Open AccessPitfalls in applying optimal control to dynamical systems: An overview and editorial perspective
Author(s) -
Urszula Ledzewicz,
Heinz Schättler
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
discrete and continuous dynamical systems. series b
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1553-524X
pISSN - 1531-3492
DOI - 10.3934/dcdsb.2022016
Subject(s) - perspective (graphical) , computer science , optimal control , control (management) , management science , operations research , data science , mathematical optimization , mathematics , artificial intelligence , economics
In recent years, an increasing number of papers have been published (and many more submitted for publication) in which optimal control theory is superficially applied to specific problems, especially from the biological and health sciences, but also many other fields. A lack of understanding of what it actually means to solve an optimal control problem—complex infinite-dimensional optimization problems—often leads to heavily overblown claims about optimality of solutions. In this editorial, a critical assessment of these efforts is given.