How deterministic must a real-time controller be?

Abstract

Real-time computing platforms are ubiquitous in the fields of automation, robotics and control. These are often based on a real-time operating system that offers a high level of determinism to support processes such as discrete-event and feedback control. Using methods derived the theory of dynamic systems on time scales, this paper discusses through modeling and simulation the effects of non-determinism. The paper's conclusion supports the hypothesis that strict determinism is not always required to obtain adequate overall system performance.