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Abstract

This paper shows how to find lower bounds on, and sometimes solve globally, a large class of nonlinear optimal control problems with impulsive controls using semi-definite programming (SDP). This is done by relaxing an optimal control problem into a measure differential problem. The manipulation of the measures by their moments reduces the problem to a convergent series of standard linear matrix inequality (LMI) relaxations. After providing numerous academic examples, we apply the method to the impulsive rendezvous of two orbiting spacecrafts. As the method provides lower bounds on the global infimum, global optimality of the solutions can be guaranteed numerically by a posteriori simulations, and we can recover simultaneously the optimal impulse time and amplitudes by simple linear algebra.

Abstract

We describe a new temporal verification framework for safety and robustness analysis of nonlinear control laws, our target application being a space launcher vehicle. Robustness analysis, formulated as a nonconvex nonlinear optimization problem on admissible trajectories corresponding to piecewise polynomial dynamics, is relaxed into a convex linear programming problem on measures. This infinite-dimensional problem is then formulated as a generalized moment problem, which allows for a numerical solution via a hierarchy of linear matrix inequality relaxations solved by semidefinite programming. The approach is illustrated on space launcher vehicle benchmark problems, in the presence of closed-loop nonlinearities (saturations and dead-zones) and axis coupling.

Abstract

Following a polynomial approach, many robust fixed-order controller design problems can be formulated as optimization problems whose set of feasible solutions is modelled by parametrized polynomial matrix inequalities (PMI). These feasibility sets are typically nonconvex. Given a parametrized PMI set, we provide a hierarchy of linear matrix inequality (LMI) problems whose optimal solutions generate inner approximations modelled by a single polynomial sublevel set. Those inner approximations converge in a strong analytic sense to the nonconvex original feasible set, with asymptotically vanishing conservatism. One may also impose the hierarchy of inner approximations to be nested or convex. In the latter case they do not converge any more to the feasible set, but they can be used in a convex optimization framework at the price of some conservatism. Finally, we show that the specific geometry of nonconvex polynomial stability regions can be exploited to improve convergence of the hierarchy of inner approximations.

Abstract

This paper presents a general framework for the design of linear controllers for linear systems subject to time-domain constraints. The design framework exploits sums-of-squares techniques to incorporate the time-domain constraints on closed-loop signals and leads to conditions in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). This control design framework offers, in addition to constraint satisfaction, also the possibility of including an optimization objective that can be used to minimize steady state (tracking) errors, to decrease the settling time, to reduce overshoot and so on. The effectiveness of the framework is shown via a numerical example.

Abstract

There exist efficient algorithms to project a point onto the intersection of a convex cone and an affine subspace. Those conic projections are in turn the work-horse of a range of algorithms in conic optimization, having a variety of applications in science, finance and engineering. This chapter reviews some of these algorithms, emphasizing the so-called regularization algorithms for linear conic optimization, and applications in polynomial optimization. This is a presentation of the material of several recent research articles; we aim here at clarifying the ideas, presenting them in a general framework, and pointing out important techniques.

Abstract

A small polygon is a convex polygon of unit diameter. We are interested in small polygons which have the largest area for a given number of vertices $n$. Many instances are already solved in the literature, namely for all odd $n$, and for $n=4, 6$ and $8$. Thus, for even $n\geq 10$, instances of this problem remain open. Finding those largest small polygons can be formulated as nonconvex quadratic programming problems which can challenge state-of-the-art global optimization algorithms. We show that a recently developed technique for global polynomial optimization, based on a semidefinite programming approach to the generalized problem of moments and implemented in the public-domain Matlab package GloptiPoly, can successfully find largest small polygons for $n=10$ and $n=12$. Therefore this significantly improves existing results in the domain. When coupled with accurate convex conic solvers, GloptiPoly can provide numerical guarantees of global optimality, as well as rigorous guarantees relying on interval arithmetic.

Abstract

We follow a polynomial approach to analyse strong stability of linear difference equations with rationally independent delays. Upon application of the Hermite stability criterion on the discrete-time homogeneous characteristic polynomial, assessing strong stability amounts to deciding positive definiteness of a multivariate trigonometric polynomial matrix. This latter problem is addressed with a converging hierarchy of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Numerical experiments indicate that certificates of strong stability can be obtained at a reasonable computational cost for state dimension and number of delays not exceeding 4 or 5.

Abstract

Using elementary duality properties of positive semidefinite moment matrices and polynomial sum-of-squares decompositions, we prove that the convex hull of rationally parameterized algebraic varieties is semidefinite representable (that is, it can be represented as a projection of an affine section of the cone of positive semidefinite matrices) in the case of (a) curves; (b) hypersurfaces parameterized by quadratics; and (c) hypersurfaces parameterized by bivariate quartics; all in an ambient space of arbitrary dimension.

Mots-Clés / Keywords

Abstract

HIFOO is a public-domain Matlab package initially designed for Hinfinity fixed-order controller synthesis, using nonsmooth nonconvex optimization techniques. It was later on extended to multi-objective synthesis, including strong and simultaneous stabilization under Hinfinity constraints. In this paper we describe a further extension of HIFOO to H2 performance criteria, making it possible to address mixed H2/Hinfinity synthesis. We give implementation details and report our extensive benchmark results.