The Lyapunov Direct Method is a powerful tool used in control theory and stability analysis to determine the stability of dynamical systems without requiring explicit solutions of their differential equations. This method involves the construction of a Lyapunov function, , which is a scalar function that satisfies certain properties: it is positive definite (i.e., for all , and ) and its time derivative along system trajectories, , is negative definite (i.e., ). If such a function can be found, it implies that the system is stable in the sense of Lyapunov.
The method is particularly useful because it provides a systematic way to assess stability without solving the state equations directly. In summary, if a Lyapunov function can be constructed such that both conditions are satisfied, the system can be concluded to be asymptotically stable around the equilibrium point.
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