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Department of Control Design Engineering

DESCRIPTOR SYSTEMS Toolbox for MATLAB

The DESCRIPTOR SYSTEMS Toolbox for MATLAB [1] is partly based on the RASP-DESCRIPT routines implemented in Fortran 77 and partly based on the free control software library SLICOT. The underlying algorithms are among the most complex procedures ever employed in the control field and encompass computations like the determination of complete Kronecker structure of linear pencils, generalized pole assignment and stabilization, model conversions (descriptor state-space to rational/polynomial representations), general rational factorisations (inner-outer, normalized coprime), generalized inverses (left/right, week, Moore-Penrose), etc. This package illustrates the new trend in CACSD to employ high quality, robust control software written in high level langages (e.g., Fortran) in user-friendly environments like MATLAB via appropriate gateways (mex-files).

Why a DESCRIPTOR SYSTEMS toolbox ?

  • to enhance the MATLAB Control Toolbox by handling the most general linear system representations
  • to solve in a numerically reliable way many standard control problems by using descriptor system techniques
  • to manipulate in a numerically reliable way rational and polynomial matrices
  • to extend the capabilities of basic MATLAB with matrix pencil methods

Main strengths

  • Guaranteed numerical reliability: achieved by careful selection of employed algorithms and software
  • High efficiency: achieved by implementing critical structure exploiting computations as mex-functions based on high quality robust numerical software available in the Fortran libraries LAPACK, SLICOT and RASP-DESCRIPT.
  • Standard systems fully supported: achieved by employing (distinct) specific algorithms for descriptor and standard systems.
  • Continuous/discrete-time support: all functions are available for both continuous- and discrete-time systems
  • User friendly operation: achieved by object oriented manipulations based on the MATLAB Control Toolbox system objects.

Current release

  • Version: 1.06 by December 1, 2007
  • Operating systems: presently running under Windows XP; LINUX.
  • MATLAB: running with MATLAB 7 or higher, CONTROL Toolbox 6.2 or higher.
  • Availability: distributed via Synoptio
  • Functionality: see the  Contents.m file
  • Release notes: see the  Readme.m file

References

[1] Varga, A.:
A descriptor systems toolbox for MATLAB. Proc. of IEEE International Symposium on Computer Aided Control System Design, CACSD2000, Anchorage, Alaska, 2000.