Decentralized variable structure control of interconnected multi-output nonlinear systems

This paper develops a method of decentralized variable structure control (DVSC) for a class of interconnected non-linear systems. Via the use of local switched controllers the system is made to behave as an interconnected linear system having a desired response characteristic such as stability or tracking. Two advantages result: a design scheme incorporating existing decentralized control techniques such as pole placement and extension of existing SIMO DVSC techniques to MIMO systems. For a special subclass of the systems considered, an algorithm to compute the feedback gains is developed via Kronecker product techniques.