Robust H∞ control of uncertain linear systems with structured uncertainty

This paper considers a problem of absolute stabilization with a specified level of disturbance attenuation for a class of uncertain systems in which the uncertainty is structured and satisfies a certain integral quadratic constraint. The paper shows that an uncertain system is absolutely stabilizable with a specified level of disturbance attenuation if and only if there exists a solution to a corresponding H^∞ control problem. The paper also shows that if an uncertain system can be absolutely stabilized with a specified level of disturbance attenuation via nonlinear output feedback control then it can be absolutely stabilized via linear output feedback control. A key technical result used in this paper is an extension of the "S-procedure" result of Megretsky and Treil (1993).