Zero-Delay Rate Distortion via Filtering for Vector-Valued Gaussian Sources

We deal with zero-delay source coding of a vector-valued Gauss-Markov source subject to a mean-squared error (MSE) fidelity criterion characterized by the operational zero-delay vector-valued Gaussian rate distortion function (RDF). We address this problem by considering the nonanticipative RDF (NRDF) which is a lower bound to the causal optimal performance theoretically attainable (OPTA) function and operational zero-delay RDF. We recall the realization that corresponds to the optimal "test-channel" of the Gaussian NRDF, when considering a vector Gauss-Markov source subject to a MSE distortion in the finite time horizon. Then, we introduce sufficient conditions to show existence of solution for this problem in the infinite time horizon. For the asymptotic regime, we use the asymptotic characterization of the Gaussian NRDF to provide a new equivalent realization scheme with feedback which is characterized by a resource allocation (reverse-waterfilling) problem across the dimension of the vector source. We leverage the new realization to derive a predictive coding scheme via lattice quantization with subtractive dither and joint memoryless entropy coding. This coding scheme offers an upper bound to the operational zero-delay vector-valued Gaussian RDF. When we use scalar quantization, then for "r" active dimensions of the vector Gauss-Markov source the gap between the obtained lower and theoretical upper bounds is less than or equal to 0.254r + 1 bits/vector. We further show that it is possible when we use vector quantization, and assume infinite dimensional Gauss-Markov sources to make the previous gap to be negligible, i.e., Gaussian NRDF approximates the operational zero-delay Gaussian RDF. We also extend our results to vector-valued Gaussian sources of any finite memory under mild conditions. Our theoretical framework is demonstrated with illustrative numerical experiments.Comment: 32 pages, 9 figures, published in IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Signal Processin

Multi-agent decision-making dynamics inspired by honeybees

When choosing between candidate nest sites, a honeybee swarm reliably chooses the most valuable site and even when faced with the choice between near-equal value sites, it makes highly efficient decisions. Value-sensitive decision-making is enabled by a distributed social effort among the honeybees, and it leads to decision-making dynamics of the swarm that are remarkably robust to perturbation and adaptive to change. To explore and generalize these features to other networks, we design distributed multi-agent network dynamics that exhibit a pitchfork bifurcation, ubiquitous in biological models of decision-making. Using tools of nonlinear dynamics we show how the designed agent-based dynamics recover the high performing value-sensitive decision-making of the honeybees and rigorously connect investigation of mechanisms of animal group decision-making to systematic, bio-inspired control of multi-agent network systems. We further present a distributed adaptive bifurcation control law and prove how it enhances the network decision-making performance beyond that observed in swarms

Stability problems in constrained pendulum systems and time-delayed systems

In this dissertation, we study the boundary of stability of a class of linear mechanical systems as a function of a parameter. We consider two different systems under this class: a constrained double pendulum connected by a rigid rod and a state-feedback-controlled mechanical system with time delay. In the first system, the destabilizing parameter is the distance between the supports of the two pendulums. In the second system, the destabilizing parameter is the time delay. In the constrained double pendulum system, linear perturbation analysis is used to determine the natural frequency of the system. Our analysis reveals a zone of instability in what seemingly is an inherently stable configuration. This paradoxical behavior, which is not mentioned in the literature until now, is explained and a simple experiment confirms the instability predicted by the analysis. The approach is extended to a chain of pendulums consisting of n masses and n+1 links, which is a lumped parameter model for small vibrations of a catenary. Our work confirms the existence of asymmetric stable equilibrium configurations for a symmetric system. The problem of determining the critical distance for instability between two supporting points of a catenary has potential application in the design of novel mechanical switches, sensors, and valves. In the second part of the dissertation, we consider a linear mechanical system where a time delay exists in the linear state feedback control input. We seek a closed-form solution for the problem of determining the critical time delay for instability of the closed-loop system. Such a closed-form solution, which to the best of our knowledge is inexistent in the literature, offers an exact value for the critical time delay whereas a numerical solution is only approximate. We show that in the single-input/multi-output (SIMO) case of the class of systems under consideration, the problem may be reduced by using singular value decomposition to that of finding the roots of a certain polynomial. The obtained closed-form solution accurately predicts the smallest time delay that would render the SIMO system unstable when the control gain matrices have a unit rank. This technique however cannot be extended to the multi-input/multi-output case. Two numerical methods are therefore developed to solve this case. One method involves Newton’s iterations and the other method involves bisection for multiple functions

Stability analysis of linear ODE-PDE interconnected systems

Les systèmes de dimension infinie permettent de modéliser un large spectre de phénomènes physiques pour lesquels les variables d'états évoluent temporellement et spatialement. Ce manuscrit s'intéresse à l'évaluation de la stabilité de leur point d'équilibre. Deux études de cas seront en particulier traitées : l'analyse de stabilité des systèmes interconnectés à une équation de transport, et à une équation de réaction-diffusion. Des outils théoriques existent pour l'analyse de stabilité de ces systèmes linéaires de dimension infinie et s'appuient sur une algèbre d'opérateurs plutôt que matricielle. Cependant, ces résultats d'existence soulèvent un problème de constructibilité numérique. Lors de l'implémentation, une approximation est réalisée et les résultats sont conservatifs. La conception d'outils numériques menant à des garanties de stabilité pour lesquelles le degré de conservatisme est évalué et maîtrisé est alors un enjeu majeur. Comment développer des critères numériques fiables permettant de statuer sur la stabilité ou l'instabilité des systèmes linéaires de dimension infinie ? Afin de répondre à cette question, nous proposons ici une nouvelle méthode générique qui se décompose en deux temps. D'abord, sous l'angle de l'approximation sur les polynômes de Legendre, des modèles augmentés sont construits et découpent le système original en deux blocs : d'une part, un système de dimension finie approximant est isolé, d'autre part, l'erreur de troncature de dimension infinie est conservée et modélisée. Ensuite, des outils fréquentiels et temporels de dimension finie sont déployés afin de proposer des critères de stabilité plus ou moins coûteux numériquement en fonction de l'ordre d'approximation choisi. En fréquentiel, à l'aide du théorème du petit gain, des conditions suffisantes de stabilité sont obtenues. En temporel, à l'aide du théorème de Lyapunov, une sous-estimation des régions de stabilité est proposée sous forme d'inégalité matricielle linéaire et une sur-estimation sous forme de test de positivité. Nos deux études de cas ont ainsi été traitées à l'aide de cette méthodologie générale. Le principal résultat obtenu concerne le cas des systèmes EDO-transport interconnectés, pour lequel l'approximation et l'analyse de stabilité à l'aide des polynômes de Legendre mène à des estimations des régions de stabilité qui convergent exponentiellement vite. La méthode développée dans ce manuscrit peut être adaptée à d'autres types d'approximations et exportée à d'autres systèmes linéaires de dimension infinie. Ce travail ouvre ainsi la voie à l'obtention de conditions nécessaires et suffisantes de stabilité de dimension finie pour les systèmes de dimension infinie.Infinite dimensional systems allow to model a large panel of physical phenomena for which the state variables evolve both temporally and spatially. This manuscript deals with the evaluation of the stability of their equilibrium point. Two case studies are treated in particular: the stability analysis of ODE-transport, and ODE-reaction-diffusion interconnected systems. Theoretical tools exist for the stability analysis of these infinite-dimensional linear systems and are based on an operator algebra rather than a matrix algebra. However, these existence results raise a problem of numerical constructibility. During implementation, an approximation is performed and the results are conservative. The design of numerical tools leading to stability guarantees for which the degree of conservatism is evaluated and controlled is then a major issue. How can we develop reliable numerical criteria to rule on the stability or instability of infinite-dimensional linear systems? In order to answer this question, one proposes here a new generic method, which is decomposed in two steps. First, from the perspective of Legendre polynomials approximation, augmented models are built and split the original system into two blocks: on the one hand, a finite-dimensional approximated system is isolated, on the other hand, the infinite-dimensional truncation error is preserved and modeled. Then, frequency and time tools of finite dimension are deployed in order to propose stability criteria that have high or low numerical load depending on the approximated order. In frequencies, with the aid of the small gain theorem, sufficient stability conditions are obtained. In temporal, with the aid of the Lyapunov theorem, an under estimate of the stability regions is proposed as a linear matrix inequality and an over estimate as a positivity test. Our two case studies have been treated with this general methodology. The main result concerns the case of ODE-transport interconnected systems, for which the approximation and stability analysis using Legendre polynomials leads to exponentially fast converging estimates of stability regions. The method developed in this manuscript can be adapted to other types of approximations and exported to other infinite-dimensional linear systems. Thus, this work opens the way to obtain necessary and sufficient finite-dimensional conditions of stability for infinite-dimensional systems

Maximally localized states and causality in non commutative quantum theories

We give simple representations for quantum theories in which the position commutators are non vanishing constants. A particular representation reproduces results found using the Moyal star product. The notion of exact localization being meaningless in these theories, we adapt the notion of ``maximally localized states'' developed in another context . We find that gaussian functions play this role in a 2+1 dimensional model in which the non commutation relations concern positions only. An interpretation of the wave function in this non commutative geometry is suggested. We also analyze higher dimensional cases. A possible incidence on the causality issue for a Q.F.T with a non commuting time is sketched.Comment: 11 pages, Revtex. The presentation has been improved, the subsection on high dimensions has been modified. This version will appear in PR