A New Robust Control Design for Linear Systems With Norm Bounded Time Varying Real Parameter Uncertainty

In this paper, a new methodology for robust control design of linear systems with time varying real parameter uncertainty is presented. The distinctive feature of this method is that it specifically offers robustness guarantees to real parameter uncertainty thereby providing a much needed alternative design method compared to existing design methods such as H∞ and μ-synthesis methods which tend to be conservative when specialized to real parameter uncertainty. The proposed robust control design method is inspired by sign (qualitative) stability idea from ecology, leading to a specific structure in the desired closed loop system matrix involving pseudosymmetry. The design procedure is simple and straightforward without requiring intensive computation. The proposed design algorithm is illustrated with aerospace applications. This algorithm is quite promising with considerable scope for extensions and improvements, finally adding to the bank of available control design methods for linear state space systems.