Optimal control of heterogeneous systems: Basic theory ✩

A general model of a heterogeneous control system is introduced in the form of a first order distributed system with nonlocal dynamics and exogenous side-conditions. The heterogeneity is represented by a parameter taking values in an abstract measurable space, so that both continuous and discrete heterogeneity, as well as probabilistic heterogeneity without density, are included. A distributed and a lumped controls are involved, the latter appearing also in the side conditions. An existence theorem is proved for the uncontrolled system, and the sensitivity of the solution with respect to the control variables is estimated. The main result is an optimality condition in the form of the Pontryagin local maximum principle. A global maximum principle holds for the distributed control under an additional condition that rules out discrete measurable heterogeneity spaces. A number of possible applications are outlined: age-structured systems, size-structured systems, (nonlocal) advection–reaction equations, static parametric heterogeneity in epidemiology, and two-stage control systems with uncertain switching time