Control of interconnected nonlinear delay differential equations inW 2 (1)

Our main interest in this paper is the resolution of the problem of controllability of interconnected nonlinear delay systems in function space, from which hopefully the existence of an optimal control law can be deduced later. We insist that each subsystem be controlled by its own variables while taking into account the interacting effects. This is the recent basic insight of 13] on ordinary differential systems. Controllability is deduced for the composite system from the assumption of controllability of each free subsystem and a growth condition of the interconnecting structure. Conditions for a free system’s controllability are given. One application is presented. The insight it provides for the growth of global economy has important policy implications.