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Caltech Course Catalog / 2025-2026 Catalog / Courses 2025-26 / Nonlinear Dynamics

CDS 232 - Nonlinear Dynamics

CDS 232

Nonlinear Dynamics

9 units (3-0-6)   |  second term
Prerequisites: CMS/ACM/IDS 107 or equivalent.
This course studies nonlinear dynamical systems beginning from first principles. Topics include: existence and uniqueness properties of solutions to nonlinear ODEs, stability of nonlinear systems from the perspective of Lyapunov, and behavior unique to nonlinear systems; for example: stability of periodic orbits, Poincare maps and stability/invariance of sets. The dynamics of robotic systems will be used as a motivating example.
Instructor: Ames
Published Date: Aug. 28, 2025