Centralized control------Decentralized control------Distributed control

Modern control systems are increasingly adopting networked control frameworks such as power grids, transportation networks, and water networks. Networked control systems are systems whose control loops are closed through communication networks such that both control signals and feedback signals can be exchanged among systems conponents (sensors, controllers, actuators, and so on). Generally, there three configurations of networked control systems. (see Fig 1.)

Centralized control: This contrll appraoach takes advantage of full knowledge of the system. The remarkable feature is that the entire system is just controlled by one controller.

Decentralized control: This control apprach utilizes local information to make a decision. The control system is controlled by a group of sub-controller. Howerer, the sub-controller do not share information with neighboring sub-controllers.

Distributed control: In this appraoch, information of each subsystem is exchanged among system components using a shared communication network. Meanwhile, a large number of simple interactining units that can be physically distributed and interconnected to others to coordinate their tasks for achiecing a desired overall objective.

Reference:
[1] Chimay J. Anumba, Nazila Roofigari-Esfahan. Cyber-Physical Systems in the Built Environment. Springer, 2020.

[2] Xiaohua Ge, Fuwen Yang, Qing-Long Han. Distributed networked control systems: A brief overview. Information Sciences, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2015.07.047