Bi-directional communication among "smart" components in a networked control system

Increased availability of electronics at much lower costs have helped to create a new breed of control system components; so called "smart" components, which can perform control responsibilities in the actuator and sensor components as well as in the controller. "Smart" components can communicate bi-directionally in networked control systems. Our results show that an "ideal" system with bidirectional communications is equivalent to a single loop control system in terms of performance. However, performance improvements are possible in "non-ideal" cases. Using bi-directional communications can also improve the control system design process since it facilitates the configuration and re-configuration. Building cost effective modular control systems using bi-directional controls appears increasingly attractive.