Stabilization via output static feedback in discrete-time linear systems

This communication is concerned with stabilization via output static feedback of discrete-time linear time-invariant finite-dimensional systems. A new concept is introduced: output static stabilization in the relaxed sense. This (conservative) stabilization concept is defined so that it is characterized in terms of the discrete-time LQR problem. Properties, and alternative equivalent definitions of this new concept are analyzed. It is shown that for a particular class of plants, the stabilization problem in the above new sense can be cast as a convex programming problem (which moreover can be used as a tool for synthesis). A full characterization for the class of plants that are stabilizable in the above sense is presented. Important consequences of this characterization are somehow surprising. It is shown that the introduced new (conservative) stabilization concept is indeed much more important than it seems. The general problem of output static stabilization can be transformed into the stabilization problem in this new sense. A relationship between output static stabilizability and the discrete-time LQR problem is proved. Convex necessary and sufficient conditions, for joint stabilization (of multiple plants) in the above sense and for decentralized stabilization in the above sense, are presented.