System Interaction Measures

Abstract

Interaction measures are presented that use the parameters of the controlled process to quantify interactions between controls and subsystems. The notions introduced include a basic measure of interaction, a measure of the ``distance'' (lack of interaction) between controls (subsystems), a measure of control (subsystem) ``leverage'' (relative importance of parameters in affecting a control or subsystem), and a measure of potential conflict between controls (subsystems). Via these interaction measures one can establish a control and subsystem interaction profile. The derived measures are only approximate measures of the interactions, but they can be refined if the description of the control-parameter relationships can be quantified more precisely.