scholarly journals Rapid Solution of Optimal Control Problems by a Functional Spreadsheet Paradigm: A Practical Method for the Non-Programmer

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
Chahid Ghaddar

We devise a practical and systematic spreadsheet solution paradigm for general optimal control problems. The paradigm is based on an adaptation of a partial-parametrization direct solution method which preserves the original mathematical optimization statement, but transforms it into a simplified nonlinear programming problem (NLP) suitable for Excel NLP solver. A rapid solution strategy is implemented by a tiered arrangement of pure elementary calculus functions in conjunction with Excel NLP solver. With the aid of the calculus functions, a cost index and constraints are represented by equivalent formulas that fully encapsulate an underlining parametrized dynamical system. Excel NLP solver is then employed to minimize (or maximize) the cost index formula, by varying decision parameters, subject to the constraints formulas. The paradigm is demonstrated for several fixed and free-time nonlinear optimal control problems involving integral and implicit dynamic constraints with direct comparison to published results obtained by fundamentally different methods. Practically, applying the paradigm involves no more than defining a few formulas using basic Excel spreadsheet skills.

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elimboto M. Yohana ◽  
Mapundi K. Banda

AbstractA computational investigation of optimal control problems which are constrained by hyperbolic systems of conservation laws is presented. The general framework is to employ the adjoint-based optimization to minimize the cost functional of matching-type between the optimal and the target solution. Extension of the numerical schemes to second-order accuracy for systems for the forward and backward problem are applied. In addition a comparative study of two relaxation approaches as solvers for hyperbolic systems is undertaken. In particular optimal control of the 1-D Riemann problem of Euler equations of gas dynamics is studied. The initial values are used as control parameters. The numerical flow obtained by optimal initial conditions matches accurately with observations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Han ◽  
Bo Xiao ◽  
Xi-Sheng Zhan ◽  
Jie Wu ◽  
Hongling Gao

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate time-optimal control problems for multiple unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems to achieve predefined flying shape. Design/methodology/approach Two time-optimal protocols are proposed for the situations with or without human control input, respectively. Then, Pontryagin’s minimum principle approach is applied to deal with the time-optimal control problems for UAV systems, where the cost function, the initial and terminal conditions are given in advance. Moreover, necessary conditions are derived to ensure that the given performance index is optimal. Findings The effectiveness of the obtained time-optimal control protocols is verified by two contrastive numerical simulation examples. Consequently, the proposed protocols can successfully achieve the prescribed flying shape. Originality/value This paper proposes a solution to solve the time-optimal control problems for multiple UAV systems to achieve predefined flying shape.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Jinghao Zhu ◽  
Shangrui Zhao ◽  
Guohua Liu

This paper presents a backward differential flow for solving singular optimal control problems. By using Krotov equivalent transformation, the cost functional is converted to a class of global optimization problems. Some properties of the flow are given to reveal the significant relationship between the dynamic of the flow and the geometry of the feasible set. The proposed method is also used in solving a class of variational problems. Some examples are illustrated.


Author(s):  
Mahmood Dadkhah ◽  
Kamal Mamehrashi

In this paper, a numerical technique based on the Hartley series for solving a class of time-delayed optimal control problems (TDOCPs) is introduced. The main idea is converting such TDOCPs into a system of algebraic equations. Thus, we first expand the state and control variables in terms of the Hartley series with undetermined coefficients. The delay terms in the problem under consideration are expanded in terms of the Hartley series. Applying the operational matrices of the Hartley series including integration, differentiation, dual, product, delay, and substituting the estimated functions into the cost function, the given TDOCP is reduced to a system of algebraic equations to be solved. The convergence of the proposed method is extensively investigated. At last, the precision and applicability of the proposed method is studied through different types of numerical examples.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingmeng Wei ◽  
Jiongmin Yong ◽  
Zhiyong Yu

An optimal control problem is considered for linear stochastic differential equations with quadratic cost functional. The coefficients of the state equation and the weights in the cost functional are bounded operators on the spaces of square integrable random variables. The main motivation of our study is linear quadratic (LQ, for short) optimal control problems for mean-field stochastic differential equations. Open-loop solvability of the problem is characterized as the solvability of a system of linear coupled forward-backward stochastic differential equations (FBSDE, for short) with operator coefficients, together with a convexity condition for the cost functional. Under proper conditions, the well-posedness of such an FBSDE, which leads to the existence of an open-loop optimal control, is established. Finally, as applications of our main results, a general mean-field LQ control problem and a concrete mean-variance portfolio selection problem in the open-loop case are solved.


Author(s):  
Isaac Tawiah ◽  
Yinglei Song

Abstract In this paper, a generalized technique for solving a class of nonlinear optimal control problems is proposed. The optimization problem is formulated based on the cost-to-go functional approach and the optimal solution can be obtained by Bellman’s technique. Specifically, a continuous nonlinear system is first discretized and a set of equality constraints can be obtained from the discretization. We show that, under a certain condition, the optimal solution of a problem in this class can be approximated by a solution of the set of equality constraints within any precision and the system is guaranteed to be stable under a control signal obtained from the solution. An iterative approach is then applied to numerically solve the set of equality constraints. The technique is tested on a nonlinear control problem from the class and simulation results show that the approach is not only effective but also leads to a fast convergence and accurate optimal solution.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1185-1201 ◽  
Author(s):  
PK Sahu ◽  
S Saha Ray

This paper presents efficient numerical techniques for solving fractional optimal control problems (FOCP) based on orthonormal wavelets. These wavelets are like Legendre wavelets, Chebyshev wavelets, Laguerre wavelets and Cosine And Sine (CAS) wavelets. The formulation of FOCP and properties of these wavelets are presented. The fractional derivative considered in this problem is in the Caputo sense. The performance index of FOCP has been considered as function of both state and control variables and the dynamic constraints are expressed by fractional differential equation. These wavelet methods are applied to reduce the FOCP as system of algebraic equations by applying the method of constrained extremum which consists of adjoining the constraint equations to the performance index by a set of undetermined Lagrange multipliers. These algebraic systems are solved numerically by Newton's method. Illustrative examples are discussed to demonstrate the applicability and validity of the wavelet methods.


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