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Maximally smooth transition: the Gluskabi raccordation

The objective of this dissertation is to provide a framework for constructing a transitional behavior, connecting any two trajectories from a set with a particular characteristic, in such a way that the transition is as inconspicuous as possible. By this we mean that the connection is such that the characteristic behavior persists during the transition. These special classes include stationary solutions, limit cycles etc. We call this framework the Gluskabi raccordation. This problem is motivated from physical applications where it is often desired to steer a system from one stationary solution or periodic orbit to another in a ̒smooth̕ way. Examples include motion control in robotics, chemical process control and quasi-stationary processes in thermodynamics, etc. Before discussing the Gluskabi raccordations of periodic behaviors, we first study several periodic phenomena. Specifically, we study the self- propulsion of a number of legless, toy creatures based on differential friction under periodic excitations. This friction model is based on viscous friction which is predominant in a wet environment. We investigate the effects of periodic and optimal periodic control on locomotion. Subsequently, we consider a control problem of a stochastic system, under the basic constraint that the feedback control signal and the observations from the system cannot use the communication channel simultaneously. Hence, two modes of operation result: an observation mode and a control mode. We seek an optimal periodic regime in a statistical steady state by switching between the observation and the control mode. For this, the duty cycle and the optimal gains for the controller and observer in either mode are determined.

We then investigate the simplest special case of the Gluskabi raccordation, namely the quasi-stationary optimal control problem. This forces us to revisit the classical terminal controller. We analyze the performance index as the control horizon increases to infinity. This problem gives a good example where the limiting operation and integration do not commute. Such a misinterpretation can lead to an apparent paradox. We use symmetrical components (the parity operator) to shed light on the correct solution.

The main part of thesis is the Gluskabi raccordation problem. We first use several simple examples to introduce the general framework. We then consider the signal Gluskabi raccordation or the Gluskabi raccordation without a dynamical system. Specifically, we present the quasi-periodic raccordation where we seek the maximally ̒smooth̕ transitions between two periodic signals. We provide two methods, the direct and indirect method, to construct these transitions. Detailed algorithms for generating the raccordations based on the direct method are also provided. Next, we extend the signal Gluskabi raccordation to the dynamic case by considering the dynamical system as a hard constraint. The behavioral modeling of dynamical system pioneered by Willems provides the right language for this generalization. All algorithms of the signal Gluskabi raccordation are extended accordingly to produce these ̒smooth̕ transition behaviors.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:GATECH/oai:smartech.gatech.edu:1853/42756
Date24 August 2011
CreatorsYeung, Deryck
PublisherGeorgia Institute of Technology
Source SetsGeorgia Tech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Archive
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeDissertation

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