Inhomogeneous Singular Linear Switched Systems in Discrete Time: Solvability, Reachability, and Controllability Characterizations

In this paper we study a novel solvability notion for discrete-time singular linear switched systems with inputs. We consider the existence and uniqueness of a solution on arbitrary finite time intervals with arbitrary inputs and arbitrary switching signals, and furthermore, we pay special attention to strict causality, i.e. the current state is only allowed to depend on past values of the state and the input. A necessary and sufficient condition for this solvability notion is then established. Furthermore, a surrogate switched system (an ordinary switched system that has equivalent input-output behavior) is derived for any solvable system. By utilizing those surrogate systems, we are able to characterize the reachability and controllability properties of the original singular systems using a geometric approach.