Algebraic conditions for controllability and reachability of time-varying discrete-time linear systems

For discrete-time linear systems, controllability and reachability are not equivalent. Instead of the well-known Kalman's rank condition, which characterizes reachability, controllability to origin of the time invariant, discrete-time linear system is equivalent to the Fuhrmann's rank condition. In the first part of this paper we prove that controllability to origin of time varying discrete-time linear systems, under a difference-algebraic condition, is equivalent to a generalized Fuhrmann's rank condition. In the second part we prove that reachability and observability, for time varying discrete-time linear systems are equivalent to a structured Kalman's rank condition, under the difference algebraic independence of the structure matrices. Copyright (C) 2003 IFAC.