Output Feedback Control of Linear Time-Invariant Systems with Operational Constraints
For control engineers designing safety-critical systems, this work provides a theoretically grounded output feedback method that guarantees constraint satisfaction while preserving linear systems analysis tools.
This paper presents a systematic method for designing robust linear output feedback controllers that satisfy operational constraints, using Nagumo's Theorem and Control Barrier Function principles. The approach yields a continuous piecewise-linear policy with analyzable MIMO robustness margins, demonstrated in flight control trade studies for safety-critical aircraft applications.
This paper introduces a systematic method for designing robust linear controllers using output feedback in the presence of operational constraints. The design uses Nagumo's Theorem and the Comparison Lemma to guarantee constraint satisfaction, while incorporating min-norm optimal control principles inspired by Control Barrier Functions. The resulting controller is a continuous piecewise-linear output feedback policy that preserves the closed-loop system's analyzability using linear systems theory. Due to the linear control design, multi-input multi-output (MIMO) robustness margins can be derived with and without active operational constraints. This paper shows that operational constraints on the system's state can be satisfied using an observer-based output feedback control design. Through flight control trade studies, we demonstrate the practical relevance of the framework in safety-critical aircraft control applications.