A multi-step estimation approach for optimal control strategies of interconnected systems with weakly connected topology

This paper studies optimal linear quadratic regulation (LQR) problem of discrete-time interconnected systems (ISs) defined over a weakly connected graph. Subsystems in an IS share information based on the topology of the system. The main challenge of this work in comparison to the standard LQR problem, stems from that a subsystem may never acquire information from some other subsystems, due to the weakly connected topology. In this paper, a multiple-step estimation approach is proposed to analytically design the optimal controller for ISs with weakly connected topology. Also, the optimal value of the cost function is explicitly derived. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated by simulations using a connected vehicle system.(c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This paper addresses the optimal linear quadratic regulation (LQR) problem for discrete-time interconnected systems (ISs) over a weakly connected graph. A main challenge lies in designing an optimal controller for ISs with weakly connected topology due to the possible lack of information between subsystems. The paper proposes a multiple-step estimation approach to tackle this problem and explicitly derives the optimal value of the cost function. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through simulations of a connected vehicle system.