ISA100.11a

World Wide Web

Control (management)

Engineering

Automation

Real-time Control System

Process automation system

The Internet

Telecommunications

Computer science

Distributed computing

Computer network

Mechanical engineering

Political science

Artificial intelligence

Wireless

Interdependence

Human–computer interaction

Wireless network

IEEE Communications Magazine

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.

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