Synthesis of compensators for non-overshooting step responses

Abstract

In many physical systems, a non-overshooting step response is often desirable if not required. Presented in this dissertation is a general design methodology for synthesizing compensators for a non-overshooting step response in linear, uncertain, time-invariant systems. First, a minimal set of elementary transfer functions which yield non overshooting step responses is identified and then a larger class of non-overshooting transfer functions is generated by using the convolution theorem. These classes are identified by some simple sufficient conditions which can in most cases be determined by observing the locations of poles and zeros. A frequency domain design methodology is then developed to achieve (i) robust non-overshooting step responses and (ii) other important feedback objectives such as robust stability, sensor noise reduction, and disturbance attenuation. Design methodologies for both minimum phase SISO and MIMO systems are presented. The proposed technique is believed to be the only available technique for designing for non-overshooting step responses while at the same time achieving other feedback objectives.