Alexey V. Borisov

The reversal and chaotic attractor in the nonholonomic model of Chaplygin’s top

In this paper we consider the motion of a dynamically asymmetric unbalanced ball on a plane in a gravitational field. The point of contact of the ball with the plane is subject to a nonholonomic constraint which forbids slipping. The motion of the ball is governed by the nonholonomic reversible system of 6 differential equations. In the case of arbitrary displacement of the center of mass of the ball the system under consideration is a nonintegrable system without an invariant measure. Using qualitative and quantitative analysis we show that the unbalanced ball exhibits reversal (the phenomenon of reversal of the direction of rotation) for some parameter values. Moreover, by constructing charts of Lyaponov exponents we find a few types of strange attractors in the system, including the so-called figure-eight attractor which belongs to the genuine strange attractors of pseudohyperbolic type.

The dynamics of nonholonomic systems consisting of a spherical shell with a moving rigid body inside

In this paper we investigate two systems consisting of a spherical shell rolling without slipping on a plane and a moving rigid body fixed inside the shell by means of two different mechanisms. In the former case the rigid body is attached to the center of the ball on a spherical hinge. We show an isomorphism between the equations of motion for the inner body with those for the ball moving on a smooth plane. In the latter case the rigid body is fixed by means of a nonholonomic hinge. Equations of motion for this system have been obtained and new integrable cases found. A special feature of the set of tensor invariants of this system is that it leads to the Euler — Jacobi — Lie theorem, which is a new integration mechanism in nonholonomic mechanics. We also consider the problem of free motion of a bundle of two bodies connected by means of a nonholonomic hinge. For this system, integrable cases and various tensor invariants are found.

The jacobi integral in nonholonomic mechanics

In this paper we discuss conditions for the existence of the Jacobi integral (that generalizes energy) in systems with inhomogeneous and nonholonomic constraints. As an example, we consider in detail the problem of motion of the Chaplygin sleigh on a rotating plane and the motion of a dynamically symmetric ball on a uniformly rotating surface. In addition, we discuss illustrative mechanical models based on the motion of a homogeneous ball on a rotating table and on the Beltrami surface.

Dynamics and control of an omniwheel vehicle

A nonholonomic model of the dynamics of an omniwheel vehicle on a plane and a sphere is considered. A derivation of equations is presented and the dynamics of a free system are investigated. An explicit motion control algorithm for the omniwheel vehicle moving along an arbitrary trajectory is obtained.

Experimental investigation of the motion of a body with an axisymmetric base sliding on a rough plane

In this paper we investigate the dynamics of a body with a flat base (cylinder) sliding on a horizontal rough plane. For analysis we use two approaches. In one of the approaches using a friction machine we determine the dependence of friction force on the velocity of motion of cylinders. In the other approach using a high-speed camera for video filming and the method of presentation of trajectories on a phase plane for analysis of results, we investigate the qualitative and quantitative behavior of the motion of cylinders on a horizontal plane. We compare the results obtained with theoretical and experimental results found earlier. In addition, we give a systematic review of the well-known experimental and theoretical results in this area.

Dynamics of the suslov problem in a gravitational field: Reversal and strange attractors

In this paper, we present some results on chaotic dynamics in the Suslov problem which describe the motion of a heavy rigid body with a fixed point, subject to a nonholonomic constraint, which is expressed by the condition that the projection of angular velocity onto the body-fixed axis is equal to zero. Depending on the system parameters, we find cases of regular (in particular, integrable) behavior and detect various attracting sets (including strange attractors) that are typical of dissipative systems. We construct a chart of regimes with regions characterizing chaotic and regular regimes depending on the degree of conservativeness. We examine in detail the effect of reversal, which was observed previously in the motion of rattlebacks.

The dynamics of a body with an axisymmetric base sliding on a rough plane

In this paper we investigate the dynamics of a body with a flat base sliding on a horizontal and inclined rough plane under the assumption of linear pressure distribution of the body on the plane as the simplest dynamically consistent friction model. For analysis we use the descriptive function method similar to the methods used in the problems of Hamiltonian dynamics with one degree of freedom and allowing a qualitative analysis of the system to be made without explicit integration of equations of motion. In addition, we give a systematic review of the well-known experimental and theoretical results in this area.

The spatial problem of 2 bodies on a sphere. Reduction and stochasticity

In this paper, we consider in detail the 2-body problem in spaces of constant positive curvature S2 and S3. We perform a reduction (analogous to that in rigid body dynamics) after which the problem reduces to analysis of a two-degree-of-freedom system. In the general case, in canonical variables the Hamiltonian does not correspond to any natural mechanical system. In addition, in the general case, the absence of an analytic additional integral follows from the constructed Poincaré section. We also give a review of the historical development of celestial mechanics in spaces of constant curvature and formulate open problems.

Historical and critical review of the development of nonholonomic mechanics: the classical period

In this historical review we describe in detail the main stages of the development of nonholonomic mechanics starting from the work of Earnshaw and Ferrers to the monograph of Yu. I.Neimark and N.A. Fufaev. In the appendix to this review we discuss the d’Alembert–Lagrange principle in nonholonomic mechanics and permutation relations.

Regular and chaotic motions of a Chaplygin sleigh under periodic pulsed torque impacts

For a Chaplygin sleigh on a plane, which is a paradigmatic system of nonholonomic mechanics, we consider dynamics driven by periodic pulses of supplied torque depending on the instant spatial orientation of the sleigh. Additionally, we assume that a weak viscous force and moment affect the sleigh in time intervals between the pulses to provide sustained modes of the motion associated with attractors in the reduced three-dimensional phase space (velocity, angular velocity, rotation angle). The developed discrete version of the problem of the Chaplygin sleigh is an analog of the classical Chirikov map appropriate for the nonholonomic situation. We demonstrate numerically, discuss and classify dynamical regimes depending on the parameters, including regular motions and diffusive-like random walks associated, respectively, with regular and chaotic attractors in the reduced momentum dynamical equations.