Control, Design and Optimization of Complex Networked Systems

工程网络通常在其容量极限下运行。复杂工程网络在攻击和/或故障的情况下保持其鲁棒性和功能的能力是科学和工程领域的一个突出问题，对社会和国土防御有着巨大的影响。探索性研究的目的是发展一种数学理论，以理解复杂工程网络的关键动力学，并阐明有效的控制策略，以构建更高效、安全、健壮和功能最优的网络系统。特别是，将研究功能，网络演进，鲁棒性和安全性之间的相互作用。根据物理流动规律定义网络容量，并探讨网络向容量极限演进对其结构和功能的影响，从而得出有效的控制策略。探索性研究的结果将成为亚利桑那州立大学复杂网络跨学科研究的基础，在自然科学、工程、社会科学、经济和国防领域具有重要应用。该项目侧重于复杂网络的功能、结构、安全性和动态的基本问题，能够识别现实世界工程网络的漏洞，可用于保护基础设施网络或破坏病态和对抗性网络。该研究还将为设计更健壮的工程网络提供指导。所提出的研究需要统计和非线性物理、数学、控制和工业工程以及科学计算的工具。除了为网络稳健性和安全性问题提供坚实的数学基础之外，由于复杂工程网络对美国现代基础设施的无处不在和重要性，这项工作将展示跨学科方法如何导致解决重大社会关注的现实问题。这项研究还将有助于为来自不同科学和工程学科的研究生和本科生创造一个令人兴奋的跨学科环境。

Engineered networks usually operate at their capacity limits. The ability for a complex engineered network to maintain its robustness and functionality in the presence of attacks and/or failures is an outstanding issue in science and engineering with tremendous implications to society and homeland defense. The aims of the exploratory research are to develop a mathematical theory to understand the critical dynamics of complex engineered networks and to articulate effective control strategies for building more efficient, secure, robust, and optimally functional networked systems. In particular, the interplay among the functionality, network evolution, robustness and security will be investigated. Network capacity will be defined based on laws of physical flows and the impact of network's evolution toward the capacity limit on its structure and function will be explored, leading to effective control strategies. Results from the exploratory research will form the base for a more comprehensive program of interdisciplinary study on complex networks at ASU with significant applications in natural sciences, engineering, social science, economy, and defense.The project focuses on fundamental issues concerning the functionality, structure, security and dynamics of complex networks, enabling identification of the vulnerabilities of real-world engineered networks, which can be used either for the protection of infrastructural networks or for the destruction of pathological and adversarial networks. The research will also provide guidance for designing more robust engineered networks.The proposed research requires tools from statistical and nonlinear physics, mathematics, control and industrial engineering, and scientific computing. Besides providing a solid mathematical foundation for the problem of network robustness and security, the work will be a demonstration of how interdisciplinary approach can lead to solutions to realistic problems of significant societal concern, due to the ubiquity and importance of complex engineered networks to the modern infrastructure of the US. The research will also help create an exciting interdisciplinary environment for graduate and undergraduate students from various disciplines of science and engineering.