A minimax optimal control strategy for partially observable uncertain quasi-Hamiltonian systems

A stochastic minimax optimal control strategy for partially observable uncertain quasi-Hamiltonian systems is proposed. First, the stochastic optimal control problem of a partially observable nonlinear uncertain quasi-Hamiltonian system is converted into that of a completely observable linear uncertain system based on a theorem due to Charalambous and Elliot. Then, the converted stochastic optimal control problem is solved by a minimax optimal control strategy based on stochastic averaging method and stochastic differential game. The worst-case disturbances and the optimal controls are obtained by solving a Hamilton-Jacobi-Isaacs (HJI) equation. As an example, the stochastic minimax optimal control of a partially observable Duffing-van der Pol oscillator with uncertain disturbances is worked out in detail to illustrate the procedure and effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.