Controllability of Networked Sampled-Data Systems

The controllability of networked sampled-data systems with zero-order holders on the control and transmission channels is explored, where single- and multi-rate sampling patterns are considered, respectively. The effects of sampling on the controllability of networked systems are analyzed, with some necessary and/or sufficient controllability conditions derived. Different from the sampling control of single systems, the pathological sampling of node systems could be eliminated by an appropriate design of network structure and inner couplings. Whereas, the pathological sampling of single nodes will cause the entire system with a singular topology matrix to lose controllability. Moreover, any periodic sampling will not affect the controllability of networked systems with specific node dynamics. All the results indicate that whether a networked system is under pathological sampling or not is jointly determined by mutually coupled factors.