Toward Real-Time Control in Future Wireless Networks: Communication-Control Co-Design

Wireless networks are undergoing a transition from connecting people to connecting things, which will allow human interaction with the physical world in a real-time fashion, for example, Tactile Internet, industrial automation, self-driving vehicles, and remote surgery. Therefore, future wireless networks need to support real-time control since it is the essential function enabling such emerging applications. In this article, some fundamental design capabilities needed to realize real-time control in future wireless networks are discussed, with primary emphasis given to communication-control because both communication and control systems have strong dynamics and interdependencies, and they tightly interact with each other. A case study is provided to demonstrate the necessity of such co-design.