Reduced-order controllers for unstable multivariable linear systems that can be balanced. (Q1854972)

To design an output-feedback controller, first a reduced-order model is computed, for example by balanced truncation. Most of the known techniques work for stable systems. Here a method of low-frequency balancing is used to find a reduced-order system of an unstable system. The method is as follows. Under some technical condition, the unstable system can be balanced. The Hankel singular values for the stable part are truncated, while the singular values for the unstable part are kept. This gives a reduced-order system for which a modelling error bound is known. This allows the authors to formulate a stabilizing controller to make the closed-loop system internally stable. A realisation of the controller can be obtained by solving two Riccati equations.