On optimality of decentralized control for a class of nonlinear interconnected systems (Q1094361)

A decentralized control law for a class of nonlinear interconnected systems is proposed. This control law is derived by solving a local optimal control problem for each isolated subsystem with an appropriate performance index. It is shown that the proposed decentralized control law is the unique asymptotic stabilizing solution of an optimal control problem for the global system with an appropriate performance index. Hence our proposed decentralized control strategy results in centrally optimal systems having robust stability properties.