Network-Realised Model Predictive Control Part II: Distributed Constraint Management

TL;DR

This paper introduces a scalable two-layer distributed model predictive control architecture that guarantees recursive feasibility and enforces local constraints to manage complex networks effectively.

Contribution

It presents a novel two-layer control scheme with set-based methods that ensure global guarantees and recursive feasibility in distributed model predictive control.

Findings

Guarantees recursive feasibility in distributed control.

Enforces local constraints to ensure global network stability.

Resembles classical MPC formulations for flexibility.

Abstract

A two-layer control architecture is proposed, which promotes scalable implementations for model predictive controllers. The top layer acts as both a reference governor for the bottom layer and as a feedback controller for the regulated network. By employing set-based methods, global theoretical guarantees are obtained by enforcing local constraints upon the network's variables and upon those of the first layer's implementation. The proposed technique offers recursive feasibility guarantees as one of its central features, and the expressions of the resulting predictive strategies bear a striking resemblance to classical formulations from model predictive control literature, allowing for flexible and easily customisable implementations.