The role of transmission zeros in linear multivariable regulators

The problem is considered of designing compensators to regulate linear multivariable systems. It is shown that the essential mechanism employed by such a compensator is the multivariable analogue of pole-zero cancellation: the compensator supplies transmission zeros to cancel the unstable poles of the disturbance and reference signals. If the compensator is additionally required to function in the presence of small variations in system parameters then it must supply transmission zeros in greater multiplicity. Finally it is shown that the transmission zeros are generated by an ‘ internal model ’, incorporated in the compensator, of the dynamics of the disturbance and reference signals.