A lightweight model predictive controller for repetitive discrete event systems

A lightweight model predictive controller for a class of discrete event systems is developed. Our target is FIFO systems, in which the precedence relations are represented by a directed acyclic graph. Using max-plus algebra, a system´s behavior can be described by a set of linear equations referred to as the state space representation. Based on this representation, we focus on the problem of adjusting system parameters and determining optimal control inputs for given reference signals. To determine system parameters, we formulate and solve an optimization problem using a kind of branch-and-bound method. Then, the optimal control inputs are determined. Since this part is often the bottleneck in online control, we propose two methods for the efficient computation thereof.