Showing papers by "W. M. Wonham published in 1989"
01 Jan 1989
TL;DR: The focus is on the qualitative aspects of control, but computation and the related issue of computational complexity are also considered.
Abstract: A discrete event system (DES) is a dynamic system that evolves in accordance with the abrupt occurrence, at possibly unknown irregular intervals, of physical events. Such systems arise in a variety of contexts ranging from computer operating systems to the control of complex multimode processes. A control theory for the logical aspects of such DESs is surveyed. The focus is on the qualitative aspects of control, but computation and the related issue of computational complexity are also considered. Automata and formal language models for DESs are surveyed. >
2,829 citations
01 Sep 1989
TL;DR: An overview of one trend among others in the development of a control theory for discrete-event systems and it can fairly be said that control of DES is now an established branch of control theory.
Abstract: In this paper we have provided an overview of one trend among others in the development of a control theory for discrete-event systems. In view of the relatively long history of prior approaches to discrete-event control design (notably discrete-event system simulation, and analysis via Petri nets, starting in the 1960s; and investigations via queueing theory and its variants, including perturbation analysis, from the early 1970s) it is perhaps surprising that attempts to evolve a synthetic, control-theoretic overview of the problem area, especially in its qualitative, logical aspects, have been both few in number and recent in appearance. In any case, it can fairly be said that control of DES is now an established branch of control theory.
55 citations
13 Dec 1989
TL;DR: It is shown that nondeterministic controllers are more powerful than deterministic controllers in dealing with strict concurrency.
Abstract: By strict concurrency is meant possible simultaneity of events in discrete-event systems (DESs). A study is made of the control of DESs with strict concurrency by nondeterministic controllers. It is shown that nondeterministic controllers are more powerful than deterministic controllers in dealing with strict concurrency. A discussion is presented of how to synthesize nondeterministic controllers which allow the controlled process to operate with maximal strict concurrency according to a specified criterion. >
16 citations