Bio-inspired Synchronization of Non-Identical Pulse-Coupled Oscillators Subject to a Global Cue and Local Interactions*

Pulse-coupled oscillators (PCOs) comprise a class of limit cycle oscillators coupled in an impulsive rather than smooth manner. Their importance in biology and engineering motivated the analysis of the basic properties and design principles of PCO networks. In this work, we address synchronization of non-identical PCO networks with a global cue by using a hybrid systems approach. Using phase response curves as a design element, we characterize solutions and give conditions under which frequency synchronization is achieved. Numerical experiments are provided, which confirm the theoretical findings.