Geometric and topological approaches in nonlinear control theory

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Nonlinear control theory is an important branch of control theory, with numerous applications ranging from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance medical imaging systems to airplane guidance and navigation systems. The complexity and the diversity of nonlinear control systems yield substantial challenges for the control theorist, and even basic issues surrounding controllability and stabilizability of general nonlinear control systems are still not completely understood. The research directions we are proposing to investigate are meant to further our understanding of nonlinear control systems by shedding light on: The role of topology in stabilization, the possible relations between local geometric invariants and Small-Time Local Controllability, heat kernels of sub-Riemannian geometries and their asymptotics, as well as properties of the partial differential equations that occur in the stabilization of mechanical systems via energy shaping.