P. S. Krishnaprasad

Orthogonal matching pursuit: recursive function approximation with applications to wavelet decomposition

We describe a recursive algorithm to compute representations of functions with respect to nonorthogonal and possibly overcomplete dictionaries of elementary building blocks e.g. affine (wavelet) frames. We propose a modification to the matching pursuit algorithm of Mallat and Zhang (1992) that maintains full backward orthogonality of the residual (error) at every step and thereby leads to improved convergence. We refer to this modified algorithm as orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP). It is shown that all additional computation required for the OMP algorithm may be performed recursively.<<ETX>>

Analysis and synthesis of feedforward neural networks using discrete affine wavelet transformations

A representation of a class of feedforward neural networks in terms of discrete affine wavelet transforms is developed. It is shown that by appropriate grouping of terms, feedforward neural networks with sigmoidal activation functions can be viewed as architectures which implement affine wavelet decompositions of mappings. It is shown that the wavelet transform formalism provides a mathematical framework within which it is possible to perform both analysis and synthesis of feedforward networks. For the purpose of analysis, the wavelet formulation characterizes a class of mappings which can be implemented by feedforward networks as well as reveals an exact implementation of a given mapping in this class. Spatio-spectral localization properties of wavelets can be exploited in synthesizing a feedforward network to perform a given approximation task. Two synthesis procedures based on spatio-spectral localization that reduce the training problem to one of convex optimization are outlined.

Equilibria and steering laws for planar formations

Abstract This paper presents a Lie group setting for the problem of control of formations, as a natural outcome of the analysis of a planar two-vehicle formation control law. The vehicle trajectories are described using the planar Frenet–Serret equations of motion, which capture the evolution of both the vehicle position and orientation for unit-speed motion subject to curvature (steering) control. The set of all possible (relative) equilibria for arbitrary G -invariant curvature controls is described (where G = SE (2) is a symmetry group for the control law), and a global convergence result for the two-vehicle control law is proved. An n -vehicle generalization of the two-vehicle control law is also presented, and the corresponding (relative) equilibria for the n -vehicle problem are characterized. Work is on-going to discover stability and convergence results for the n -vehicle problem.

Stabilization of rigid body dynamics by internal and external torques

In this paper we discuss the stabilization of the rigid body dynamics by external torques (gas jets) and internal torques (momentum wheels). Our starting point is a generalization of the stabilizing quadratic feedback law for a single external torque recently analyzed in Bloch and Marsden [Proc. 27th IEEE Conf. Dec. and Can., pp. 2238-2242 (1989b); Sys. Can. Letts., 14,341-346 (1990)] with quadratic feedback torques for internal rotors. We show that with such torques, the equations for the rigid body with momentum wheels are Hamiltonian with respect to a Lie-Poisson bracket structure. Further, these equations are shown to generalize the dual-spin equations analyzed by Krishnaprasad [Nonlin. Ana. Theory Methods and App., 9, 1011-1035 (1985)] and Sanchez de Alvarez [Ph.D. Diss. (1986)]. We establish stabilization with a single rotor by using the energy-Casimir method. We also show how to realize the external torque feedback equations using internal torques. Finally, extending some work of Montgomery [Am. J. Phys., 59, 394-398 (1990)J, we derive a formula for the attitude drift· for the rigid body-rotor system when it is perturbed away from a stable equilibrium and we indicate how to compensate for this.

Motion control of drift-free, left-invariant systems on Lie groups

In this paper we address the constructive controllability problem for drift-free, left-invariant systems on finite-dimensional Lie groups with fewer controls than state dimension. We consider small (/spl epsiv/) amplitude, low-frequency, periodically time-varying controls and derive average solutions for system behavior. We show how the pth-order average formula can be used to construct open-loop controls for point-to-point maneuvering of systems which require up to (p-1) iterations of Lie brackets to satisfy the Lie algebra controllability rank condition. In the cases p=2,3, we give algorithms for constructing these controls as a function of structure constants that define the control authority, i.e., the actuator capability, of the system. The algorithms are based on a geometric interpretation of the average formulas and produce sinusoidal controls that solve the constructive controllability problem with O(/spl epsiv//sup P/) accuracy in general (exactly if the Lie algebra is nilpotent). The methodology is applicable to a variety of control problems and is illustrated for the motion control problem of an autonomous underwater vehicle with as few as three control inputs. >

Approximate inversion of the Preisach hysteresis operator with application to control of smart actuators

Hysteresis poses a challenge for control of smart actuators. A fundamental approach to hysteresis control is inverse compensation. For practical implementation, it is desirable for the input function generated via inversion to have regularity properties stronger than continuity. In this paper, we consider the problem of constructing right inverses for the Preisach model for hysteresis. Under mild conditions on the density function, we show the existence and weak-star continuity of the right-inverse, when the Preisach operator is considered to act on Holder continuous functions. Next, we introduce the concept of regularization to study the properties of approximate inverse schemes for the Preisach operator. Then, we present the fixed point and closest-match algorithms for approximately inverting the Preisach operator. The convergence and continuity properties of these two numerical schemes are studied. Finally, we present the results of an open-loop trajectory tracking experiment for a magnetostrictive actuator.

The Euler-Poincaré equations and double bracket dissipation

This paper studies the perturbation of a Lie-Poisson (or, equivalently an Euler-Poincaré) system by a special dissipation term that has Brocketts double bracket form. We show that a formally unstable equilibrium of the unperturbed system becomes a spectrally and hence nonlinearly unstable equilibrium after the perturbation is added. We also investigate the geometry of this dissipation mechanism and its relation to Rayleigh dissipation functions. This work complements our earlier work (Bloch, Krishnaprasad, Marsden and Ratiu [1991, 1994]) in which we studied the corresponding problem for systems with symmetry with the dissipation added to the internal variables; here it is added directly to the group or Lie algebra variables. The mechanisms discussed here include a number of interesting examples of physical interest such as the Landau-Lifschitz equations for ferromagnetism, certain models for dissipative rigid body dynamics and geophysical fluids, and certain relative equilibria in plasma physics and stellar dynamics.

Echolocating Bats Use a Nearly Time-Optimal Strategy to Intercept Prey

Acquisition of food in many animal species depends on the pursuit and capture of moving prey. Among modern humans, the pursuit and interception of moving targets plays a central role in a variety of sports, such as tennis, football, Frisbee, and baseball. Studies of target pursuit in animals, ranging from dragonflies to fish and dogs to humans, have suggested that they all use a constant bearing (CB) strategy to pursue prey or other moving targets. CB is best known as the interception strategy employed by baseball outfielders to catch ballistic fly balls. CB is a time-optimal solution to catch targets moving along a straight line, or in a predictable fashion—such as a ballistic baseball, or a piece of food sinking in water. Many animals, however, have to capture prey that may make evasive and unpredictable maneuvers. Is CB an optimum solution to pursuing erratically moving targets? Do animals faced with such erratic prey also use CB? In this paper, we address these questions by studying prey capture in an insectivorous echolocating bat. Echolocating bats rely on sonar to pursue and capture flying insects. The bats prey may emerge from foliage for a brief time, fly in erratic three-dimensional paths before returning to cover. Bats typically take less than one second to detect, localize and capture such insects. We used high speed stereo infra-red videography to study the three dimensional flight paths of the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus, as it chased erratically moving insects in a dark laboratory flight room. We quantified the bats complex pursuit trajectories using a simple delay differential equation. Our analysis of the pursuit trajectories suggests that bats use a constant absolute target direction strategy during pursuit. We show mathematically that, unlike CB, this approach minimizes the time it takes for a pursuer to intercept an unpredictably moving target. Interestingly, the bats behavior is similar to the interception strategy implemented in some guided missiles. We suggest that the time-optimal strategy adopted by the bat is in response to the evolutionary pressures of having to capture erratic and fast moving insects.

Hamiltonian structures and stability for rigid bodies with flexible attachments

The dynamics of a rigid body with flexible attachments is studied. A general framework for problems of this type is established in the context of Poisson manifolds and reduction. A simple model for a rigid body with an attached linear extensible shear beam is worked out for illustration. Second, the Energy-Casimir method for proving nonlinear stability is recalled and specific stability criteria for our model example are worked out. The Poisson structure and stability results take into account vibrations of the string, rotations of the rigid body, their coupling at the point of attachment, and centrifugal and Coriolis forces.

Dissipation Induced Instabilities

The main goal of this paper is to prove that if the energy-momentum (or energy-Casimir) method predicts formal instability of a relative equilibrium in a Hamiltonian system with symmetry, then with the addition of dissipation, the relative equilibrium becomes spectrally and hence linearly and nonlinearly unstable. The energy-momentum method assumes that one is in the context of a mechanical system with a given symmetry group. Our result assumes that the dissipation chosen does not destroy the conservation law associated with the given symmetry group—thus, we consider internal dissipation. This also includes the special case of systems with no symmetry and ordinary equilibria. The theorem is proved by combining the techniques of Chetaev, who proved instability theorems using a special Chetaev-Lyapunov function, with those of Hahn, which enable one to strengthen the Chetaev results from Lyapunov instability to spectral instability. The main achievement is to strengthen Chetaev’s methods to the context of the block diagonalization version of the energy momentum method given by Lewis, Marsden, Posbergh, and Simo. However, we also give the eigenvalue movement formulae of Krein, MacKay and others both in general and adapted to the context of the normal form of the linearized equations given by the block diagonal form, as provided by the energy-momentum method. A number of specific examples, such as the rigid body with internal rotors, are provided to illustrate the results.