Complexity reduction in MPC for stochastic max-plus-linear systems by variability expansion

Model predictive control (MPC) is a popular controller design technique in the process industry. Conventional MPC uses linear or nonlinear discrete-time models. Previously, we have extended MPC to a class of discrete event systems that can be described by a model that is "linear" in the max-plus algebra. In our previous work we have considered MPC for the perturbations-free case and for the case with noise and/or modeling errors in a bounded or stochastic setting. In this paper we consider a method to reduce the computational complexity of the resulting optimization problem, based on variability expansion. We show that the computational load is reduced if we decrease the level of \´randomness\´ in the system.