Dynamic programming, Fermat's principle, and the eikonal equation.

Robert E. Kalaba

Expert InsightsPublished 1960

A demonstration of how the eikonal equation may be derived directly from Fermat's principle of least time using Bellman's principle of optimality. It is also suggested that Huygen's principle will play a significant role in automatic control theory.

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Kalaba, Robert E., Dynamic programming, Fermat's principle, and the eikonal equation. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1960. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P2130.html.
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