Discrete event reference control

We consider a new approach to improve the performance of reference tracking problems for closed loop stabilized continuous linear systems through manipulation of the reference signals initiated by the occurrence of a discrete event. By means of the internal model principle, we show that a change in the reference signal is equivalent to implementing an instantaneous change via the choice of a decision vector in the state of the reference model. The analysis of the resulting hybrid discrete event reference control system is then shown to be equivalent to the analysis of a linear impulsive system. In particular, it is shown how decision vectors are chosen to achieve a deadbeat tracking error response