Controllability and stabilizability properties of a nonholonomic control system

Controllability and stabilizability properties are examined for a control system with a nonholonomic constraint. A representative nonholonomic control system example is discussed: the control of a knife edge moving on a plane surface. This example contains the essential features of the general case. It is noted that conditions for small-time local controllability are satisfied. An explicit open loop control is then given which transfers the knife edge to a single equilibrium and an explicit stabilizing feedback control.<<ETX>>