Time optimal sampled-data controls for the heat equation

In this paper, we first design a time optimal control problem for the heat equation with sampled-data controls, and then use it to approximate a time optimal control problem for the heat equation with distributed controls.The study of such a time optimal sampled-data control problem is not easy, because it may have infinitely many optimal controls. We find connections among this problem, a minimal norm sampled-data control problem and a minimization problem, and obtain some properties on these problems. Based on these, we not only build up error estimates for optimal time and optimal controls between the time optimal sampled-data control problem and the time optimal distributed control problem, in terms of the sampling period, but we also prove that such estimates are optimal in some sense.     

Augmented Lagrangian method for distributed optimal control problems with state constraints

We consider state-constrained optimal control problems governed by elliptic equations. Doing Slater-like assumptions, we know that Lagrange multipliers exist for such problems, and we propose a decoupled augmented Lagrangian method. We present the algorithm with a simple example of a distributed control problem.     

Optimal control of time discrete two-phase flow governed by a diffuse interface model

We present results on optimal control of two-phase flows. The fluid is modeled by a thermodynamically consistent diffuse interface model and allows to treat fluids of different densities and viscosities. In earlier work we proposed an energy stable time discretization for this model that we now employ to derive existence of optimal controls for a time discrete optimal control problem. The control aim is to obtain a desired distribution of the two phases in the system. For this we investigate three control actions. We use tangential Dirichlet boundary control and distributed control. We further consider the inverse problem of finding an initial distribution such that the evolution over a given time horizon starting from this value is close to a desired distribution. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Approximation of relaxed nonlinear parabolic optimal control problems

We consider a relaxed optimal control problem for systems defined by nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations with distributed control. The problem is completely discretized by using a finite-element approximation scheme with piecewise linear states and piecewise constant controls. Existence of optimal controls and necessary conditions for optimality are derived for both the continuous and the discrete problem. We then prove that accumulation points of sequences of discrete optimal [resp. extremal] controls are optimal [resp. extremal] for the continuous problem.     

Relaxation in the optimal control problem for the Goursat-Darboux system

We consider the optimal control problem for a system described by the Goursat-Darboux equation. The system is controlled by distributed and boundary controls satisfying mixed nonconvex constraints. For this problem we prove an analog of the classical Bogolyubov relaxation theorem.     

Analysis of seat allocation and overbooking decisions with hybrid information

We investigate a single-leg airline revenue management problem where an airline has limited demand information and uncensored no-show information. To use such hybrid information for simultaneous overbooking and booking control decisions, we combine expected overbooking cost with revenue. Then we take a robust optimization approach with a regret-based criterion. While the criterion is defined on a myriad of possible demand scenarios, we show that only a small number of them are necessary to compute the objective. We also prove that nested booking control policies are optimal among all deterministic ones. We further develop an effective computational method to find the optimal policy and compare our policy to others proposed in the literature.     

Snapshot location for POD in control of a linear heat equation

In the present work, we study the approximation of a distributed optimal control problem for a linear heat equation with model order reduction based on Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD-MOR). We show that snapshot location for control problems is crucial in model reduction. For the determination of the time instances (snapshot locations) we utilize an a-posteriori error control concept which is based on a reformulation of the optimality system of the underlying optimal control problem as a second order in time and fourth order in space elliptic system. Finally, we present a numerical test to illustrate our approach. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

TACO: a toolkit for AMPL control optimization

We describe a set of extensions to the AMPL modeling language to conveniently model mixed-integer optimal control problems for ODE or DAE dynamic processes. These extensions are realized as AMPL user functions and suffixes and do not require intrusive changes to the AMPL language standard or implementation itself. We describe and provide TACO, a Toolkit for AMPL Control Optimization that reads AMPL stub.nl files and detects the structure of the optimal control problem. This toolkit is designed to facilitate the coupling of existing optimal control software packages to AMPL. We discuss requirements, capabilities, and the current implementation. Using the example of the multiple shooting code for optimal control MUSCOD-II, a direct and simultaneous method for DAE-constrained optimal control, we demonstrate how the problem information provided by the TACO toolkit is interfaced to the solver. In addition, we show how the MS-MINTOC algorithm for mixed-integer optimal control can be used to efficiently solve mixed-integer optimal control problems modeled in AMPL. We use the AMPL extensions to model three control problem examples and we discuss how those extensions affect the representation of optimal control problems. Solutions to these problems are obtained by using MUSCOD-II and MS-MINTOC inside the AMPL environment. A collection of further AMPL control models is provided on the web site http://mintoc.de. MUSCOD-II and MS-MINTOC have been made available on the NEOS Server for Optimization, using the TACO toolkit to enable input of AMPL models.     

Optimal control of the viscous weakly dispersive Degasperis-Procesi equation

In this paper, we study the optimal control problem for the viscous weakly dispersive Degasperis-Procesi equation. We deduce the existence and uniqueness of a weak solution to this equation in a short interval by using the Galerkin method. Then, according to optimal control theories and distributed parameter system control theories, the optimal control of the viscous weakly dispersive Degasperis-Procesi equation under boundary conditions is given and the existence of an optimal solution to the viscous weakly dispersive Degasperis-Procesi equation is proved.     

Optimal Distributed Dynamic Advertising

We propose a novel approach to modeling advertising dynamics for a firm operating over a distributed market domain based on controlled partial differential equations of the diffusion type. Using our model, we consider a general type of finite-horizon profit maximization problem in a monopoly setting. By reformulating this profit maximization problem as an optimal control problem in infinite dimensions, we derive sufficient conditions for the existence of its optimal solutions under general profit functions, as well as state and control constraints, and provide a general characterization of the optimal solutions. Sharper, feedback-form characterizations of the optimal solutions are obtained for two variants of the general problem. The first author gratefully acknowledges financial support by the NSF, the DAAD, the SFB 611 (Bonn), and the Max-Planck-Institut für Mathematik (Leipzig) through an IPDE fellowship.     

On variational perturbations of control problems: Minimum-time problem and minimum-effort problem

In order to obtain numerical solutions for an abstract optimal control problem, one approximates the abstract operations in a computationally feasible manner. After having found an approximate optimal solution, the question is whether a sequence of these approximate optimal solutions converges to an optimal solution of the original problem. In this work, we are concerned with this type of convergence on the time-optimal control problem for a class of linear systems with distributed parameters and on the minimum-effort problem.     

Optimal control of the viscous generalized Camassa–Holm equation

In this paper, we study the optimal control problem for the viscous generalized Camassa–Holm equation. We deduce the existence and uniqueness of weak solution to the viscous generalized Camassa–Holm equation in a short interval by using Galerkin method. Then, by using optimal control theories and distributed parameter system control theories, the optimal control of the viscous generalized Camassa–Holm equation under boundary condition is given and the existence of optimal solution to the viscous generalized Camassa–Holm equation is proved.     

Dynamics for Controlled 2D Generalized MHD Systems with Distributed Controls

We study the dynamics of a piecewise (in time) distributed optimal control problem for Generalized MHD equations which model velocity tracking coupled to magnetic field over time. The long-time behavior of solutions for an optimal distributed control problem associated with the Generalized MHD equations is studied. First, a quasi-optimal solution for the Generalized MHD equations is constructed; this quasi-optimal solution possesses the decay (in time) properties. Then, some preliminary estimates for the long-time behavior of all solutions of Generalized MHD equations are derived. Next, the existence of a solution of optimal control problemis proved also optimality system is derived. Finally, the long-time decay properties for the optimal solutions is established.     

Simultaneous observability and stabilization of some uncoupled wave equations

We consider uncoupled wave equations with different speed of propagation in a bounded domain. Using a combination of the Bardos–Lebeau–Rauch observability result for a single wave equation and a new unique continuation result for uncoupled wave equations, we prove an observability estimate for that system. Applying Lions? Hilbert uniqueness method (HUM), one may derive simultaneous exact controllability results for the uncoupled system; the controls being locally distributed, with their supports satisfying the geometric control condition of Bardos, Lebeau and Rauch. Afterwards, we discuss the related simultaneous stabilization problem; this latter problem is solved by a combination of the new observability inequality, and a result of Haraux establishing an equivalence between observability and stabilization for second order evolution equations with bounded damping operators. Our observability and stabilization results generalize to higher space dimensions some earlier results of Haraux established in the one-dimensional setting.     

Relaxation methods for mixed-integer optimal control of partial differential equations

We consider integer-restricted optimal control of systems governed by abstract semilinear evolution equations. This includes the problem of optimal control design for certain distributed parameter systems endowed with multiple actuators, where the task is to minimize costs associated with the dynamics of the system by choosing, for each instant in time, one of the actuators together with ordinary controls. We consider relaxation techniques that are already used successfully for mixed-integer optimal control of ordinary differential equations. Our analysis yields sufficient conditions such that the optimal value and the optimal state of the relaxed problem can be approximated with arbitrary precision by a control satisfying the integer restrictions. The results are obtained by semigroup theory methods. The approach is constructive and gives rise to a numerical method. We supplement the analysis with numerical experiments.     

Linear Formulation of a Distributed Boundary Control Problem

In this paper, we consider a distributed boundary control problem governed by an elliptic partial differential equation with state constraints and a minimax objective function. The continuous optimal control problem, discretized with the finite element method, is numerically approximated by a family of linear programming problems. Application to an optimal configuration problem is discussed.     

Optimizing capacity,pricing and location decisions on a congested network with balking

In this paper, we consider the problem of making simultaneous decisions on the location, service rate (capacity) and the price of providing service for facilities on a network. We assume that the demand for service from each node of the network follows a Poisson process. The demand is assumed to depend on both price and distance. All facilities are assumed to charge the same price and customers wishing to obtain service choose a facility according to a Multinomial Logit function. Upon arrival to a facility, customers may join the system after observing the number of people in the queue. Service time at each facility is assumed to be exponentially distributed. We first present several structural results. Then, we propose an algorithm to obtain the optimal service rate and an approximate optimal price at each facility. We also develop a heuristic algorithm to find the locations of the facilities based on the tabu search method. We demonstrate the efficiency of the algorithms numerically.     

Optimality of monotonic policies for two-action Markovian decision processes,with applications to control of queues with delayed information

We consider a discrete-time Markov decision process with a partially ordered state space and two feasible control actions in each state. Our goal is to find general conditions, which are satisfied in a broad class of applications to control of queues, under which an optimal control policy is monotonic. An advantage of our approach is that it easily extends to problems with both information and action delays, which are common in applications to high-speed communication networks, among others. The transition probabilities are stochastically monotone and the one-stage reward submodular. We further assume that transitions from different states are coupled, in the sense that the state after a transition is distributed as a deterministic function of the current state and two random variables, one of which is controllable and the other uncontrollable. Finally, we make a monotonicity assumption about the sample-path effect of a pairwise switch of the actions in consecutive stages. Using induction on the horizon length, we demonstrate that optimal policies for the finite- and infinite-horizon discounted problems are monotonic. We apply these results to a single queueing facility with control of arrivals and/or services, under very general conditions. In this case, our results imply that an optimal control policy has threshold form. Finally, we show how monotonicity of an optimal policy extends in a natural way to problems with information and/or action delay, including delays of more than one time unit. Specifically, we show that, if a problem without delay satisfies our sufficient conditions for monotonicity of an optimal policy, then the same problem with information and/or action delay also has monotonic (e.g., threshold) optimal policies.     

An optimization problem for time lag distributed parabolic systems

We consider an optimal boundary control problem for a distributed parabolic system with boundary conditions involving multipletime-varying lags. Necessary and sufficient optimality conditionsfor the Neumann problem with the quadratic performance functionalsare derived. The results are illustrated with numerical solutionsof example tasks.