Co-simulation platforms for co-design of networked control systems: An overview

• First, it introduces the individual physical dynamic simulators and network event simulators, and gives a brief comparison to show their pros and cons.
• Approaches involving extension of individual simulators for both control and communication simulations are summarized.
• A consolidated review and analysis of integrated co-simulation techniques, with a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each, is provided.
• Synchronization method is the key point toward co-simulation, thus have also been summarized.
• Two sample case studies are also provided to show the beneficial of co-simulations.

This paper gives an overview of the existing co-simulation platforms for co-design of networked control systems (NCSs). NCSs contain coupled control and communication perspectives. However, the existing simulators focus either on control systems or communication networks. In order to analyse the coupling effect from both sides, co-simulation method is under consideration as one of the most promising solutions. This paper briefly introduces the commonly used individual control and communication simulators. Then the existing co-simulation platforms have been reviewed and discussed. Synchronization technique is the key point toward co-simulation, thus different synchronization methods have also been summarized. Two sample case studies with results are provided to show the beneficial of co-simulations.