Nonlinear observability and duality (Q791476)

A method introduced by \textit{R. Hermann} and \textit{A. J. Krener} [IEEE Trans. Automatic Control AC-22, 728-740 (1977; Zbl 0396.93015)] is extended, allowing the construction of minimal dimension realizations of complete systems, and solving the eventual non-regularity in the \(C^{\infty}\) case. The results thus obtained are dual to those already known for the controllability problem. The notion of duality introduced here relates the parallel development of the two problems, controllability and observability, in the definitions and constructions involved and also in the theorems proved.