Implementation of a Decentralized Control Algorithm Embedded within a Wireless Active Sensor

Structural control systems have shown the potential to effectively reduce the response of civil structures to a variety of loads including strong winds and earthquakes. However, current structural control systems necessitate the installation of a wired monitoring system to provide communication between a centralized controller and system sensors and actuators. As semi-active control systems continue to incorporate greater numbers of sensors and actuators, centralized architectures are increasingly difficult to implement. Furthermore, the cost and effort associated with installing wires in large civil structures are significant. In response to these limitations, a decentralized wireless structural monitoring system is proposed for use in a structural control system. To render wireless sensors suitable for such deployments, an actuation interface is integrated in the design of a wireless active sensing unit prototype. In this study, the major focus is the implementation of a decentralized control algorithm within the computational core of the wireless active sensing unit prototype. The ability of the wireless active sensing unit to perform real-time feedback control is assessed.