A noniterative algebraic solution for Riccati equations satisfying two-point boundary-value problems

A noniterative algebraic method is presented for solving differential Riccati equations which satisfy two-point boundary-value problems. This class of numerical problems arises in quadratic optimization problems where the cost functionals are composed of both continuous and discrete state penalties, leading to piecewise periodic feedback gains. The necessary condition defining the solution for the two-point boundary value problem is cast in the form of a discrete-time algebraic Riccati equation, by using a formal representation for the solution of the differential Riccati equation. A numerical example is presented which demonstrates the validity of the approach.The authors would like to thank Dr. Fernando Incertis, IBM Madrid Scientific Center, who reviewed this paper and pointed out that the two-point boundary-value necessary condition could be manipulated into the form of a discrete-time Riccati equation. His novel approach proved to be superior to the authors' previously proposed iterative continuation method.