Stabilization of the stationary motions of non-holonomic mechanical systems

Abstract

The possible stabilization of the unstable stationary motions of a non-holonomic system is studied from the standpoint of general control theory /1, 2/. As distinct from the case previously considered /3/, when forces of a certain structure are applied with respect to both positional and cyclical coordinates, the stabilization is obtained here by applying control forces only with respect to the cyclical coordinates /4/; the control forces may be applied with respect to some or all of the cyclical coordinates, and depend on the positional coordinates, the velocities, and the corresponding cyclical momenta. It is shown that, just as in the case of holonomic systems /5, 6/, depending on the control properties of the corresponding linear subsystem, the stationary motions, whether stable or unstable, can be stabilized, up to asymptotic stability with respect to all the phase variables, or asymptotic stability with respect to some of the phase variables and stability with respect to the remaining variables. The type of stabilization with respect to the given phase variables depends on the Lyapunov transformations which are needed in order to reduce the critical cases obtained to singular cases /7, 8/.