Stability and stabilizability criteria for discrete-time positive switched systems

In this paper we consider the class of discrete-time switched systems switching between p autonomous positive subsystems. First, sufficient conditions for testing stability, based on the existence of special classes of common Lyapunov functions, are investigated, and these conditions are mutually related, thus proving that if a linear copositive common Lyapunov function can be found, then a quadratic positive definite common function can be found, too, and this latter, in turn, ensures the existence of a quadratic copositive common function. Secondly, stabilizability is introduced and characterized. It is shown that if these systems are stabilizable, they can be stabilized by means of a periodic switching sequence, which asymptotically drives to zero every positive initial state. Conditions for the existence of state-dependent stabilizing switching laws, based on the values of a copositive (linear/quadratic) Lyapunov function, are investigated and mutually related, too. Finally, some properties of the patterns of the stabilizing switching sequences are investigated, and the relationship between a sufficient condition for stabilizability (the existence of a Schur convex combination of the subsystem matrices) and an equivalent condition for stabilizability (the existence of a Schur matrix product of the subsystem matrices) is explored.