Nonholonomic Geometry, Mechanics and Control

Abstract

The motions of various mechanical systems which we wish to synthesize and control often have to satisfy certain kinds of restrictions imposed by the natural environment or the structure of the systems themselves. In mechanics, such restrictions are called constraints. Although the fundamental theory of mechanical systems with constraints was established and developed in the last century, recent research and developments in analytical mechanics and control theory from a geometric viewpoint have inspired a strong desire to reinterpret and reformulate the theory of constrained dynamics in an intrinsic geometric way. In addition, many practical problems in recent investigations in mechanical and electrical engineering, such as modeling and control of mobile robots and dextrons robotic hands, and the design and control of spacecraft, also show the need for a deeper understanding of the role that constraints play in mechanical systems.