Achieving string stability in irrigation channels under distributed distant-downstream control

A new distributed distant-downstream controller for irrigation channels is studied. The controller ensures upstream propagation of transients, like those considered previously, but now in a spatially stable fashion. This is achieved by foregoing zero steady-state water-level errors in response to step changes in flow off-takes, via a mechanism that adjusts water-level references on the basis of downstream flow load.While structurally different, the approach is inspired by time headway schemes in vehicle platoons. A trade-off between steady-state water-level errors and the spatial attenuation of the water-flow peaks is identified.