International Journal of Control, Vol.81, No.2, 277-293, 2008
A numerical algorithm for optimal control of a class of hybrid systems: differential transformation based approach
A novel numerical algorithm based on differential transformation is proposed for optimal control of a class of hybrid systems with a predefined mode sequence. From the necessary conditions for optimality of hybrid systems, the hybrid optimal control problem is first converted into a two-point boundary value problem (TPBVP) with additional transverse conditions at the switching times. Then we propose a differential transformation algorithm for solving the TPBVP which may have discontinuities in the state and/or control input at the switching times. Using differential transformation, the hybrid optimal control problem reduces to a problem of solving a system of algebraic equations. The numerical solution is obtained in the form of a truncated Taylor series. By taking advantage of the special properties of the linear subsystems and a quadratic cost functional, the differential transformation algorithm can be further simplified for the switched linear quadratic optimal control problem. We analyse the error of the numerical solution computed by the differential transformation algorithm and some computational aspects are also discussed. The performance of the differential transformation algorithm is demonstrated through illustrative examples. The differential transformation algorithm has been shown to be simple to be implemented and computationally efficient.