Another Jacobi sufficiency criterion for optimal control with smooth constraints

In order to tighten the gap between necessary and sufficient conditions, new second-order sufficient conditions are developed for optimal control problems, where the control set is given by smooth functions. When the control set is polyhedral, our criterion generalizes prior results of the same kind, namely, the Jacobi criterion in Hamiltonian form and that in Lagrangian form (Refs. 1–3).The research of V. Zeidan was supported by NSERC Grant A-8570, which is gratefully acknowledged.     

Testing the Gumbel Hypothesis Via the Pot-Method

We consider an i.i.d. sample, generated by some distribution function, which belongs to the domain of attraction of an extreme value distribution with unknown shape and scale parameters. We treat the scale parameter as a nuisance parameter and establish for the hypothesis of Gumbel domain of attraction an asymptotically optimal test based on those observations among the sample, which exceed a given threshold sequence. Asymptotic optimality is achieved along certain contiguous extreme value alternatives within the concept of local asymptotic normality (LAN). Adaptive test procedures exist under restrictive assumptions. The finite sample size behavior of the proposed test is studied by simulations and it is compared to that of a test based on the sample coefficient of variation.     

线性脉冲控制系统的能控性与最优控制

首先讨论了一类线性随机脉冲控制系统的精确能控性质,给出了该类控制系统的脉冲精确能控的等价的代数判据.然后提出了一个确定性的二维线性脉冲控制系统的时间-脉冲强度最优控制问题;利用动态规划原理,给出了脉冲最优控制的反馈形式和值函数的显式表达式;说明了值函数在整个平面上是连续的,在左右两个半平面的内部还是连续可微的.     

Admissible investment strategies in continuous trading

We consider a situation where relative prices of assets may change continuously and also have discrete jumps at random time points. The problem is the one of portfolio optimization. If the utility function used is the logarithm, we first argue that an optimal investment plan exists. Secondly, we show that any such plan has a certain optimality property known to hold also in discrete time models. Moreover, we show that this optimality criterion can be simplified significantly. In particular we show how admissibility can be related directly to observable characteristics of the investment strategy.     

A non-linear congestion network model for planning internal movement in the Hajj

A non-linear congestion network model is developed for the Hajj case. The Hajj is one of the World's largest mass movements, according to religious rituals. Every year about two and a half million people gather to perform religious rituals. The objective of the model is to minimize traffic congestion and overcrowding of holy sites. The constraints of the model are religious, spatial and time constraints. The model developed and applied for this case assisted in easing overcrowding and planning for expansions in routes and holy sites. The model is effective in providing quantitative background for general policy decision on the Hajj transportation.     

Heterogeneous time preferences and the distribution of wealth

This paper shows that when households are heterogeneous with respect to time preference, the capital market functions as a powerful mechanism generating and maintaining a highly skewed distribution of wealth. A simple model of household savings is embedded into (1) a consumption loans economy and (2) a productive capital economy. The robustness of the conclusions is tested by relaxing some of the simplifying assumptions. Various counteracting instruments of social policy are discussed.     

Investigation of polynomial algorithms for solving the three-index planar assignment problem

Under certain additional conditions imposed on the coefficients of the objective function in the three-index planar assignment problem, a large series of computational experiments aimed at the investigation of four polynomial algorithms for finding an asymptotically optimal solution of this problem is conducted.     

Approximate Gradient Projection Method with Runge-Kutta Schemes for Optimal Control Problems

We consider an optimal control problem for systems governed by ordinary differential equations with control constraints. The state equation is discretized by the explicit fourth order Runge-Kutta scheme and the controls are approximated by discontinuous piecewise affine ones. We then propose an approximate gradient projection method that generates sequences of discrete controls and progressively refines the discretization during the iterations. Instead of using the exact discrete directional derivative, which is difficult to calculate, we use an approximate derivative of the cost functional defined by discretizing the continuous adjoint equation by the same Runge-Kutta scheme and the integral involved by Simpson's integration rule, both involving intermediate approximations. The main result is that accumulation points, if they exist, of sequences constructed by this method satisfy the weak necessary conditions for optimality for the continuous problem. Finally, numerical examples are given.     

Capital budgeting and optimal timing of investments in flexible manufacturing systems

This paper investigates the financial-economic decision process for investments in flexible manufacturing systems (FMS). Contrary to popular belief, we show that conventional capital budgeting techniques can be used to make such investment decisions. First, we identify theoverall impact of installing an FMS and present guidelines for a cash flow forecasting model. We then present ways in which to incorporate uncertainty in these cash flows within a risk-adjusted discount rate. These expected cash flows and the discount rate are used in calculating the net present value (NPV). Once the capital budgeting analysis is completed, a critical issue facing the firm is the optimal timing of the installation. We reinterpret the general results on optimal timing of investments within the special context of an FMS project. Finally, we illustrate the above technique via a stylized example.     

一类最优投资随机控制模型的马氏链算法

现代金融经济中的很多问题可以构建成随机控制模型,而随机控制的求解却存在一定的困难.马氏链算法应该是一种有效的求解随机控制问题的数值方法.本文以Claus Munk的工作为基础,针对一类最优投资模型,具体确定了马氏链的转移矩阵并证明其满足算法收敛条件,并用MATLAB语言编成一个程序实现.