Semi-Autonomous Networks: A System-Theoretic Perspective

该奖项的研究目标是开发一种方法，用于检查半自治网络系统的系统理论方面。这些系统包括一组动态单元，这些动态单元根据信息交换网络上的预定交互协议进行演化，以及一组单元，这些单元充当网络系统与其外部操作环境之间的接口。在这个项目中特别感兴趣的系统理论属性包括半自治网络的可控性，可观测性和反馈性能，以及最有影响力的接口的表征-在这个项目中-将根据底层网络的图论和代数结构进行研究。在这个场地，网络的功能，是有趣的，包括它的对称性，度序列，直径，中心的节点，连通性，以及它的生成树和圈之间的关联关系。这个框架将在一个典型的动态模型，即扩散样模型的相互作用及其扩展的背景下开发。这些成果包括期刊和会议出版物方面的研究成果文档、半自治网络的建模和分析工具、工程学生教育和课程开发。如果成功，这项研究的结果将为增强各种网络系统以提高性能提供一个框架，包括编队的工程实现、分布式传感器网络、以及纳米系统中的合成晶格状结构。该奖项将导致开发一个新的课程，目的是弥合网络系统分析和控制与科学和工程实现之间的差距。这一目标将进一步促进在项目的最后一年组织一个网络系统的研讨会，并在系统和控制研究生课程的新课程的开发。

The research objective of this award is to develop a methodology for examining system-theoretic aspects of semi-autonomous networked system. These systems consist of a collection of dynamic units that evolve according to a predetermined interaction protocol over an information-exchange network, and a set of units that act as interfaces between the networked systems and its exogenous operational environment. The system-theoretic attributes of particular interest in this project include controllability, observability, and feedback performance of semi-autonomous networks, as well characterization of most influential interfaces- which in this project- will be examined with respect to graph-theoretic and algebraic structures of the underlying network. In this venue, the network features that are interest include its symmetry, degree sequence, diameter, centrality of its nodes, connectivity, and incidence relationship between its spanning trees and cycles. This framework will be developed in the context of a canonical dynamic model, namely, diffusion-like models of interactions and their extensions. Deliverables include a documentation of research results in terms of journal and conference publications, modeling and analysis tools for semi-autonomous networks, engineering student education, and curriculum development.If successful, the results of this research will provide a framework for augmenting a variety of networked systems for improved performance, including engineering realizations of formations, distributed sensor networks, as well as synthetic lattice-like structures in nano-systems. This award will lead to developing a new course with the aim of bridging a gap between networked systems analysis and control and their scientific and engineering realizations in science and engineering. This goal will further be facilitated by organizing a workshop on networked systems during the final year of the project and the development of a new curriculum for graduate program in systems and control.