Present and Future of Nonlinear Dynamics According to a Nonlinear Dynamicist

Abstract

The present state and future of “nonlinear dynamics” is explained in this review. First, chaotic vibrations of nonlinear beams are used as a material to demonstrate our present understanding of chaos, compared with the situation of the early stage of its research. Second, two topics, microcantilever dynamics of tapping-mode atomic force microscopy and design of Earth to the Moon transfer trajectories of spacecrafts, are chosen for describing the importance and usefulness of “nonlinear dynamics” in new technologies. Moreover, two applications of “nonlinear dynamics” to biped walking robots and nonlinear optimal control are briefly addressed.