This paper focuses on the role of a government of a large population of interacting agents as a meanfield optimal control problem derived from deterministic finite agent dynamics. The control problems are constrained by a Partial Differential Equation of continuity-type without diffusion, governing the dynamics of the probability distribution of the agent population. We derive existence of optimal controls in a measure-theoretical setting as natural limits of finite agent optimal controls without any assumption on the regularity of control competitors. In particular, we prove the consistency of mean-field optimal controls with corresponding underlying finite agent ones. The results follow from a Γ -convergence argument constructed over the mean-field limit, which stems from leveraging the superposition principle.

This paper is addressed at the difficulty of accurately modelling a two-flexible-link manipulator system, which is a necessary pre-requisite for future work developing a high-performance controller for such manipulators. Recent work concerned with the development of an accurate single-flexible-link model is first reviewed and then the expansion of a single-link model into a two-flexible-link system in a way which properly takes into account the coupling and interactions between the two links is discussed. The method of approach taken is to calculate the elastic and rigid motions of the links separately and then to combine these according to the principle of superposition. The application of the model developed is demonstrated in a simulated two-flexiblelink system.

The experimental evidence supports the validity of the principle of superposition for multi-finger prehension in humans. Forces and moments of individual digits are defined by two independent commands: “Grasp the object stronger/weaker to prevent slipping” and “Maintain the rotational equilibrium of the object”. The effects of the two commands are summed up.

This paper analyzes the dynamics and control of pinch motions generated by a pair of two multi-degrees-of-freedom robot fingers with soft and deformable tips pinching a rigid object. It is shown firstly that passivity analysis leads to an effective design of a feedback control signal that realizes dynamic stable pinching (grasping), even if extra terms of Lagrange's multipliers arise from holonomic constraints of tight area-contacts between soft finger-tips and surfaces of the rigid object and exert torques and forces on the dynamics. It is shown secondly that a principle of superposition is applicable to the design of additional feedback signals for controlling both the posture (rotational angle) and position (some of task coordinates of the mass center) of the object provided that the number of degrees of freedom of each finger is specified for satisfying a condition of stationary resolution of controlled position state variables. The details of feedback signals are presented in the case of a special setup consisting of two robot fingers with two degrees of freedom.