This monograph is a collective work. The names appear ing on the front cover are those of the people who worked on every chapter. But the contributions of others were also very important: C. Risito for Chapters I, II and IV, K. Peiffer for III, IV, VI, IX R. J. Ballieu for I and IX, Dang Chau Phien for VI and IX, J. L. Corne for VII and VIII. The idea of writing this book originated in a seminar held at the University of Louvain during the academic year 1971-72. Two years later, a first draft was completed. However, it was unsatisfactory mainly because it was ex ce~sively abstract and lacked examples. It was then decided to write it again, taking advantage of -some remarks of the students to whom it had been partly addressed. The actual text is this second version. The subject matter is stability theory in the general setting of ordinary differential equations using what is known as Liapunov's direct or second method. We concentrate our efforts on this method, not because we underrate those which appear more powerful in some circumstances, but because it is important enough, along with its modern developments, to justify the writing of an up-to-date monograph. Also excellent books exist concerning the other methods, as for example R. Bellman [1953] and W. A. Coppel [1965].

The groundbreaking work of Russian mathematician A. M. Liapunov (1857–1918) on the stability of dynamical systems was overlooked for decades because of political turmoil. During the Cold War, when it was discovered that his method was applicable to the stability of aerospace guidance systems, interest in his research was rekindled. It has remained high ever since. This monograph on both the theory and applications of Liapunov's direct method reflects the work of a period when the theory had been studied seriously for some time and reached a degree of completeness and sophistication. It remains of interest to applied mathematicians in many areas. Topics include applications of the stability theorems to concrete problems, the converse of the main theorems, Liapunov functions with certain properties of rate of change, the sensitivity of the stability behavior to perturbations, the critical cases, and generalizations of the concept of stability.

In this book, we study theoretical and practical aspects of computing methods for mathematical modelling of nonlinear systems. A number of computing techniques are considered, such as methods of operator approximation with any given accuracy; operator interpolation techniques including a non-Lagrange interpolation; methods of system representation subject to constraints associated with concepts of causality, memory and stationarity; methods of system representation with an accuracy that is the best within a given class of models; methods of covariance matrix estimation; methods for low-rank matrix approximations; hybrid methods based on a combination of iterative procedures and best operator approximation; and methods for information compression and filtering under condition that a filter model should satisfy restrictions associated with causality and different types of memory. As a result, the book represents a blend of new methods in general computational analysis, and specific, but also generic, techniques for study of systems theory ant its particular branches, such as optimal filtering and information compression. - Best operator approximation, Non-Lagrange interpolation, Generic Karhunen-Loeve transform - Generalised low-rank matrix approximation - Optimal data compression - Optimal nonlinear filtering

This is the biggest, most comprehensive, and most prestigious compilation of articles on control systems imaginable. Every aspect of control is expertly covered, from the mathematical foundations to applications in robot and manipulator control. Never before has such a massive amount of authoritative, detailed, accurate, and well-organized information been available in a single volume. Absolutely everyone working in any aspect of systems and controls must have this book!

This book presents a modern and self-contained treatment of the Liapunov method for stability analysis, in the framework of mathematical nonlinear control theory. A Particular focus is on the problem of the existence of Liapunov functions (converse Liapunov theorems) and their regularity, whose interest is especially motivated by applications to automatic control. Many recent results in this area have been collected and presented in a systematic way. Some of them are given in extended, unified versions and with new, simpler proofs. In the 2nd edition of this successful book several new sections were added and old sections have been improved, e.g., about the Zubovs method, Liapunov functions for discontinuous systems and cascaded systems. Many new examples, explanations and figures were added making this book accessible and well readable for engineers as well as mathematicians.

The main purpose of developing stability theory is to examine dynamic responses of a system to disturbances as the time approaches infinity. It has been and still is the object of intense investigations due to its intrinsic interest and its relevance to all practical systems in engineering, finance, natural science and social science. This monograph provides some state-of-the-art expositions of major advances in fundamental stability theories and methods for dynamic systems of ODE and DDE types and in limit cycle, normal form and Hopf bifurcation control of nonlinear dynamic systems. - Presents comprehensive theory and methodology of stability analysis - Can be used as textbook for graduate students in applied mathematics, mechanics, control theory, theoretical physics, mathematical biology, information theory, scientific computation - Serves as a comprehensive handbook of stability theory for practicing aerospace, control, mechanical, structural, naval and civil engineers