Bisimulation theory for switching linear systems

A general notion of hybrid bisimulation is proposed and related to the notions of algebraic, state-space and input-output equivalences for the class of switching linear systems. An algebraic characterization of hybrid bisimulations and a procedure converging in a finite number of steps to the maximal hybrid bisimulation are derived. Bisimulation-based reduction and simulation-based abstraction are defined and characterized. Connections with observability are investigated.