International Journal of Control, Vol.83, No.7, 1325-1338, 2010
Feedback control and the arrow of time
The purpose of this article is to highlight the central role that the time asymmetry of stability plays in feedback control. We show that this provides a new perspective on the use of doubly-infinite or semi-infinite time-axes for signal spaces in control theory. We then focus on the implication of this time asymmetry in modelling uncertainty, regulation and robust control. We point out that modelling uncertainty and the ease of control depend critically on the direction of time. We also discuss the relationship of this control-based time-arrow with the well-known arrows of time in physics.