Identification of linear dynamic systems operating in a networked environment

This paper studies a networked system identification problem, which aims at identifying mathematical models required in networked control/estimation/filtering systems. Specifically, we consider the off-line identification of open-loop stable linear time-invariant processes working in a networked environment. In the networked environment, how the actuators (D/A conversion) operate plays a key role in the complexity of the related identification problems. In particular, it is reasonable to consider the configuration of event-driven actuators subject to random network-induced delays and packet dropouts; as a result, the networked identification problem is formulated as the one to identify continuous-time linear time-invariant models, based on the general non-uniformly non-synchronized sampled data. A modified version of the simplified refined instrumental variablemethod is proposed to solve this problem, and is validated in a networked identification experiment based on the Matlab/Simulink simulator TrueTime. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.