Controllability Issues of Linear Ensemble Systems

We address an open problem in ensemble control: Whether there exist controllable linear ensemble systems over high dimensional parameterization spaces? We provide a negative answer: Any real-analytic linear ensemble system is not $\mathrm{L}^p$-controllable, for $2\le p \le \infty$, if the dimension of its parameterization space is greater than one

Structurally Robust Control of Complex Networks

Robust control theory has been successfully applied to numerous real-world problems using a small set of devices called {\it controllers}. However, the real systems represented by networks contain unreliable components and modern robust control engineering has not addressed the problem of structural changes on a large network. Here, we introduce the concept of structurally robust control of complex networks and provide a concrete example using an algorithmic framework that is widely applied in engineering. The developed analytical tools, computer simulations and real network analyses lead herein to the discovery that robust control can be achieved in scale-free networks with exactly the same order of controllers required in a standard non-robust configuration by adjusting only the minimum degree. The presented methodology also addresses the probabilistic failure of links in real systems, such as neural synaptic unreliability in {\it C. elegans}, and suggests a new direction to pursue in studies of complex networks in which control theory has a role.Comment: 36 pages, 22 figures. This paper was submitted to a journal in May 2014 and still under review. Please cite the arxiv version if your work is related to our researc

Control Theory: A Mathematical Perspective on Cyber-Physical Systems

Control theory is an interdisciplinary field that is located at the crossroads of pure and applied mathematics with systems engineering and the sciences. Recently the control field is facing new challenges motivated by application domains that involve networks of systems. Examples are interacting robots, networks of autonomous cars or the smart grid. In order to address the new challenges posed by these application disciplines, the special focus of this workshop has been on the currently very active field of Cyber-Physical Systems, which forms the underlying basis for many network control applications. A series of lectures in this workshop was devoted to give an overview on current theoretical developments in Cyber-Physical Systems, emphasizing in particular the mathematical aspects of the field. Special focus was on the dynamics and control of networks of systems, distributed optimization and formation control, fundamentals of nonlinear interconnected systems, as well as open problems in control