Remote stabilization via time-varying communication network delays: application to TCP networks

We investigate the problem of remote stabilization via communication networks. This problem arises when the control law is remotely implemented. The exchange of data between the controller and the system is done via a data communication network described by a deterministic model. This leads to the problem of stabilizing an open-loop unstable system with time-varying delay. Assuming a known general model for the time-delay dynamics, we develop a time-varying horizon predictor, which is used as a basis to build a stabilizing control law that includes explicitly the delay dynamics. This control law is then applied to the case of TCP networks. The experimental results are presented.