This project develops resilient distributed optimization methods for networked cyber-physical systems operating under uncertainty, communication failures, and antagonistic signals. Robust control tools, including H∞ methods, will be used to limit worst-case sensitivity to disturbances/adversarial signals, while H2 methods will quantify and reduce the average impact of stochastic measurement and process noise. By integrating these control-theoretic guarantees with distributed optimization algorithms, the project aims to achieve reliable coordination, stable closed-loop behavior, and optimal performance.
- Task 1: Problem formulation and baseline distributed Model Predictive Control (MPC)
- Formulate the networked control problem and implement a baseline distributed MPC algorithm, such as an ADMM-based scheme, under nominal communication and modeling assumptions.
- Task 2: Robust H∞ distributed MPC
- Incorporate H∞-based performance criteria and robust constraints to limit the worst-case effect of disturbances, model uncertainty, and adversarial signals on the closed-loop system.
- Task 3: H2 performance and stochastic disturbances
- Develop an H2-oriented extension that reduces the expected effect of measurement noise and stochastic disturbances while maintaining distributed operation and constraint satisfaction.
- Task 4: Validation and benchmarking
- Validate the proposed resilient distributed MPC method on a representative networked system, such as a building cluster, microgrid, or multi-agent system. Compare its performance with centralized MPC, nominal distributed MPC, and conventional robust control approaches.
- Task 5: Write the thesis
- Introduction, problem statement, literature review, methods, discussion, results.
Timeline
Master thesis projects can be taken in 10-20-30 credit formats (i.e., 10 credits in Semester 2, 20 credits in Semester 3, and 30 credits in Semester 4) or 30-30 credit (i.e., 30 credits in Semester 3 and 30 credits in Semester 4) formats. In my experience, the latter (30-30 credits) works better for students as you can devote your full attention to the thesis without coursework as a distraction. Nonetheless, here are proposed timelines for each system.
10-20-30 Credits
Semester 2
Begin and complete Task 1. Begin Tasks 2, 3, and 4. Document results into a semester essay, along with the problem statement and literature review from Task 5.
Semester 3
Continue Tasks 2, 3, and 4. Document the results in the Methods section of Task 5.
Semester 4
Complete Tasks 2, 3, and 4. Write the results and critically analyze them in the discussion of Task 5. Complete Task 5.
30-30 Credits
Semester 3
Begin and complete Task 1. Begin Tasks 2, and 3. Document results into a semester essay, along with the problem statement and literature review from Task 7. Begin Task 4. Document the results in the Methods section of Task 5.
Semester 4
Complete Tasks 2, 3, and 4. Write the results and critically analyze them in the discussion of Task 5. Complete Task 5.