: The main goal when synthesizing robust residual generators, for diagnosis and supervision, is to attenuate influence from model uncertainty on the residual while keeping fault detection performance. In this paper, a design algorithm for robust residual generators is developed with two key elements. One is the use of a reference model that represents desired performance, i.e. time or frequency-domain specifications of fault response in the residual. The other is an optimization criterion, based on robust H-filtering, used to synthesize the residual generator. Also, a methodology how to specify performance specifications to ensure good robustness properties of the optimal residual generator is developed. Copyright