturbation bounds.