Some Basic Issues in Networked Control Systems

The era of a world connected by networks, especially by Internet, has imposed new challenges to control theory and application, and in the same time, provided new opportunities for their research and development. This paper introduces the concept of networked control systems and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of networked control systems. Network-induced delays and the driven-modes of nodes in networked control systems are discussed primarily. The main purpose here is to initiate a discussion and call for efforts from more experts in control and automation, so that a complete and scientific theory for networked control systems can be established soon.