Abstract
Performance indices are a crucial factor in optimal controller design, synthesis, and performance. The use of integral error criteria in classical optimal control barring any constraints on the driving source often leads to the undesirable consequence of actuator saturation. Alternative performance indices, having a linear-quadratic (LQ) form, which reduce the initial control effort have also been extensively used to design optimal controllers. In this paper we present a new variable weight to be included in the performance index used for prioritized optimization of sampled data control systems. The proposed indices are shown to give better closed-loop performance in comparison to existing weights in the literature.