A practical approach for the design of multivariable control systems

In this paper the design of linear multivariable control systems based on the l_{1} - system norm is revised. It is shown how the well known computational difficulties inherent in this design problem can be overcome. For this purpose a procedure is proposed consisting of the steps 1) design of a suitable low order controller by semidefinite programming, 2) parametrization of all stabilizing conrollers based on the controller of the first step, 3) solution of the design problem with linear programming methods. The efficiency of this method is demonstrated by an example.