Ensembles of Hyperbolic PDEs: Stabilization by Backstepping

For the quite extensively developed PDE backstepping methodology for coupled linear hyperbolic PDEs, we provide a generalization from finite collections of such PDEs, whose states at each location in space are vector-valued, to previously unstudied infinite (continuum) ensembles of such hyperbolic PDEs, whose states are function-valued. The motivation for studying such systems comes from traffic applications (where driver and vehicle characteristics are continuously parametrized), fluid and structural applications, and future applications in population dynamics, including epidemiology. Our design is of an exponentially stabilizing scalar-valued control law for a PDE system in two independent dimensions, one spatial dimension and one ensemble dimension. In the process of generalizing PDE backstepping from finite to infinite collections of PDE systems, we generalize the results for PDE backstepping kernels to the continuously parametrized Goursat-form PDEs that govern such continuously parametrized kernels. The theory is illustrated with a simulation example, which is selected so that the kernels are explicitly solvable, to lend clarity and interpretability to the simulation results.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, to be publishe

Control Problems for Conservation Laws with Traffic Applications

Conservation and balance laws on networks have been the subject of much research interest given their wide range of applications to real-world processes, particularly traffic flow. This open access monograph is the first to investigate different types of control problems for conservation laws that arise in the modeling of vehicular traffic. Four types of control problems are discussed - boundary, decentralized, distributed, and Lagrangian control - corresponding to, respectively, entrance points and tolls, traffic signals at junctions, variable speed limits, and the use of autonomy and communication. Because conservation laws are strictly connected to Hamilton-Jacobi equations, control of the latter is also considered. An appendix reviewing the general theory of initial-boundary value problems for balance laws is included, as well as an appendix illustrating the main concepts in the theory of conservation laws on networks

Control Problems for Conservation Laws with Traffic Applications

Conservation and balance laws on networks have been the subject of much research interest given their wide range of applications to real-world processes, particularly traffic flow. This open access monograph is the first to investigate different types of control problems for conservation laws that arise in the modeling of vehicular traffic. Four types of control problems are discussed - boundary, decentralized, distributed, and Lagrangian control - corresponding to, respectively, entrance points and tolls, traffic signals at junctions, variable speed limits, and the use of autonomy and communication. Because conservation laws are strictly connected to Hamilton-Jacobi equations, control of the latter is also considered. An appendix reviewing the general theory of initial-boundary value problems for balance laws is included, as well as an appendix illustrating the main concepts in the theory of conservation laws on networks