Optimal actuator/sensor selection through dynamic output feedback

This paper is devoted to the problem of optimal selection of a subset of available actuators/sensors through a multi-channel ℋ₂ dynamic output feedback controller for continuous linear time invariant systems. Incorporating two extra terms for penalizing the number of actuators and sensors into the optimization objective function, we develop an iterative process to identify the favorable row/column-wise sparse DOF gains. Employing the identified structure, we solve the constructed row/column structured multi-channel ℋ₂ DOF problem in order to derive a gain that exploits optimum number of sensors/actuators by which the closed-loop stability is maintained and the performance degradation of the closed-loop system is restricted. Through an example we demonstrate the remarkable performance and broad applicability of the proposed approach.