Optimal control problem for an automatic transmission

Attention is given to the control-theoretic aspects of the operation of an automatic transmission for a road vehicle. A differential game model for vehicle control is presented and analyzed; furthermore, the approach leads to a synthesis of the optimal feedback strategy for the selection of the transmission ratio of the automatic gearbox.This work was partially supported by a grant from Control Data.     

Optimal collision security in double block length hashing with single length key

The idea of double block length hashing is to construct a compression function on 2n bits using a block cipher with an n-bit block size. All optimally secure double block length hash functions known in the literature employ a cipher with a key space of double block size, 2n-bit. On the other hand, no optimally secure compression functions built from a cipher with an n-bit key space are known. Our work deals with this problem. Firstly, we prove that for a wide class of compression functions with two calls to its underlying n-bit keyed block cipher collisions can be found in about \(2^{n/2}\) queries. This attack applies, among others, to functions where the output is derived from the block cipher outputs in a linear way. This observation demonstrates that all security results of designs using a cipher with 2n-bit key space crucially rely on the presence of these extra n key bits. The main contribution of this work is a proof that this issue can be resolved by allowing the compression function to make one extra call to the cipher. We propose a family of compression functions making three block cipher calls that asymptotically achieves optimal collision resistance up to \(2^{n(1-\varepsilon )}\) queries and preimage resistance up to \(2^{3n(1-\varepsilon )/2}\) queries, for any \(\varepsilon >0\). To our knowledge, this is the first optimally collision secure double block length construction using a block cipher with single length key space. We additionally prove this class of functions indifferentiable from random functions in about \(2^{n/2}\) queries, and demonstrate that no other function in this direction achieves a bound of similar kind.     

Optimal sliding mode control for nonlinear systems with time-delay

This paper is concerned with the sliding mode control (SMC) for a class of nonlinear systems with time-delay. A novel optimal sliding mode is proposed by using the successive approximation approach (SAA). The stability of the nonlinear sliding mode is analyzed. The switching manifold ensures that the state trajectories of the closed-loop system converge to zero in an optimal fashion on the ideal sliding surface. Furthermore, the convergence velocity of every state trajectory on the ideal sliding surface can be adjusted through choosing the parameters of the quadratic performance index. A numerical simulation is given to show the effectiveness of the proposed design approach.     

Optimal control using noisy data

Pseudoinversion, reduction, and maximum likelihood methods are applied to solve the optimal control problem for linear systems. The problem is reduced to the problem of moments with noisy data. Balanced suppression of noise and false signals in optimal control is considered.Translated from Vychislitel'naya i Prikladnaya Matematika, No. 64, pp. 122–130, 1988.     

Optimal control for age-structured population dynamics of incomplete data

We are concerned with the control question for linear age-structured population dynamics of incomplete initial data. More precisely, the initial population age distribution is supposed to be unknown. We here generalize the notion of no-regret control of Lions (1992) [10] to such singular population dynamics, following the method by Nakoulima, Omrane and Vélin (2000) [16]. We prove that the problem we are considering has a unique no-regret control that we characterize by a singular optimality system.     

Optimal control of heterogeneous systems: Basic theory

A general model of a heterogeneous control system is introduced in the form of a first order distributed system with nonlocal dynamics and exogenous side-conditions. The heterogeneity is represented by a parameter taking values in an abstract measurable space, so that both continuous and discrete heterogeneity, as well as probabilistic heterogeneity without density, are included. A distributed and a lumped controls are involved, the latter appearing also in the side conditions. An existence theorem is proved for the uncontrolled system, and the sensitivity of the solution with respect to the control variables is estimated. The main result is an optimality condition in the form of the Pontryagin local maximum principle. A global maximum principle holds for the distributed control under an additional condition that rules out discrete measurable heterogeneity spaces. A number of possible applications are outlined: age-structured systems, size-structured systems, (nonlocal) advection-reaction equations, static parametric heterogeneity in epidemiology, and two-stage control systems with uncertain switching time.     

Optimal control of delay systems via block pulse functions

The concept of coefficient shift matrix is introduced to represent delay variables in block pulse series. The optimal control of a linear delay system with quadratic performance index is then studied via block pulse functions, which convert the problems into the minimization of a quadratic form with linear algebraic equation constraints. The solution of the two-point boundary-value problem with both delay and advanced arguments is circumvented. The control variable obtained is piecewise constant.     

Optimal control of a vector borne disease with horizontal transmission

The paper presents the optimal control applied to a vector borne disease with direct transmission in host population. First, we show the existence of the control problem and then use both analytical and numerical techniques to investigate that there are cost effective control efforts for prevention of direct and indirect transmission of disease. In order to do this three control functions are used, one for vector-reduction strategies and the other two for personal (human) protection and blood screening, respectively. We completely characterize the optimal control and compute the numerical solution of the optimality system using an iterative method.     

Optimal sliding mode control of single degree-of-freedom hysteretic structural system

This paper addresses the controller design problem of a nonlinear single degree-of-freedom structural system excited by the earthquake. Bouc–Wen model, as an efficient hysteresis modeling method, is used to model the system nonlinearity. Sliding mode control (SMC), due to its robustness in dealing with uncertainty, is utilized as the main control strategy. An optimal sliding surface is presented which minimizes the displacement and control force in terms of a quadratic cost function. Two numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy subject to three earthquakes of El-Centro, Rinaldi and Kobe. Simulation results show a significant and considerable reduction in structural response and indicate that the performance of suggested optimal SMC strategy is remarkable.     

Optimal synthesis in a control problem with Lipschitz input data

We propose a numerical algorithm for constructing an optimal synthesis in the control problem for a nonlinear system on a fixed time interval. We estimate the difference between the values of the cost functional on optimal trajectories and on the trajectories constructed according to this algorithm. The operation of the algorithm is illustrated by solving model examples on the plane.     

Optimal managing of forest structure using data simulated optimal control

We analyze the deterministic infinite time horizon optimal control model aimed to determine optimal areas forested by particular tree species in Drahanska highlands in the Czech Republic. Facing the limitations in original data available we suggest a simulation technique to generate valid full scope data and to estimate correct underlaying functions. The simulation procedure, based on the experts suggestions and comments, is described in detail and the economic interpretations of the assumptions made are provided. Subsequently, we develop the optimal control model given the nonlinear cost and revenue functions and find its analytical solution. The results obtained are discussed with respect to forestry practice and further application of our model. The presented approach intends to be a valid basement for further thorough study of related dynamical decision problems in the Czech forestry business.     

Optimal production run length for products sold with warranty

This article studies the optimal production run length for a deteriorating production system in which the products are sold with free minimal repair warranty. The deterioration process of the system is characterized by a two-state continuous-time Markov chain. For products sold with free minimal repair warranty, we show that there exists a unique optimal production run length such that the expected total cost per item is minimized. Since there is no closed form expression for the optimal production run length, an approximate solution is derived. In addition, three special cases which provide bounds for searching the optimal production run length are investigated and some sensitivity analysis is carried out to study the effects of the model parameters on the optimal production run length. Finally, a numerical example is given to evaluate the performance of the optimal production run length.     

Optimal two-sided boundary control of heat transmission in a rod. Hyperbolic model

We consider the mixed problem for one-dimensional hyperbolic system of thermal conductivity equations. We construct a class of boundary controls that provide given distribution on phase vector (T, q) in a given moment of time. From this class we choose a control by the Lagrange method that minimizes a square functional of loss.     

Optimal control for the dam problem

Consider the variational inequality for the rectangular dam problem and assume that fluid can be withdrawn from the bottom at a rate proportional tok(x). Denote byp(x, y) the pressure of the fluid in the dam corresponding to a particular choice ofk. Consideringk(x) as a control variable varying in a class {0k(x)N, k(x)dxM}, we introduce the functionalJ(k)=g(y)p(x, y) whereg(y) is a given positive and monotone nondecreasing function. We characterize the controlsk ₀ which minimizeJ(k). This work is partially supported by National Science Foundation MCS-8300293     

Optimal control laws for traffic flow

Optimal “on–off” laws for the traffic signals are developed based on the bilinear control problem with the binary constraints. A Lyapunov function based feedback law for regulating traffic congestions is developed. Also, a real-time optimal signal law is developed using a novel binary optimization method. Both methods are tested and compared, and our tests demonstrate that the both methods provide very effective and efficient traffic control laws.     

Optimal control policies for ambulance diversion

Ambulance diversion (AD) is used by emergency departments (EDs) to relieve congestion by requesting ambulances to bypass the ED and transport patients to another facility. We study optimal AD control policies using a Markov Decision Process (MDP) formulation that minimizes the average time that patients wait beyond their recommended safety time threshold. The model assumes that patients can be treated in one of two treatment areas and that the distribution of the time to start treatment at the neighboring facility is known. Assuming Poisson arrivals and exponential times for the length of stay in the ED, we show that the optimal AD policy follows a threshold structure, and explore the behavior of optimal policies under different scenarios. We analyze the value of information on the time to start treatment in the neighboring hospital, and show that optimal policies depend strongly on the congestion experienced by the other facility. Simulation is used to compare the performance of the proposed MDP model to that of simple heuristics under more realistic assumptions. Results indicate that the MDP model performs significantly better than the tested heuristics under most cases. Finally, we discuss practical issues related to the implementation of the policies prescribed by the MDP.     

Optimal control problems for wave equations

The problem on minimizing a quadratic functional on trajectories of the wave equation is considered. We assume that the density of external forces is a control function. A control problem for a partial differential equation is reduced to a control problem for a countable system of ordinary differential equations by use of the Fourier method. The controllability problem for this countable system is considered. Conditions of the noncontrollability for some wave equations were obtained.     

Optimal strategies for water quality control

In this paper, the use of optimal control theory to obtain optimal strategies for the control of aquatic models is illustrated. Several types of control variables are used including the rate of nutrient application and the rates of change of nutrient concentration in both the phytoplankton and zooplankton populations. Techniques are given to show how optimal control theory can be applied to several models with different states and control variables constraints. Explicit expressions and optimality conditions are given for singular controls whenever they exist. Some numerical techniques are suggested to couple the optimal control parts in the proper sequence.