Indefinite LQ optimal control with cross term for discrete‐time uncertain systems

Abstract

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the study on uncertain optimal control problems. In this paper, a linear quadratic (LQ) optimal control with cross term for discrete‐time uncertain systems is considered, whereas the weighting matrices in the cost function are allowed to be indefinite. Firstly, a recurrence equation for the problem is presented based on Bellman's principle of optimality in dynamic programming. Then, a necessary condition for the existence of an optimal linear state feedback control of the indefinite LQ problem is given by the recurrence equation. Moreover, a sufficient condition of well‐posedness for the indefinite LQ problem is presented by introducing a linear matrix inequality (LMI) condition. Furthermore, it is shown that the well‐posedness of the indefinite LQ problem, the solvability of the indefinite LQ problem, the LMI condition, and the solvability of the constrained difference equation are equivalent to each other. Finally, an example is presented to illustrate the results obtained.