ON THE CONTROL OF FINITE SUPPORT BEHAVIORS

In the paper the main properties of finite support behaviors are intro duced and characterized in terms of the polynomial matrices involved i n their representation. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the ex istence of an input/output (possibly, non-anticipating) description of a finite support behavior are given. The control problem is also addr essed, and properly restated in the behavior theory context as an inte rconnection problem. Conditions far the existence of controllers that make the resulting connected system observable, as well as a complete description of the class of characteristic polynomials that the result ing controlled system possibly exhibits, are given. Finally, the probl em of controlling a dynamical system in input/output form by means of a controller with the same structure, is investigated and solved. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.