Control Strategy for Generalized Synchrony in Coupled Dynamical Systems

Abstract

Dynamical systems can be coupled in a manner that is designed to drive the resulting dynamics onto a specified lower dimensional submanifold in the phase space of the combined system. On the submanifold, the variables of the two systems have a well-specified functional relationship. This process can be viewed as a control technique that ensures generalized synchronization. Depending on the nature of the dynamical systems and the specified submanifold, different coupling functions can be derived in order to achieve a desired control objective. We discuss a circuit implementation of this strategy for coupled chaotic Lorenz oscillators, as well as a demonstration of the methodology for designing coordinated motion (swarming) in a set of autonomous drones.