Model matching for finite-state machines

The problem of model matching for finite state machines (FSMs) consists of finding a controller for a given open-loop system so that the resulting closed-loop system matches a desired input-output behavior. In this paper, a set of model matching problems is addressed: strong model matching (where the reference model and the plant are deterministic FSMs and the initial conditions are fixed), strong model matching with measurable disturbances (where disturbances are present in the plant), and strong model matching with nondeterministic reference model (where any behavior out of those in the reference model has to be matched by the closed-loop system). Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of controllers for all these problems are given. A characterization of all feasible control laws is derived and an efficient synthesis procedure is proposed. Further, the well-known supervisory control problem for discrete-event dynamical systems (DEDSs) formulated in its basic form is shown to be solvable as a strong model matching problem with measurable disturbances and nondeterministic reference model.