Introduction

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to overview the main methodological themes arising in this area. Initially, both continuous-time and discrete-time systems will be considered. Then, from Sect. 1.4 on, we will consider only the continuous-time case since discrete-time systems will be treated in the remaining chapters of the book. Although the main focus is on linear systems, some important topics on non-linear periodic control are also touched upon. The chapter has an introductory nature, so that many technical details are omitted and the interested reader is referred to the quoted literature for a deeper insight. Starting from the subsequent chapter, we will move to an axiomatic approach for the presentation of the theory of linear discretetime periodic systems.