Colloquium "Decentralized Output Synchronization via Self-Triggered Communication in Wireless Sensor Networks"

Abstract:

A classical problem to tackle in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), in order to extend the nodes' lifetime, is to reduce idle listening of the communication units. A particular application that relies on WSNs is  decentralized output synchronization of heterogeneous linear systems. Motivated by a decrease in energy consumption of wireless nodes, we develop a self-triggered output broadcasting policy for the interconnected systems. Self-triggering reduces energy consumption of embedded processors, communication and sensing units by exchanging and processing up-to-date information only when necessary. In other words, based on the currently available (but outdated) measurements of the neighbors' outputs and network topology, a mechanism triggering when to broadcast new measurements and update the control inputs is provided. Broadcasting time instants adapt to the current communication topology. For a fixed topology, our broadcasting policy yields global exponential output synchronization, and Lp-stable output synchronization in the presence of disturbances. Preliminary experimental results on consensus control of single-integrator dynamics utilizing Texas Instruments eZ430-RF2500 wireless sensor nodes were presented. Finally, future research avenues were discussed.