Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Optimality Condition and Numerical Methods of Variable-Order Fractional Optimal Control Problem with Full Free Ends

Received: 2 October 2025     Accepted: 15 October 2025     Published: 26 November 2025
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

In this paper, we studied the necessary conditions for seeking optimal trajectory, optimal control, optimal time and optimal state. Then, we applied these qualitative properties to explore two numerical methods of a variable order fractional optimal control problem until full free ends that the initial time, initial state, terminal time and terminal state are free simultaneously. Based on the relations between variable order fractional calculus operators, i.e., the integral formulas by parts, the necessary conditions of optimality of a variable order fractional optimal control problem until full free ends drove from the Euler-Lagrange equation, applying Hamiltonian and variational principle. To develop the solution methods, we proposed the “optimization first, then discretization” (OFTD) method and the “discretization first, then optimization” (DFTO) method. The OFTD method is to solve the variable order fractional optimal control problem until full free ends by transforming the Euler-Lagrange equation into a nonlinear system using the Grünwald-Letnikov definition and manipulating the transversal conditions as an objective function of error quadratic minimization, i.e., a nonlinear programming type problem with equality constraints. The DFTO method is to solve the problem by transforming the variable order fractional calculus into a classical optimal control problem with integer order using the expansion formulas of the variable order fractional calculus operators. Finally, we demonstrated the validity and accuracy of the proposed methods through various types of numerical test problems.

Published in American Journal of Applied Mathematics (Volume 13, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajam.20251306.12
Page(s) 393-411
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Variable-Order Fractional Optimal Control Problem, Variable-Order Fractional Calculus, Variable-Order Fractional Differential Equation, Optimality Condition, Approximation Method

References
[1] Alkahtani, B. S. T., Koca, I., Atangana, A. A Novel Approach of Variable Order Derivative: Theory and Methods. Journal of Nonlinear Science and applications 2016; 9(6): 4867-4876.
[2] Almeida, R., Torres, D. F. M. An Expansion Formula with Higher-Order Derivatives for Fractional Operators of Variable Order. The Scientific World Journal 2013. Article ID 915437. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/915437
[3] Chen, L. P., Chen, G., Li, P. H., Lopes, A. M., Machado, J. A. T., Xu S. Q. Variable-Order Fractional Proportional-Integral Controller and its Application to a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor. Alexandria Engineering Journal 2020; 59: 3247-3254.
[4] Chen, Y. M., Wei, Y. Q., Liu, D. Y., Boutat, D., Chen, X. K. Variable-Order Fractional Numerical Differentiation for Noisy Signals by Wavelet Denoising. Journal of Computational Physics 2016; 311: 338-347.
[5] Coimbra, C. F. M. Mechanics with Variable-Order Differential Operators. Annalen der Physik 2003; 12(11-12): 692-703.
[6] Heydari, M. H. A New Direct Method based on the Chebyshev Cardinal Functions for Variable-Order Fractional Optimal Control Problems. Journal of the Franklin Institute 2018; 355: 4970-4995.
[7] Heydari, M. H., Avazzadeh, Z. New Wavelet Method for Variable Order Fractional Optimal Controls. Asian J. Control 2018; 20(5): 804-817.
[8] Tajadodi, H. Efficient Technique for Solving Variable Order Fractional Optimal Control Problems, Alexandria Engineering Journal 2020; 59(6): 5179-5185.
[9] Moghaddam, B. P., Machado, J. T. Extended Algorithms for Approximating Variable Order Fractional Derivatives with Applications. J. Sci. Comput. 2017; 71: 1351-1374
[10] Ortigueira, M. D., Valerio, D., Machado, J. T. Variable Order Fractional Systems. Commun. Nonlinear Sci. Numer. Simulat. 2019; 71: 231-243.
[11] Pooseh, S., Almeida, R., Torres, D. F. M. A Numerical Scheme to Solve Fractional Optimal Control Problems. Conference Papers in Science 2013. Article ID 165298.
[12] Samko, S. G., Ross, B.: Integration and Differentiation to a Variable Fractional Order. Integral Transforms and Special Functions 1993; 1(4): 277-300.
[13] Sierociuk, D., Malesza, W., Macias, M. Derivation, Interpretation, and Analog Modeling of Fractional Variable Order Derivative Definition. Applied Mathematical Modeling 2015; 39: 3876-3888.
[14] Sun, H. G., Chen, W., Wei, H., Chen, Y. Q. A Comparative Study of Constant-Order and Variable-Order Fractional Models in Characterizing Memory Property of Systems. The European Physical Journal of Special Topics 2011; 193: 185-192.
[15] Sweilam, N. H., Al-Ajami, T. M., Hoppe, R. H. W. Numerical Solution of Some Types of Fractional Optimal Control Problems. The Scientific World Journal 2013, Article ID 306237.
[16] Sweilam, N. H., Assiri, T. A. and Hasan, M. M. A. Optimal Control Problem of Variable-Order Delay System of Advertising Procedure: Numerical Treatment. Discrete and Continuous Dynamical Systems 2021; 2021085: 1-11
[17] Tavares, D., Almeida, R., Torres, D. F. M. Caputo Derivatives of Fractional Variable Order: Numerical Approximations. Commun. Nonlinear Sci. Numer. Simulat. 2016; 35: 69-87.
[18] Tavares, D., Almeida, R. and Torres, D. F. M.: Combined Fractional Variational Problems of Variable Order and Some Computational Aspects, Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics 2018; 339: 374-388.
[19] Tavares, D., Almeida, R. and Torres, D. F. M. Constrained Fractional Variational Problems of Variable Order. IEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica 2017; 4(1): 80-88.
[20] Xu, M. G., Yang, J. Z., Zhao, D. Z. and Zhao, H. An Image-Enhancement Method Based on Variable-Order Fractional Differential Operators. Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering 2015; 26: 1325-1333
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Myong, R. W., Guk, J. I., Won, O. C. (2025). Optimality Condition and Numerical Methods of Variable-Order Fractional Optimal Control Problem with Full Free Ends. American Journal of Applied Mathematics, 13(6), 393-411. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajam.20251306.12

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Myong, R. W.; Guk, J. I.; Won, O. C. Optimality Condition and Numerical Methods of Variable-Order Fractional Optimal Control Problem with Full Free Ends. Am. J. Appl. Math. 2025, 13(6), 393-411. doi: 10.11648/j.ajam.20251306.12

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Myong RW, Guk JI, Won OC. Optimality Condition and Numerical Methods of Variable-Order Fractional Optimal Control Problem with Full Free Ends. Am J Appl Math. 2025;13(6):393-411. doi: 10.11648/j.ajam.20251306.12

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ajam.20251306.12,
      author = {Ro Won Myong and Jo Il Guk and O. Chol Won},
      title = {Optimality Condition and Numerical Methods of Variable-Order Fractional Optimal Control Problem with Full Free Ends
    },
      journal = {American Journal of Applied Mathematics},
      volume = {13},
      number = {6},
      pages = {393-411},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajam.20251306.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajam.20251306.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajam.20251306.12},
      abstract = {In this paper, we studied the necessary conditions for seeking optimal trajectory, optimal control, optimal time and optimal state. Then, we applied these qualitative properties to explore two numerical methods of a variable order fractional optimal control problem until full free ends that the initial time, initial state, terminal time and terminal state are free simultaneously. Based on the relations between variable order fractional calculus operators, i.e., the integral formulas by parts, the necessary conditions of optimality of a variable order fractional optimal control problem until full free ends drove from the Euler-Lagrange equation, applying Hamiltonian and variational principle. To develop the solution methods, we proposed the “optimization first, then discretization” (OFTD) method and the “discretization first, then optimization” (DFTO) method. The OFTD method is to solve the variable order fractional optimal control problem until full free ends by transforming the Euler-Lagrange equation into a nonlinear system using the Grünwald-Letnikov definition and manipulating the transversal conditions as an objective function of error quadratic minimization, i.e., a nonlinear programming type problem with equality constraints. The DFTO method is to solve the problem by transforming the variable order fractional calculus into a classical optimal control problem with integer order using the expansion formulas of the variable order fractional calculus operators. Finally, we demonstrated the validity and accuracy of the proposed methods through various types of numerical test problems.
    },
     year = {2025}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Optimality Condition and Numerical Methods of Variable-Order Fractional Optimal Control Problem with Full Free Ends
    
    AU  - Ro Won Myong
    AU  - Jo Il Guk
    AU  - O. Chol Won
    Y1  - 2025/11/26
    PY  - 2025
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajam.20251306.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajam.20251306.12
    T2  - American Journal of Applied Mathematics
    JF  - American Journal of Applied Mathematics
    JO  - American Journal of Applied Mathematics
    SP  - 393
    EP  - 411
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-006X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajam.20251306.12
    AB  - In this paper, we studied the necessary conditions for seeking optimal trajectory, optimal control, optimal time and optimal state. Then, we applied these qualitative properties to explore two numerical methods of a variable order fractional optimal control problem until full free ends that the initial time, initial state, terminal time and terminal state are free simultaneously. Based on the relations between variable order fractional calculus operators, i.e., the integral formulas by parts, the necessary conditions of optimality of a variable order fractional optimal control problem until full free ends drove from the Euler-Lagrange equation, applying Hamiltonian and variational principle. To develop the solution methods, we proposed the “optimization first, then discretization” (OFTD) method and the “discretization first, then optimization” (DFTO) method. The OFTD method is to solve the variable order fractional optimal control problem until full free ends by transforming the Euler-Lagrange equation into a nonlinear system using the Grünwald-Letnikov definition and manipulating the transversal conditions as an objective function of error quadratic minimization, i.e., a nonlinear programming type problem with equality constraints. The DFTO method is to solve the problem by transforming the variable order fractional calculus into a classical optimal control problem with integer order using the expansion formulas of the variable order fractional calculus operators. Finally, we demonstrated the validity and accuracy of the proposed methods through various types of numerical test problems.
    
    VL  - 13
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Sections