Controller design for distributed systems baesd on Hankel-norm approximations

A procedure for obtaining a finite-dimensional reduced order model for a class of distributed systems is developed. It is based on a combination of a modal approximation and an optimal Hankel-norm approximation and the approximation error can be accurately predicted. The reduced order model can be used to design a precompensator for the original system as its performance and robust stability characteristics can be deduced from the reduced order model and finitely many modal parameters. The procedure is applied to a damped hyperbolic system.