Optimal feedback control for a class of bottleneck problems (Q1067196)

The aim of this paper is to obtain the optimal feedback control for a control problem which is a model for the bottleneck problem in production processes. A linear, time-dependent plant with state vector x(.) is controlled by a control u(.) satisfying \(0\leq u(t)\leq Q(t)x(t)\) a.e. on \([t_ 0,T]\). It is desired to choose such a control so as to minimize a linear function of x(T). The author uses sufficient conditions to characterize an open-loop optimal control, from which he derives a closed-loop one.