The stability of an inverted pendulum with a vibrating suspension point

The problem of stabilizing the upper vertical (inverted) position of a pendulum using vibration of the suspension point is considered. The periodic function describing the vibrations of the suspension point is assumed to be arbitrary but possessing small amplitudes, and slight viscous damping is taken into account. A formula is obtained for the limit of the region of stability of the solutions of Hill's equation with damping in the neighbourhood of the zeroth natural frequency. The analytical and numerical results are compared and show good agreement. An asymptotic formula is derived for the critical stabilization frequency of the upper vertical position of the pendulum. It is shown that the effect of viscous damping on the critical frequency is of the third-order of smallness and, in all the examples considered, when viscous damping is taken into account the critical frequency increases. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.