Optimization, the area of mathematics concerned with finding the "best" points, curves, surfaces, etc., has many uses in engineering research and applications. Optimal Control Theory for Applications teaches analytical optimization at the graduate level. To make the material accessible to a wide audience, the prerequisites are limited to calculus and differential equations. Example problems are not tied to any engineering discipline. This material will benefit and interest both beginning engineering graduate students, as well as practicing engineers with the same background.
From the reviews:
"It presents a unified approach to the conversion of nonlinear optimal control problems into parameter optimizations for numerical solutions. ... the book is written in a way that is very accessible to the audience. The selection of topics is useful and coherent, and the book is well organized. ... is highly effective in explaining basic ideas of optimal control. ... It can also be a useful reference to engineers and researchers who want to use applied optimal control theories for solving engineering problems ... ." (Yiyuan J. Zhao, International Journal of Robust and Nonlinear Control, Vol. 15 (17), 2005)