Improved delay-dependent stability criterion for uncertain networked control systems with induced time-varying delays*

In this paper, a new stability criterion for uncertain systems controlled over a communication network is derived. Bounds on the network induced time-varying delays are assumed to be known, and no restriction on the derivative of the time-varying delay is imposed allowing for fast time-varying delay profiles. Both, L2-bounded disturbances and norm-bounded, possibly time-varying, uncertainties are considered. Stability conditions are obtained based on the Lyapunov-Krasovskii approach, considering a new treatment of time-varying delays resorting to a polytopic covering of the delay interval. Examples are provided to demonstrate the reduced conservatism of the proposed conditions with respect to available works in the literature.