This volume contains a collection of papers in control theory and applications
presented at a conference in honor of Clyde Martin on the occasion of his 60th
birthday, held in Lubbock, Texas, November 14-15, 2003.
Clyde Martin has made numerous important contributions dealing with
control, stabilization, and observation of linear, nonlinear, and distributed
systems. His pioneering work on the analysis of matrix Riccati equations by
algebraic-geometric methods has been very important for the development of
the area. The Herman-Martin embedding of linear systems led to important
breakthroughs not only in linear systems, but eventually also led to deeper
understanding of the global observability of nonlinear systems.
Clyde Martin is a good example of a researcher who has a fundamental
understanding both of engineering applications and mathematics and has
contributed toward lessening the gap between them. His mathematical results
have had an impact on control of aircraft, flexible space structures, and robotics.
More recently, he has also contributed to areas like biomathematics,
medicine and numerical analysis, where he has made important contributions.
Recent work has been aimed toward tying together concepts and methods of
numerical analysis, control theory and robotics.
This volume is a tribute to Clyde Martin for his many years of leadership
in the systems and control community.