\((A,B)\)-cyclic submodules (Q1970507)

If \((A,B)\) is a linear control system over a commutative ring \(R\), a submodule \(M\) of \(R^n\) is said to be \((A,B)\)-cyclic if there is a sequence of \((u_{t})_{t \geq 0}\) of control vectors such that the resulting sequence \((x_{t})_{t \geq 0}\) of states generates \(M\) as \(R\)-module. \(M\) is called finite \((A,B)\)-cyclic if additionally \(x_{t} = 0\) for all \(t\) sufficiently large. This means that an \((A,B)\)-cyclic submodule is generated by the states of a single trajectory of a linear control system with parameters from a commutative ring. \(M\) is finite \((A,B)\)-cyclic if it is generated by the states of a ''deadbeat-control'' process. Connections between these notions and others, for example reachability, are investigated. The approach followed may be considered as a compromise between the geometric and the behavorial theory. The \((A,B)\)-length \(\lambda (M)\) of an \((A,B)\)-cyclic submodule \(M\) is defined as the minimum number \(r\) such that there is a trajectory \(x_{t} = x(t,0,u)\) with \(M= \langle x_{1}, \ldots \rangle\) and \(M= \langle x_{1}, \ldots x_{r} \rangle\). Bounds for \(\lambda (M)\) are investigated. The \((A,B)\)-length is shown to be partially linked to the degrees of the elements of \(ker [yI-A,-B]\). The fact that these elements correspond to deadbeat control processes whose states thus generate finite \((A,B)\)-cyclic submodules, is well known. Over certain computable rings (for example the integers or \(K[x]\), \(K\) a field), the computation of a special type of Gröbner basis of \(ker [yI-A,-B]\) thus enables the determination of ''typical'' \((A,B)\)-cyclic submodules. This basis yields the Brunovski form directly in the case of a field. This approach also allows determining a minimal finite \((A,B)\)-cyclic submodule containing a prescribed initial sequence of states. Invariance properties of the family of \((A,B)\)-cyclic submodules are also found.