Interacting with Networks: How Does Structure Relate to Controllability in Single-Leader, Consensus Networks?

As networked dynamical systems appear around us at an increasing rate, questions concerning how to manage and control such systems are becoming more important. Examples include multiagent robotics, distributed sensor networks, interconnected manufacturing chains, and data networks. In response to this growth, a significant body of work has emerged focusing on how to organize such networks to facilitate their control and make them amenable to human interactions. In this article, we summarize these activities by connecting the network topology, that is, the layout of the interconnections in the network, to the classic notion of controllability.