31,796 research outputs found
Real-Time Motion Planning of Legged Robots: A Model Predictive Control Approach
We introduce a real-time, constrained, nonlinear Model Predictive Control for
the motion planning of legged robots. The proposed approach uses a constrained
optimal control algorithm known as SLQ. We improve the efficiency of this
algorithm by introducing a multi-processing scheme for estimating value
function in its backward pass. This pass has been often calculated as a single
process. This parallel SLQ algorithm can optimize longer time horizons without
proportional increase in its computation time. Thus, our MPC algorithm can
generate optimized trajectories for the next few phases of the motion within
only a few milliseconds. This outperforms the state of the art by at least one
order of magnitude. The performance of the approach is validated on a quadruped
robot for generating dynamic gaits such as trotting.Comment: 8 page
Index theory and dynamical symmetry enhancement of M-horizons
We show that near-horizon geometries of 11-dimensional supergravity preserve
an even number of supersymmetries. The proof follows from Lichnerowicz type
theorems for two horizon Dirac operators, the field equations and Bianchi
identities, and the vanishing of the index of a Dirac operator on the
9-dimensional horizon sections. As a consequence of this, we also prove that
all M-horizons with non-vanishing fluxes admit a sl(2,R) subalgebra of
symmetries.Comment: Minor typos corrected. 22 pages, latex. Repeats equations and
descriptions from arXiv:1207.708
M-Horizons
We solve the Killing spinor equations and determine the near horizon
geometries of M-theory that preserve at least one supersymmetry. The M-horizon
spatial sections are 9-dimensional manifolds with a Spin(7) structure
restricted by geometric constraints which we give explicitly. We also provide
an alternative characterization of the solutions of the Killing spinor
equation, utilizing the compactness of the horizon section and the field
equations, by proving a Lichnerowicz type of theorem which implies that the
zero modes of a Dirac operator coupled to 4-form fluxes are Killing spinors. We
use this, and the maximum principle, to solve the field equations of the theory
for some special cases and present some examples.Comment: 36 pages, latex. Reference added, minor typos correcte
Grazing Collisions of Black Holes via the Excision of Singularities
We present the first simulations of non-headon (grazing) collisions of binary
black holes in which the black hole singularities have been excised from the
computational domain. Initially two equal mass black holes are separated a
distance and with impact parameter . Initial data are
based on superposed, boosted (velocity ) solutions of single black
holes in Kerr-Schild coordinates. Both rotating and non-rotating black holes
are considered. The excised regions containing the singularities are specified
by following the dynamics of apparent horizons. Evolutions of up to are obtained in which two initially separate apparent horizons are present
for . At that time a single enveloping apparent horizon forms,
indicating that the holes have merged. Apparent horizon area estimates suggest
gravitational radiation of about 2.6% of the total mass. The evolutions end
after a moderate amount of time because of instabilities.Comment: 2 References corrected, reference to figure update
Dirty black holes: Symmetries at stationary non-static horizons
We establish that the Einstein tensor takes on a highly symmetric form near
the Killing horizon of any stationary but non-static (and non-extremal) black
hole spacetime. [This follows up on a recent article by the current authors,
gr-qc/0402069, which considered static black holes.] Specifically, at any such
Killing horizon -- irrespective of the horizon geometry -- the Einstein tensor
block-diagonalizes into ``transverse'' and ``parallel'' blocks, and its
transverse components are proportional to the transverse metric. Our findings
are supported by two independent procedures; one based on the regularity of the
on-horizon geometry and another that directly utilizes the elegant nature of a
bifurcate Killing horizon. It is then argued that geometrical symmetries will
severely constrain the matter near any Killing horizon. We also speculate on
how this may be relevant to certain calculations of the black hole entropy.Comment: 21 pages; plain LaTe
Quasi-circular Orbits for Spinning Binary Black Holes
Using an effective potential method we examine binary black holes where the
individual holes carry spin. We trace out sequences of quasi-circular orbits
and locate the innermost stable circular orbit as a function of spin. At large
separations, the sequences of quasi-circular orbits match well with
post-Newtonian expansions, although a clear signature of the simplifying
assumption of conformal flatness is seen. The position of the ISCO is found to
be strongly dependent on the magnitude of the spin on each black hole. At close
separations of the holes, the effective potential method breaks down. In all
cases where an ISCO could be determined, we found that an apparent horizon
encompassing both holes forms for separations well inside the ISCO.
Nevertheless, we argue that the formation of a common horizon is still
associated with the breakdown of the effective potential method.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, submitted to PR
Massively Parallel Dantzig-Wolfe Decomposition Applied to Traffic Flow Scheduling
Optimal scheduling of air traffic over the entire National Airspace System is a computationally difficult task. To speed computation, Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition is applied to a known linear integer programming approach for assigning delays to flights. The optimization model is proven to have the block-angular structure necessary for Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition. The subproblems for this decomposition are solved in parallel via independent computation threads. Experimental evidence suggests that as the number of subproblems/threads increases (and their respective sizes decrease), the solution quality, convergence, and runtime improve. A demonstration of this is provided by using one flight per subproblem, which is the finest possible decomposition. This results in thousands of subproblems and associated computation threads. This massively parallel approach is compared to one with few threads and to standard (non-decomposed) approaches in terms of solution quality and runtime. Since this method generally provides a non-integral (relaxed) solution to the original optimization problem, two heuristics are developed to generate an integral solution. Dantzig-Wolfe followed by these heuristics can provide a near-optimal (sometimes optimal) solution to the original problem hundreds of times faster than standard (non-decomposed) approaches. In addition, when massive decomposition is employed, the solution is shown to be more likely integral, which obviates the need for an integerization step. These results indicate that nationwide, real-time, high fidelity, optimal traffic flow scheduling is achievable for (at least) 3 hour planning horizons
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