Variational integrators for underactuated mechanical control systems with symmetries

Abstract: Optimal control problems for underactuated mechanical systems can be seen as a higher-order variational problem subject to higher-order constraints (that is, when the Lagrangian function and the constraints depend on higher-order derivatives such as the acceleration, jerk or jounces). In this paper we discuss the variational formalism for the class of underactuated mechanical control systems when the configuration space is a trivial principal bundle and the construction of variational integrators for such mechanical control systems. An interesting family of geometric integrators can be defined using discretizations of the Hamilton's principle of critical action. This family of geometric integrators is called variational integrators, being one of their main properties the preservation of geometric features as the symplecticity, momentum preservation and good behavior of the energy. We construct variational integrators for higher-order mechanical systems on trivial principal bundles and their extension for higher-order constrained systems and we devote special attention to the particular case of underactuated mechanical systems