The application of a universal separating vector lemma to optimal sampled-data control problems with nonsmooth Mayer cost function

Abstract

In this paper we provide a Pontryagin maximum principle for optimal sampled-data control problems with nonsmooth Mayer cost function. Our investigation leads us to consider, in a first place, a general issue on convex sets separation. Precisely, thanks to the classical Fan's minimax theorem, we establish the existence of a universal separating vector which belongs to the convex envelope of a given set of separating vectors of the singletons of a given compact convex set. This so-called universal separating vector lemma is used, together with packages of convex control perturbations, to derive a Pontryagin maximum principle for optimal sampled-data control problems with nonsmooth Mayer cost function. As an illustrative application of our main result we solve a simple example by implementing an indirect numerical method.