Centralized Control of n Identical Plants

Abstract

In an elegant and yet easily comprehensible and applicable way, it is shown how the outputs of n identical plants G(s) = K/ sp l=1μ (s+al) with different output initial conditions can be made to perfectly track a reference, or command, input r(t) through the commissioning of only one central controller H(s). Two simulations support the theoretical results. The proposed technique has wide applications in industrial plants and research centers: it drastically reduces the effort and cost of controllers dictated by the orthodox one-plant/one-controller philosophy.