Robust open-loop Nash equilibria in the noncooperative LQ game revisited

Abstract

This paper reconsiders existence of worst-case Nash equilibria in noncooperative multi-player differential games, this, within an open-loop information structure. We show that these equilibria can be obtained by determining the open-loop Nash equilibria of an associated differential game with an additional initial state constraint. For the special case of linear-quadratic differential games, we derive both necessary and sufficient conditions for solvability of the finite planning horizon problem. In particular, we demonstrate that, unlike in the standard linear-quadratic differential game setting, uniqueness of equilibria may fail to hold. A both necessary and sufficient condition under which there is a unique equilibrium is provided. A sufficient existence condition for a unique equilibrium is derived in terms of a Riccati differential equation. Consequences for control policies are demonstrated in a simple debt stabilization game. © 2016 The Authors. Optimal Control Applications and Methods published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.