ABSTRACT

Bilinear systems can be defined as those which are described by state equations that are linear in state and linear in control inputs but not linear overall because they involve products of state and control variables. In practice, one encounters numerous essentially linear systems/processes whose behavior can be controlled by varying one or several of the parameters of system. Hence bilinear systems arise as natural models for a variety of dynamical processes such as heat exchangers, air conditioning and hydraulic systems, nuclear reactors, ecological systems, vibrating systems, etc.1 Because the areas of application are so vast and diverse, the study of bilinear systems is practically important. It is also of theoretical interest because bilinear systems comprise perhaps the simplest class of nonlinear systems; thus analysis of these systems can be considered as intermediate between the analysis of linear and nonlinear systems.