An exact homology sequences approach to the controllability of systems

Some results are given on the homology groups of the abstract simplicial complex associated to a multivariable control system, as an extension of the central result of J. Casti (J. Math. Anal. Appl.68 (1979), 347–370) to the multivariable case. The method used is “polyhedral dynamics” as termed by J. Casti, who introduced it. A given control system is mapped into a simplicial complex and then its homological structure is studied. These results, obtained in the multivariable case by the use of the Mayer-Vietoris homology sequence and of the relative homology sequence, present topological invariants for control systems thus creating the possibility of a new topological classification of multivariable systems. An example is given to clarify the approach.