We consider the global stabilization of nonlinear systems in strict fe
edforward form. We show that these systems, while not feedback lineari
zable, can be (globally) transformed by feedback and diffeomorphism in
to lower-triangular form. The transformation is explicit and recursive
. We employ this transformation to design a globally stabilizing contr
oller with optimality properties and an input-to-state stability prope
rty with respect to matched uncertainties. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science L
td.