Linear, time-varying approximations to nonlinear dynamical systems. With applications in control and optimization (Q961490)

This book is a research monograph that is dedicated to nonlinear systems and a new way of approaching the nonlinear systems by regarding them as limits of linear, time-varying ones, and applying linear theory to each of the approximating systems. In Chapter 1, authors introduce the logistics systems and the main ideas associated with the 'iteration technique' show how they are related to the most general nonlinear systems. Chapter 2 is devoted to the linear approximations to nonlinear dynamical systems. A technique to approach the solution of a broad class of nonlinear systems is introduced. In chapter 3, the general theory of linear, time-varying systems, including existence and uniqueness of solutions, explicit expressions for the solutions and stability theory is considered. The general spectral theory of nonlinear systems is presented in Chapter 4. And the main of its application is given in Chapter 5 'Spectral assignment in linear, time-varying systems'. Chapter 6 shows that the iteration technique can be applied effectively to solve non-linear, non-quadratic optimal control problems. In this chapter, authors also discuss the optimality via the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation. In Chapter 7, the problem of designing a sliding mode control for nonlinear systems has been addressed. It is based on the approximation of the nonlinear system by a sequence of linear-time varying ones whose solution converges to the solution of the original nonlinear problem. Simulation results on how this is done have also been presented. In Chapter 8, authors show how this method relates to fixed-point theory and how it can be used inductively to derive certain conditions on nonlinear systems. The generalization of the technique to partial differential equations and systems is given in Chapter 9, together with examples from moving boundary problems and solitons (nonlinear waves). Chapter 10 is devoted to the Lie algebraic methods which have significant impact on linear systems theory and also give a powerful structure theory for nonlinear systems. The global theory of nonlinear systems on manifolds is outlined in Chapter 11. Here the nature of systems defined globally on manifolds and their relationship to local representations in terms of nonlinear differential equations is discussed. In Chapter 12, authors speculate on the future possibilities of the iteration method and show that it is likely to be applicable in many other circumstances in nonlinear systems theory and functional analysis. For example one of the applications of the method to the problem of traveling waves in nonlinear partial differential equations and the other is to the separation theorem for nonlinear stochastic systems. Some background of linear algebra, spectral theory, Lie algebras, differential geometry, vector bundles, manifold theory and functional analysis used in the book is outlined in appendices.