On contraction analysis for non-linear systems

This paper derives new results in non-linear system analysis using methods inspired from fluid mechanics and differential geometry. Based on a differential analysis of convergence, these results may be viewed as generalizing the classical Krasovskii theorem, and more loosely, linear eigenvalue analysis. A central feature is that convergence and limit behavior are in a sense treated separately, leading to significant conceptual simplifications. The approach is illustrated by controller and observer designs for simple physical examples. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.