Algebraic state space approach to model and control combined automata

摘要

A new modeling tool, algebraic state space approach to logical dynamic systems, which is developed recently based on the theory of semi-tensor product of matrices (STP), is applied to the automata field. Using the STP, this paper investigates the modeling and controlling problems of combined automata constructed in the ways of parallel, serial and feedback. By representing the states, input and output symbols in vector forms, the transition and output functions are expressed as algebraic equations of the states and inputs. Based on such algebraic descriptions, the control problems of combined automata, including output control and state control, are considered, and two necessary and sufficient conditions are presented for the controllability, by which two algorithms are established to find out all the control strings that make a combined automaton go to a target state or produce a desired output. The results are quite different from existing methods and provide a new angle and means to understand and analyze the dynamics of combined automata.