arXiv subjects

Nikolaos Bekiaris-Liberis

Publications and source records attributed to Nikolaos Bekiaris-Liberis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Calibration of a Macroscopic Coupled People-Epidemic Transport PDE Model via Density and Velocity Computation from Microscopic Data

We introduce an approach for derivation and smoothing of macroscopic densities and velocities from people trajectories, obtained from microscopic position data of individuals within a football stadium. We compute macroscopic densities specifically for susceptible, infected, and exposed individuals, via detection of exposed individuals based on the duration of critical contacts between susceptible and infected. We then present and numerically solve a crowd flow - epidemic spreading PDE model using a finite volume scheme. Finally, we calibrate the model using the smoothed densities computed.

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arXiv2026

A Nonlinear CTH-Based Adaptive Cruise Controller With Safety and String Stability Guarantees

This paper studies the problem of longitudinal control, with safety and string stability guarantees, in vehicle platoons. A nonlinear adaptive cruise controller based on the Constant Time Headway (CTH) policy is designed for platoons of heterogeneous vehicles, that incorporates a speed-dependent nonlinear gain guaranteeing bounded vehicle speeds and a saturation-type nonlinearity to guarantee bounded (or non-aggressive) accelerations, while preserving collision-avoidance properties of time-headway-based spacing policies. By introducing a suitable spacing-error variable, explicit nonlinear error dynamics are obtained, allowing a direct analysis of the closed-loop system. It is shown that the collision-free region is positively invariant and that the proposed controller guarantees convergence of the spacing errors. Furthermore, nonlinear string-stability properties are established directly from the closed-loop dynamics without resorting to linearization or frequency-domain arguments. In particular, sufficient conditions are derived for $L_p$ string stability, $1\le p\le\infty$, with respect to disturbances, external inputs acting on the leading vehicle, and perturbations of the initial conditions.

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arXiv2026

Observer Design for a Class of ODE -- Continuum-PDE Cascade Systems Inspired by a Control-Theoretic Model of Large-Scale Arterial Networks of Blood Flow

We develop a backstepping-based observer design for a class of ODE - continuum-PDE cascade systems, which can be viewed as the limit, of a finite collection of ODE - $2 \times 2$ hyperbolic systems, as the number of individual PDE system components tends to infinity. The large-scale collection of ODE - $2 \times 2$ hyperbolic systems is motivated by a dynamic model that we present, of a network of peripheral arteries, to which central (aortic) blood flow/pressure enters. We address a case in which average (boundary) measurements, over the ensemble dimension, are available, which is motivated by the availability of non-invasive, peripheral flow/pressure measurements. Exponential stability of the estimation error system is shown by proving well-posedness of the kernel equations and constructing a Lyapunov functional. We also establish that part of the backstepping kernels derived coincide with the solution of a Sylvester equation. We then apply the continuum-based observer for state estimation of the large-scale counterpart and, in particular, of the blood flow system, introducing an approach for optimal construction of continuum approximations. We also introduce an implementation method, adopting a spectral-based approach for computing the observer dynamics, which we illustrate in an academic, numerical simulation example. Furthermore, we illustrate the design in the problem of central flow/pressure estimation using realistic parameters and flow/pressure waveforms.

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arXiv2026

Micro-Macro Backstepping Control of Large-Scale Hyperbolic Systems (Extended Version)

We introduce a control design and analysis framework for micro-macro, boundary control of large-scale, $n+m$ hyperbolic PDE systems. Specifically, we develop feedback laws for stabilization of hyperbolic systems at the micro level (i.e., of the large-scale system) that employ a) measurements obtained from the $n+m$ system (i.e., at micro level) and kernels constructed based on an $\infty+\infty$ continuum system counterpart (i.e., at macro level), or b) kernels and measurements both stemming from a continuum counterpart, or c) averaged-continuum kernels/measurements. We also address (d)) stabilization of the continuum (macro) system, employing continuum kernels and measurements. Towards addressing d) we derive in a constructive manner an $\infty+\infty$ continuum approximation of $n+m$ hyperbolic systems and establish that its solutions approximate, for large $n$ and $m$, the solutions of the $n+m$ system. We then construct a feedback law for stabilization of the $\infty+\infty$ system via introduction of a continuum-PDE backstepping transformation. We establish well-posedness of the resulting 4-D kernel equations and prove closed-loop stability via construction of a novel Lyapunov functional. Furthermore, under control configuration a) we establish that the closed-loop system is exponentially stable provided that $n$ and $m$ are large, by proving that the exact, stabilizing $n+m$ control kernels can be accurately approximated by the continuum kernels. While under control configurations b) and c), we establish closed-loop stability capitalizing on the established solutions' and kernels' approximation properties via employment of infinite-dimensional ISS arguments. We provide two numerical simulation examples to illustrate the effectiveness and potential limitations of our design approach.

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arXiv2026

Predictor-Feedback CACC for Vehicular Platoons with Actuation and Communication Delays Based on a Multiple-Predecessor-Following CTH Nominal Strategy

We develop a predictor-feedback cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) design relying on a multiple-predecessor-following (MPF) topology-based nominal delay-free CACC law. We consider vehicular platoons with heterogeneous vehicles, whose dynamics are described by a third-order linear system subject to actuation delay, along with vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication delay. The design achieves individual vehicle stability, string stability, and zero, steady-state speed/spacing tracking errors, for any value of the actuation delay. The proofs of individual vehicle stability, string stability, and regulation rely on employment of an input-output approach on the frequency domain, capitalizing on the delay-compensating property of the design, which enables as to derive explicit string stability conditions on control and vehicle models parameters. The theoretical guarantees of string stability and the respective conditions on parameters are illustrated also numerically. We present consistent simulation results, for a ten-vehicle platoon, illustrating the potential of the design in traffic throughput improvement, as compared with a predictor-feedback CACC design in which, each ego vehicle's controller utilizes information only from a single preceding vehicle. We also present simulation results in a realistic scenario in which the leading vehicle's trajectory is obtained from NGSIM data.

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arXiv2026

Predictor-Feedback Stabilization of Linear Switched Systems with State-Dependent Switching and Input Delay

We develop a predictor-feedback control design for a class of linear systems with state-dependent switching. The main ingredient of our design is a novel construction of an exact predictor state. Such a construction is possible as for a given, state-dependent switching rule, an implementable formula for the predictor state can be derived in a way analogous to the case of nonlinear systems with input delay. We establish uniform exponential stability of the corresponding closed-loop system via a novel construction of multiple Lyapunov functionals, relying on a backstepping transformation that we introduce. We validate our design in simulation considering a switching rule motivated by communication networks.

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arXiv2026

Stabilization of Linear Switched Systems with Long Constant Input Delay via Average or Averaging Predictor Feedbacks

We develop delay-compensating feedback laws for linear switched systems with time-dependent switching. Because the future values of the switching signal, which are needed for constructing an exact predictor-feedback law, may be unavailable at current time, the key design challenge is how to construct a proper predictor state. We resolve this challenge constructing two alternative, average predictor-based feedback laws. The first is viewed as a predictor-feedback law for a particular average system, properly modified to provide exact state predictions over a horizon that depends on a minimum dwell time of the switching signal (when it is available). The second is, essentially, a modification of an average of predictor feedbacks, each one corresponding to the fixed-mode predictor-feedback law. We establish that under the control laws introduced, the closed-loop systems are (uniformly) exponentially stable, provided that the differences among system's matrices and among (nominal stabilizing) controller's gains are sufficiently small, with a size that is inversely proportional to the delay length. Since no restriction is imposed on the delay, such a limitation is inherent to the problem considered (in which the future switching signal values are unavailable), and thus, it cannot be removed. The stability proof relies on multiple Lyapunov functionals constructed via backstepping and derivation of solutions' estimates for quantifying the difference between average and exact predictor states. We present consistent numerical simulation results, which illustrate the necessity of employing the average predictor-based laws and demonstrate the performance improvement when the knowledge of a minimum dwell time is properly utilized for improving state prediction accuracy.

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arXiv2025

Experimental Implementation and Validation of Predictor-Based CACC for Vehicular Platoons With Distinct Actuation Delays

We provide experimental validation, in a pair of vehicles, of a recently introduced predictor-based cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) design, developed for achieving delay compensation in heterogeneous vehicular platoons subject to long actuation delays that may be distinct for each individual vehicle. We provide the explicit formulae of the control design that is implemented, accounting for the effect of zero-order hold and sampled measurements; as well as we obtain vehicle and string stability conditions numerically, via derivation of the transfer functions relating the speeds of pairs of consecutive vehicles. We also present consistent simulation results for a platoon with a larger number of vehicles, under digital implementation of the controller. Both the simulation and experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the predictor-based CACC design in guaranteeing individual vehicle stability, string stability, and tracking, despite long/distinct actuation delays.

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arXiv2025

Input Delay Compensation for a Class of Switched Linear Systems via Averaging Exact Predictor Feedbacks

The key challenges in design of predictor-based control laws for switched systems with arbitrary switching and long input delay are the potential unavailability of the future values of the switching signal (at current time) and the fact that dwell time may be arbitrary. In the present paper, we resolve these challenges developing a new predictor-based control law that is, essentially, an average of exact predictor feedbacks, each one corresponding to an exact predictor-feedback law for a system that operates only in a single mode. Because the predictor state in our control design does not correspond to an exact predictor, stability can be guaranteed under a restriction on the differences among the system's matrices and controller's gains. This is an unavoidable limitation, for a switching signal whose future values may be unavailable, when no constraint is imposed on the values of delay and dwell time (as it is the case here). We establish (uniform) stability of the closed-loop system employing a Lyapunov functional. The key step in the stability proof is constructive derivation of an estimate of the mismatch between an exact predictor feedback and the average of predictor feedbacks constructed. We illustrate the performance of the proposed predictor-based control law in simulation, including comparisons with alternative, predictor-based control laws.

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arXiv2025

Average Predictor-Feedback Control Design for Switched Linear Systems

We develop an input delay-compensating feedback law for linear switched systems with time-dependent switching. Because the future values of the switching signal, which are needed for constructing an exact predictor-feedback law, may be unavailable at current time, the key design challenge is how to construct a proper predictor state. We resolve this challenge constructing an average predictor-based feedback law, which may be viewed as an exact predictor-feedback law for a particular average system without switching. We establish that, under the predictor-based control law introduced, the closed-loop system is exponentially stable, provided that the plant's parameters are sufficiently close to the corresponding parameters of the average system. In particular, the allowable difference is inversely proportional to the size of delay and proportional to the dwell time of the switching signal. Since no restriction is imposed on the size of delay or dwell time themselves, such a limitation on the parameters of each mode is inherent to the problem considered (in which no a priori information on the switching signal is available), and thus, it cannot be removed. The stability proof relies on two main ingredients-a Lyapunov functional constructed via backstepping and derivation of solutions' estimates for the difference between the average and the exact predictor states. We present consistent, numerical simulation results, which illustrate the necessity of employing the average predictor-based law for achieving stabilization and desired performance of the closed-loop system.

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arXiv2025

Observer-Based Output-Feedback Backstepping Stabilization of Continua of Hyperbolic PDEs and Application to Large-Scale $n+m$ Coupled Hyperbolic PDEs

We develop a non-collocated, observer-based output-feedback law for a class of continua of linear hyperbolic PDE systems, which are viewed as the continuum version of $n+m$, general heterodirectional hyperbolic systems as $n\to\infty$. The design relies on the introduction of a novel, continuum PDE backstepping transformation, which enables the construction of a Lyapunov functional for the estimation error system. Stability under the observer-based output-feedback law is established by using the Lyapunov functional construction for the estimation error system and proving well-posedness of the complete closed-loop system, which allows utilization of the separation principle. Motivated by the fact that the continuum-based designs may provide computationally tractable control laws for large-scale, $n+m$ systems, we then utilize the control/observer kernels and the observer constructed for the continuum system to introduce an output-feedback control design for the original $n+m$ system. We establish exponential stability of the resulting closed-loop system, which consists of a mixed $n+m$-continuum PDE system (comprising the plant-observer dynamics), introducing a virtual continuum system with resets, which enables utilization of the continuum approximation property of the solutions of the $n+m$ system by its continuum counterpart (for large $n$). We illustrate the potential computational complexity/flexibility benefits of our approach via a numerical example of stabilization of a large-scale $n+m$ system, for which we employ the continuum observer-based controller, while the continuum-based stabilizing control/observer kernels can be computed in closed form.

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arXiv2025

Stabilization of an unstable reaction-diffusion PDE with input delay despite state and input quantization

We solve the global asymptotic stability problem of an unstable reaction-diffusion Partial Differential Equation (PDE) subject to input delay and state quantization developing a switched predictor-feedback law. To deal with the input delay, we reformulate the problem as an actuated transport PDE coupled with the original reaction-diffusion PDE. Then, we design a quantized predictor-based feedback mechanism that employs a dynamic switching strategy to adjust the quantization range and error over time. The stability of the closed-loop system is proven properly combining backstepping with a small-gain approach and input-to-state stability techniques, for deriving estimates on solutions, despite the quantization effect and the system's instability. We also extend this result to the input quantization case.

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arXiv2025

Predictor-Feedback Stabilization of Globally Lipschitz Nonlinear Systems with State and Input Quantization

We develop a switched nonlinear predictor-feedback control law to achieve global asymptotic stabilization for nonlinear systems with arbitrarily long input delay, under state quantization. The proposed design generalizes the nonlinear predictor-feedback framework by incorporating quantized measurements of both the plant and actuator states into the predictor state formulation. Due to the mismatch between the (inapplicable) exact predictor state and the predictor state constructed in the presence of state quantization, a global stabilization result is possible under a global Lipschitzness assumption on the vector field, as well as under the assumption of existence of a globally Lipschitz, nominal feedback law that achieves global exponential stability of the delay and quantization-free system. To address the constraints imposed by quantization, a dynamic switching strategy is constructed, adjusting the quantizer's tunable parameter in a piecewise constant manner-initially increasing the quantization range, to capture potentially large system states and subsequently refining the precision to reduce quantization error. The global asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system is established through solutions estimates derived using backstepping transformations, combined with small-gain and input-to-state stability arguments. We also extend our approach to the case of input quantization.

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arXiv2024

On Computation of Approximate Solutions to Large-Scale Backstepping Kernel Equations via Continuum Approximation

We provide two methods for computation of continuum backstepping kernels that arise in control of continua (ensembles) of linear hyperbolic PDEs and which can approximate backstepping kernels arising in control of a large-scale, PDE system counterpart (with computational complexity that does not grow with the number of state components of the large-scale system). In the first method, we provide explicit formulae for the solution to the continuum kernels PDEs, employing a (triple) power series representation of the continuum kernel and establishing its convergence properties. In this case, we also provide means for reducing computational complexity by properly truncating the power series (in the powers of the ensemble variable). In the second method, we identify a class of systems for which the solution to the continuum (and hence, also an approximate solution to the respective large-scale) kernel equations can be constructed in closed form. We also present numerical examples to illustrate computational efficiency/accuracy of the approaches, as well as to validate the stabilization properties of the approximate control kernels, constructed based on the continuum.

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arXiv2024

Stabilization of a Class of Large-Scale Systems of Linear Hyperbolic PDEs via Continuum Approximation of Exact Backstepping Kernels

We establish that stabilization of a class of linear, hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs) with a large (nevertheless finite) number of components, can be achieved via employment of a backstepping-based control law, which is constructed for stabilization of a continuum version (i.e., as the number of components tends to infinity) of the PDE system. This is achieved by proving that the exact backstepping kernels, constructed for stabilization of the large-scale system, can be approximated (in certain sense such that exponential stability is preserved) by the backstepping kernels constructed for stabilization of a continuum version (essentially an infinite ensemble) of the original PDE system. The proof relies on construction of a convergent sequence of backstepping kernels that is defined such that each kernel matches the exact backstepping kernels (derived based on the original, large-scale system), in a piecewise constant manner with respect to an ensemble variable; while showing that they satisfy the continuum backstepping kernel equations. We present a numerical example that reveals that complexity of computation of stabilizing backstepping kernels may not scale with the number of components of the PDE state, when the kernels are constructed on the basis of the continuum version, in contrast to the case in which they are constructed on the basis of the original, large-scale system. In addition, we formally establish the connection between the solutions to the large-scale system and its continuum counterpart. Thus, this approach can be useful for design of computationally tractable, stabilizing backstepping-based control laws for large-scale PDE systems.

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arXiv2024

Backstepping Control of Continua of Linear Hyperbolic PDEs and Application to Stabilization of Large-Scale $n+m$ Coupled Hyperbolic PDE Systems

We develop a backstepping control design for a class of continuum systems of linear hyperbolic PDEs, described by a coupled system of an ensemble of rightward transporting PDEs and a (finite) system of $m$ leftward transporting PDEs. The key analysis challenge of the design is to establish well-posedness of the resulting ensemble of kernel equations, since they evolve on a prismatic (3-D) domain and inherit the potential discontinuities of the kernels for the case of $n+m$ hyperbolic systems. We resolve this challenge generalizing the well-posedness analysis of Hu, Di Meglio, Vazquez, and Krstic to continua of general, heterodirectional hyperbolic PDE systems, while also constructing a proper Lyapunov functional. Since the motivation for addressing such PDE systems continua comes from the objective to develop computationally tractable control designs for large-scale PDE systems, we then introduce a methodology for stabilization of general $n+m$ hyperbolic systems, constructing stabilizing backstepping control kernels based on the continuum kernels derived from the continuum system counterpart. This control design procedure is enabled by establishing that, as $n$ grows, the continuum backstepping control kernels can approximate (in certain sense) the exact kernels, and thus, they remain stabilizing (as formally proven). This approach guarantees that complexity of computation of stabilizing kernels does not grow with the number $n$ of PDE systems components. We further establish that the solutions to the $n+m$ PDE system converge, as $n\to\infty$, to the solutions of the corresponding continuum PDE system. We also provide a numerical example in which the continuum kernels can be obtained in closed form (in contrast to the large-scale kernels), thus resulting in minimum complexity of control kernels computation, which illustrates the potential computational benefits of our approach.

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arXiv2024

Simultaneous compensation of input delay and state/input quantization for linear systems via switched predictor feedback

We develop a switched predictor-feedback law, which achieves global asymptotic stabilization of linear systems with input delay and with the plant and actuator states available only in (almost) quantized form. The control design relies on a quantized version of the nominal predictor-feedback law for linear systems, in which quantized measurements of the plant and actuator states enter the predictor state formula. A switching strategy is constructed to dynamically adjust the tunable parameter of the quantizer (in a piecewise constant manner), in order to initially increase the range and subsequently decrease the error of the quantizers. The key element in the proof of global asymptotic stability in the supremum norm of the actuator state is derivation of solutions' estimates combining a backstepping transformation with small-gain and input-to-state stability arguments, for addressing the error due to quantization. We extend this result to the input quantization case and illustrate our theory with a numerical example.

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arXiv2024

Numerical and Lyapunov-Based Investigation of the Effect of Stenosis on Blood Transport Stability Using a Control-Theoretic PDE Model of Cardiovascular Flow

We perform various numerical tests to study the effect of (boundary) stenosis on blood flow stability, employing a detailed and accurate, second-order finite-volume scheme for numerically implementing a partial differential equation (PDE) model, using clinically realistic values for the artery's parameters and the blood inflow. The model consists of a baseline $2\times 2$ hetero-directional, nonlinear hyperbolic PDE system, in which, the stenosis' effect is described by a pressure drop at the outlet of an arterial segment considered. We then study the stability properties (observed in our numerical tests) of a reference trajectory, corresponding to a given time-varying inflow (e.g., a periodic trajectory with period equal to the time interval between two consecutive heartbeats) and stenosis severity, deriving the respective linearized system and constructing a Lyapunov functional. Due to the fact that the linearized system is time varying, with time-varying parameters depending on the reference trajectories themselves (that, in turn, depend in an implicit manner on the stenosis degree), which cannot be derived analytically, we verify the Lyapunov-based stability conditions obtained, numerically. Both the numerical tests and the Lyapunov-based stability analysis show that a reference trajectory is asymptotically stable with a decay rate that decreases as the stenosis severity deteriorates.

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