Adaptive control of dynamic networks

Abstract: Real-world network systems are inherently dynamic, with network topologies undergoing continuous changes over time. External control signals can be applied to a designated set of nodes within a network, known as the Minimum Driver Set (MDS), to steer the network from any state to a desired one. However, the efficacy of the incumbent MDS may diminish as the network topologies evolve. Previous research has often overlooked this challenge, assuming foreknowledge of future changes in network topologies. In reality, the evolution of network topologies is typically unpredictable, rendering the control of dynamic networks exceptionally challenging. Here, we introduce adaptive control - a novel approach to dynamically construct a series of MDSs to accommodate variations in network topology without prior knowledge. We present an efficient algorithm for adaptive control that minimizes adjustments to MDSs and overall control costs throughout the control period. Extensive experimental evaluation on synthetic and real dynamic networks demonstrated our algorithm's superior performance over several state-of-the-art methods. Adaptive control is general and broadly applicable to various applications in diverse fields.