Modeling and control of multimass systems in terms of 2D systems *

In this paper modelling and efficient controller design for multi-mass systems is considered by writing the dynamics as a 2D state-space model representation of a spatially interconnected system. The 2D structure arises since there are two independent variables in the model. One of these is time and the other is the number (location) of the subsystem in the sequence. This paper uses 2D systems theory to develop a control law design, which stabilizes the dynamics and enforces tracking of a reference signal.