William S. Levine
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Institute for Systems Research
University of Maryland, College Park
Optimal control and the design of feedback controls
While the design of feedback controls for linear time-invariant (LTI) single-input single-output (SISO) systems is very well understood, any departure from this situation typically results in a design problem for which there is surprisingly little theoretical support. Beginning with the optimal output feedback regulator, a number of attempts to improve this situation by developing theoretical and analytical tools for controller design will be described. Another way to understand design is by analysis of successful designs. Several examples of successful designs, drawn from biology as well as technology, will be described and analyzed. Some open and important problems related to analytic and theoretical aspects of control design will also be presented.