Semantic-Functional Communications in Cyber-Physical Systems
This paper explores the use of semantic knowledge inherent in the cyber-physical system (CPS) being studied in order to minimize the use of explicit communication, which refers to the use of physical radio resources to transmit potentially informative data. It is assumed that the acquired data have a function in the system, usually related to its state estimation, which may trigger control actions. We propose a semantic-functional approach that can leverage semantic-enabled implicit communication while ensuring the system maintains its required functionality and performance. We illustrate the potential of this proposal through simulations of a swarm of drones jointly performing remote sensing in a given area. Our numerical results demonstrate that the proposed method offers the best design option regarding the ability to accomplish a previously established task—remote sensing in the addressed case—while minimizing the use of explicit communication by controlling the trade-offs that jointly determine the performance and effectiveness of the CPS in terms of resource utilization. In this sense, we establish a fundamental relationship among energy, communication, and functionality, considering a specific end application.