Optimal Control Strategies in Delayed Sharing Information Structures

The n-step delayed sharing information structure is investigated. This information structure comprises of K controllers that share their information with a delay of n time steps. This information structure is a link between the classical information structure, where information is shared perfectly between the controllers, and a non-classical information structure, where there is no "lateral" sharing of information among the controllers. Structural results for optimal control strategies for systems with such information structures are presented. A sequential methodology for finding the optimal strategies is also derived. The solution approach provides an insight for identifying structural results and sequential decomposition for general decentralized stochastic control problems.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2010
• Where: CORR
• Authors: Ashutosh Nayyar, Aditya Mahajan, Demosthenis Teneketzis
• Keywords: CORR 2010, Education, Information Structures, Non-classical Information Structure, Optimal Control Strategies