On a class of stabilizing partially decentralized controllers

Classes of stabilizing decentralized controllers for linear systems with plant state estimate feedback at each control station are studied. For the case when information flow between control stations is permitted with transmission delay, a class of stabilizing controllers is conveniently characterized in terms of an arbitrary proper stable transfer function, With zero delays, and thus centralized control, tbe class detinecl is the entire class of stabilizing linear controllers. The results suggest how information flow between control stations, perhaps with delay, can be implemented so that performance/robustness can be optimized and yet so that if transmission loss occurs, stability is maintained.