Research Article
Fundamental Analysis of the Perturbation Rejection
Characteristics of Single-Input-Multiple-Output Systems Subject
to Multiple Perturbations
Luis Amezquita-Brooks,
1
Jesús Ulises Liceaga-Castro,
2
Eduardo Liceaga-Castro,
1
Daniel Martinez-Vazquez,
1
and Octavio Garcia-Salazar
1
1
Centro de Investigaci´ on e Innovaci´ on en Ingenier´ ıa Aeron´ autica, Facultad de Ingenier´ ıa Mec´ anica y El´ ectrica,
Universidad Aut´ onoma de Nuevo Le´ on, San Nicolas de los Garza, NL, Mexico
2
Departamento de Electr´ onica, Universidad Aut´ onoma Metropolitana Unidad Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, Mexico
Correspondence should be addressed to Luis Amezquita-Brooks; luis.amezquitabrk@uanl.edu.mx
Received 9 October 2016; Revised 30 March 2017; Accepted 11 April 2017; Published 19 June 2017
Academic Editor: Francisco Gordillo
Copyright © 2017 Luis Amezquita-Brooks et al. Tis is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.
Single-Input-Multiple-Output (SIMO) systems are found in several applications. Some of the main concerns are (1) the possibility
of stabilizing all the outputs and (2) the possibility of attaining independent tracking control of all the outputs. Whereas the frst
issue can be easily be elucidated, the second has proven to be impossible in all but a few systems. In many cases one practical option
is to use the input to drive a main output, taking care that the behavior of the remaining secondary outputs is acceptable. In this
confguration, in addition to the features of the main control loop, the perturbation rejection properties of the secondary outputs
become important. Tis article analyzes the structural properties, stability, and perturbation rejection characteristics of SIMO
systems. Te article presents fundamental conclusions regarding the relationship of the main control loop and the perturbation
rejection characteristics of the secondary outputs. A simple and intuitive example is used to show how the theoretical fndings can
be used to improve the design of the main control loop through its frequency domain characteristics. Te results are developed
using simple frequency domain theoretical elements, making the fndings relevant for both engineering applications and deriving
further theoretical developments.
1. Introduction
Single-Input-Multiple-Output (SIMO) systems appear on many
industrial and technological applications where there is the
need for closed-loop control, for instance, in electric machine
control [1, 2], airplane control [3–5], and automotive active
suspension control [6].
Te difculty of such systems is that in most cases it is not
possible to attaint total control of all outputs using a single
input. In particular, fully independent reference tracking
control may be impossible [7]. In some cases a bandwidth
separation and nested closed-loop control allow a degree of
control over several output variables. Tis strategy has been
historically used with success in aeronautical applications and
other electromechanical systems [8–10].
Te stability of SIMO control systems is an issue of
ongoing interest. For instance, in [11, 12] the stability of
state feedback SIMO systems are studied from a theoretical
point of view. While the stability of any control system is of
prime importance, it is well-known that for actual practical
applications the stability is only a starting requirement.
Other more common strategy which uses modern control
tools is the use of optimal controllers in which all the outputs
are considered on the cost function [7, 13]. While these
control approaches may yield good results, the design pro-
cedure for such controllers still requires the calibration of the
Hindawi
Mathematical Problems in Engineering
Volume 2017, Article ID 1905704, 17 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/1905704