FEEDBACK-CONTROL OF HYPERBOLIC PDE SYSTEMS

This article deals with distributed parameter systems described by fir st-order hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs), for which t he manipulated input, the controlled output, and the measured output a re distributed in space. For these systems, a general output-feedback control methodology is developed employing a combination of theory of PDEs and concepts from geometric control. A concept of characteristic index is introduced and used for the synthesis of distributed state-fe edback laws that guarantee output tracking in the closed-loop system. Analytical formulas of distributed output-feedback controllers are der ived through combination of appropriate distributed state observers wi th the developed state-feedback controllers. Theoretical analogies bet ween our approach and available results on stabilization of linear hyp erbolic PDEs are also identified. The developed control methodology is implemented on a nonisothermal plug-flow reactor and its performance is evaluated through simulations.