On the continuity of the Lyapunov functions in the converse stability theorems for discontinuous dynamical systems

In [H. Ye, A.N. Michel, L. Hou, Stability theory for hybrid dynamical systems, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control 43 (4) (1998) 461–474] we established, among other results, a set of sufficient conditions for the uniform asymptotic stability of invariant sets for discontinuous dynamical systems (DDS) defined on metric space, and under some additional minor assumptions, we also established a set of necessary conditions (a converse theorem). This converse theorem involves Lyapunov functions which need not necessarily be continuous. In the present paper, we show that under some additional very mild assumptions, the Lyapunov functions for the converse theorem need actually be continuous.     

Dissipativity theory for discontinuous dynamical systems: Basic input, state, and output properties, and finite-time stability of feedback interconnections

In this paper, we develop dissipativity theory for discontinuous dynamical systems. Specifically, using set-valued supply rate maps and set-valued connective supply rate maps consisting of locally Lebesgue integrable supply rates and connective supply rates, respectively, and set-valued storage maps consisting of piecewise continuous storage functions, dissipativity properties for discontinuous dynamical systems are presented. Furthermore, extended Kalman–Yakubovich–Popov set-valued conditions, in terms of the discontinuous system dynamics, characterizing dissipativity via generalized Clarke gradients and locally Lipschitz continuous storage functions are derived. Finally, these results are used to develop feedback interconnection stability results for discontinuous dynamical systems by appropriately combining the set-valued storage maps for the forward and feedback systems.     

A dynamical systems approach based on averaging to model the macroscopic flow of freeway traffic

The flow of traffic exhibits distinct characteristics under different conditions, reflecting the congestion during peak hours and relatively free motion during off-peak hours. This requires one to use different mathematical equations to describe the diverse traffic characteristics. Thus, the flow of traffic is best described by a hybrid system, namely different governing equations for the different regimes of response, and it is such a hybrid approach that is investigated in this paper. Existing models for the flow of traffic treat traffic as a continuum or employ techniques similar to those used in the kinetic theory of gases, neither of these approaches gainfully exploit the hybrid nature of the problem. Spurious two-way propagation of disturbances that are physically unacceptable are predicted by continuum models for the flow of traffic. The number of vehicles in a typical section of the highway does not justify its being modeled as a continuum. It is also important to recognize that the basic premises of kinetic theory are not appropriate for the flow of traffic (see [S. Darbha, K.R. Rajagopal, Limit of a collection of dynamical systems: an application to modeling the flow of traffic, Mathematical Models and Methods in Applied Sciences 12 (10) (2002) 1381–1399] for a rationale for the same). A model for the flow of traffic that does not treat traffic as a continuum or use notions from kinetic theory is developed here and corroborated with real-time data collected on US 183 in Austin, Texas. Predictions based on the hybrid system model seem to agree reasonably well with the data collected on US 183.