System equivalence in a class of nonlinear optimal control problems

In a family of nonlinear optimal control problems, equivalence classes of problems that yield identical optimal closed-loop systems are delineated. The equivalence relations are established as one-to-one correspondences between the solutions of the Hamilton-Jacobi equations associated with the problems. Two such equivalence relations are presented. These allow an arbitrary problem in the family to be reduced to an equivalent basic standard form of problem. Also, a new formal procedure for solving this basic problem is given that allows the determination of coefficients in the series expansion of the optimal closed-loop system. The set of algebraic equations to be solved is considerably simpler than that derived by other methods.