An information space view of "time": From clocks to open-loop control

Steven M. LaValle, Magnus Egerstedt

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This paper addresses the peculiar treatment that time receives when studying control systems. For example, why is the ability to perfectly observe time assumed implicitly in virtually all control formulations? What happens if this implicit assumption is violated? It turns out that some basic control results fall apart when time cannot be perfectly measured. To make this explicit, we introduce information space concepts that permit imperfect time information to be considered in the same way as imperfect state information. We then argue that classical open-loop control should be reconsidered as perfect time-feedback control. Following this, we introduce a notion of strongly open-loop control, which does not require perfect time observations. We provide some examples of these concepts and argue that many fascinating directions for future controls research emerge.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationEmergent Problems in Nonlinear Systems and Control
EditorsM. Thoma, F. Allgower, M. Morari
Pages93-106
Number of pages14
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Control and Information Sciences
Volume393
ISSN (Print)0170-8643

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Library and Information Sciences

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