On the control of complex dynamic systems (Q1179049)

A method is described for the limited control of the dynamics of systems which generally have several dynamic attractors associated with maps or first order ordinary differential equations (ODE). The control is based on the existence of convergent regions in the phase space. The character of control involves the entrainment and subsequent possible migration of the experimental system from one attractor to another. The control process is initiated only when the system enters a basin of entrainment. Aside from the macroscopic initial state information about the system, no further feedback of dynamic information concerning the response of the system is required. The experimental reliability of the control requires that the basin of the entrainment be convex in the phase space. Simple illustrations of these concepts are given, using a general linear and a piecewise-linear ODE. In addition to these entrainment-goals, migration-goal dynamics is introduced, which intersects two convergent regions and permits transferring the dynamics of a system from one attractor to another, or from one convergent region to another. These concepts are illustrated with various one-dimensional maps involving one or more attractors and convergent regions. Several theorems concerning entrainment are derived for very general, continuous one-dimensional maps. Sufficient conditions are also established which ensure near- entrainment for a system, when the dynamic model of the system is not exactly known.