This paper is devoted to the problem of simultaneous stabilization of linea
r plants. It is shown that four given plants pi(s), i = 1,2.3,4 are simulta
neously stabilizable if and only if there exist four stable polynomials H-i
(s). i = 1,2,3,4 which simultaneously satisfy two polynomial equations. If
we can only find four stable H-i(s), i = 1.2,3,4 to satisfy one of the two
polynomial equations. then two controllers c(1)(s) and c(2)(s). having a co
mmon denominator or numerator. can be obtained such that c(1)(s) simultaneo
usly stabilizes p(1)(s) and p(3)(s), and c(2)(s) simultaneously stabilizes
p(2)(s) and p(4)(s), which is called the simultaneous stabilization in grou
ps. Based on such two controllers. a design algorithm for the simultaneous
stabilization of three plants is induced. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al
l rights reserved.