This volume deals with controllability and observability properties of nonlinear systems, as well as various ways to obtain input-output representations. The emphasis is on fundamental notions as (controlled) invariant distributions and submanifolds, together with algorithms to compute the required feedbacks.

With respect to the first edition as Volume 218 in the Lecture Notes in Con- trol and Information Sciences series the basic idea of the second edition has remained the same: to provide a compact presentation of some basic ideas in the classical theory of input-output and closed-loop stability, together with a choice of contributions to the recent theory of nonlinear robust and 1foo control and passivity-based control. Nevertheless, some parts of the book have been thoroughly revised and/or expanded, in order to have a more balanced presen- tation of the theory and to include some of the new...

This volume deals with controllability and observability properties of nonlinear systems, as well as various ways to obtain input-output representations. The emphasis is on fundamental notions as (controlled) invariant distributions and submanifolds, together with algorithms to compute the required feedbacks.