Large-Scale Dynamic Systems

The unique interdisciplinary approach examines relationship between stability and structure of complex dynamic systems. Its application ranges from competitive-cooperative models in ecology and economics to control of spacecraft and power systems.The author, a Professor of Electrical Engineering at California's Santa Clara University, defines large-scale systems as nonlinear and time-varying interaction of dynamic subsystems. Stability of the overall system is determined from stability properties of the subsystems and the nature of their interconnections. The concept of decentralized control and estimation is introduced for efficient stabilization and optimization of complex systems using local subsystem feedback and vector Liapunov methods. Decentrally stabilized large systems are robust to uncertainty in the interconnection structure and environmental fluctuations. Appropriate for graduate students studying multi-agent systems in engineering, ecology, economics, and sustainability of complex systems; this volume is also a valuable resource for engineers working in control of spacecraft, large power networks, and networked multi-robot systems.