On infinitesimal contraction analysis for hybrid systems

Understand

Infinitesimal contraction analysis, wherein global asymptotic convergence results are obtained from local dynamical properties, has proven to be a powerful tool for applications in biological, mechanical, and transportation systems.

• The technique has primarily been developed for systems governed by a single, possibly nonsmooth, differential or difference equation.
• We generalize infinitesimal contraction analysis to hybrid systems governed by interacting differential and difference equations.
• Importantly, we leverage an intrinsic distance function to derive the first contraction results for hybrid systems without restrictions on mode sequence or dwell time.