Modeling and design of control algorithms over wireless networks

A major problem in control over wireless networks is conceiving a joint control and communication system design to optimize a given cost function. To solve this problem we have recently proposed a theoretical framework based on the Platform Based Design (PBD). The first step consists in mapping control specifications onto communication network specifications: this involves parameters as quantization noise, coding and modulation scheme, and power level. Next, a communication scheme is chosen so that the control specifications are satisfied. Hybrid models are exploited in order to capture the intrinsic discrete-continuous behaviors, and the developed framework is able to account for safety specifications that often occur in industrial control systems. While in our previous work we have been concerned with modeling efforts, in this paper we focus on the development of control methodologies and provide an example of application within a test case that is currently considered within the project HYCON.