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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - HetScaleNet (Analysis and control of large scale heterogeneous networks: scalability, robustness and fundamental limits)

Teaser

Summary

The project is associated with the analysis and control of large scale networks, and involves the development of corresponding theoretical tools as well as the study of related applications associated with engineering and biological networks.

In particular, for the case of engineering networks our research focuses on the design of decentralized control policies with a plug and play capability, i.e. stability guarantees are provided for the network when heterogeneous subsystems are added or removed from the network. This is a major requirement in many important applications such as smart grids and power networks, where the increasing presence for distributed generation, fluctuations from renewable energy sources, and the introduction of load-side participation schemes impose severe challenges associated with the ability to ensure a stable network with good performance. The results developed improve the efficiency and reliability of the network and facilitate the implementation of such highly distributed control schemes.

For the case of biological networks our research focuses on the analysis of the effects of noise in biochemical reaction networks at the molecular level. Such molecular fluctuations can drive metabolites away from desired concentrations or be sometimes advantageous contributing to diversity and evolution. In our work we use advanced tools from control theory to analyse this stochasticity and derive hard bounds for estimation and noise suppression. These results can be used as benchmarks to improve our understanding of various biological mechanisms, which are in general poorly characterized, and bring at the same time new tools in the domain of systems biology.

Work performed

In the first half of project a main emphasis has been given in the analysis and design of engineering networks and research has also been initiated in the area of biological networks. In particular, theoretical results have been derived associated with decentralized control designs in large scale networks with a plug and play capability, and application areas that have been addressed include primarily smart grids and power networks. In particular, issues associated with network stability and optimality have been addressed and these have been applied to control mechanisms in energy networks that are relevant at different timescales.

For the case of biological networks our current work focuses on the derivation of hard bounds for estimation and control using tools from optimal control theory and tools associated with models that incorporate the discrete nature of biochemical reaction kinetics at the molecular level. Simulation studies are also conducted in parallel with the theoretical analysis.

Final results

Issues of plug and play capability are currently addressed in heuristic ways in practical implementations often resulting in conservative designs due to the lack of stability and performance guarantees. Therefore the results developed throughout the project facilitate the implementation of highly distributed control schemes in large scale networks, providing stability guarantees and improved performance. Until the end of the project we aim to further increase the complexity of our models so as to enhance their practical relevance. In particular, for the case of power networks we are currently looking into advanced models for converters and power electronic components and control designs that enable their interconnections to be stable, have an acceptable transient performance and also good power sharing properties. For the case of biological networks, we will aim to express the bounds we are currently investigating for estimation and control by means of biological observables and investigate how closely simpler mechanisms achieve those.