About the book... The book provides an integrated treatment of continuous-time and discrete-time systems for two courses at postgraduate level, or one course at undergraduate and one course at postgraduate level. It covers mainly two areas of modern control theory, namely; system theory, and multivariable and optimal control. The coverage of the former is quite exhaustive while that of latter is adequate with significant provision of the necessary topics that enables a research student to comprehend various technical papers. The stress is on interdisciplinary nature of the subject. Practical control problems from various engineering disciplines have been drawn to illustrate the potential concepts. Most of the theoretical results have been presented in a manner suitable for digital computer programming along with the necessary algorithms for numerical computations.

Upper-level undergraduate text introduces aspects of optimal control theory: dynamic programming, Pontryagin's minimum principle, and numerical techniques for trajectory optimization. Numerous figures, tables. Solution guide available upon request. 1970 edition.

This comprehensive study of dynamic programming applied to numerical solution of optimization problems. It will interest aerodynamic, control, and industrial engineers, numerical analysts, and computer specialists, applied mathematicians, economists, and operations and systems analysts. Originally published in 1962. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

This textbook offers a concise yet rigorous introduction to calculus of variations and optimal control theory, and is a self-contained resource for graduate students in engineering, applied mathematics, and related subjects. Designed specifically for a one-semester course, the book begins with calculus of variations, preparing the ground for optimal control. It then gives a complete proof of the maximum principle and covers key topics such as the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman theory of dynamic programming and linear-quadratic optimal control. Calculus of Variations and Optimal Control Theory also traces the historical development of the subject and features numerous exercises, notes and references at the end of each chapter, and suggestions for further study. Offers a concise yet rigorous introduction Requires limited background in control theory or advanced mathematics Provides a complete proof of the maximum principle Uses consistent notation in the exposition of classical and modern topics Traces the historical development of the subject Solutions manual (available only to teachers) Leading universities that have adopted this book include: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ECE 553: Optimum Control Systems Georgia Institute of Technology ECE 6553: Optimal Control and Optimization University of Pennsylvania ESE 680: Optimal Control Theory University of Notre Dame EE 60565: Optimal Control