Learning formation control for fractional‐order multiagent systems

In this paper, we use 2 iterative learning control schemes (P‐type and PI‐type) with an initial learning rule to achieve the formation control of linear fractional‐order multiagent systems. To realize the finite‐time consensus, we assume repeatable operation environments as well as a fixed but directed communication topology for the fractional‐order multiagent systems. Both P‐type and PI‐type update laws are applied to generate the control commands for each agent. It is strictly proved that all agents are driven to achieve an asymptotical consensus as the iteration number increases. Two examples are simulated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.     

Leader‐following consensus problem of heterogeneous multi‐agent systems with nonlinear dynamics using fuzzy disturbance observer

This article considers the leader‐following consensus problem of heterogeneous multi‐agent systems. The proposed multi‐agent system is consisted of heterogeneous agents where each agents have their own nonlinear dynamic behavior. To overcome difficulty from heterogeneous nonlinear intrinsic dynamics of agents, a fuzzy disturbance observer is adopted. In addition, based on the Lyapunov stability theory, an adaptive control method is used to compensate the observation error caused by the difference between the unknown factor and estimated values. Two numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 19: 20–31, 2014     

Discrete leader‐following consensus

In this paper, a leader‐following consensus of discrete‐time multi‐agent systems with nonlinear intrinsic dynamics is investigated. We propose and prove conditions ensuring a leader‐following consensus. Numerical examples are given to illustrate our results.     

Consensus problems in discrete-time multiagent systems with fixed topology

In this paper, we study the consensus problems in discrete-time multiagent systems with fixed topology. A necessary and sufficient condition for a system that solves a consensus problem is established, and the structure of consensus functions is characterized. Based on them, we introduce the standard topologies (graphs) of information flow, with which the systems can be viewed as single-leader-multi-follower systems. Moreover, the convex combination of these topologies can create a system that solves any predeterminate consensus problem. Additionally, we characterize the structural decomposition—the leaders-followers decomposition of a multiagent system, and establish a necessary and sufficient condition for an agent to be a leader.     

Dynamic output feedback consensus of continuous‐time networked multiagent systems

This article addresses the dynamic output feedback consensus problem of continuous‐time networked multiagent systems. Both a fixed topology and Markovian switching topologies are considered. The consensus algorithms are on the base of the output information of each agent's itself and its neighbors. Some sufficient conditions for consensus of multiagent systems are obtained in forms of bilinear matrix inequalities. The algorithm based on the homotopy continuation method is given to compute the feasible controller gains. Numerical simulations are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed results. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 20: 35–42, 2015     

Consensus protocol design for discrete‐time networks of multiagent with time‐varying delay via logarithmic quantizer

This article considers the problem of consensus for discrete‐time networks of multiagent with time‐varying delays and quantization. It is assumed that the logarithmic quantizer is utilized between the information flow through the sensor of each agent, and its quantization error is included in the proposed method. By constructing a suitable Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional and utilizing matrix theory, a new consensus criterion for the concerned systems is established in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) which can be easily solved by various effective optimization algorithms. Based on the consensus criterion, a designing method of consensus protocol is introduced. One numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 163–176, 2015     

Stability analysis of a class of uncertain switched systems on time scale using Lyapunov functions

This paper deals with the stability analysis of a class of uncertain switched systems on non-uniform time domains. The considered class consists of dynamical systems which commute between an uncertain continuous-time subsystem and an uncertain discrete-time subsystem during a certain period of time. The theory of dynamic equations on time scale is used to study the stability of these systems on non-uniform time domains formed by a union of disjoint intervals with variable length and variable gap. Using the concept of common Lyapunov function, sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee the asymptotic stability of this class of systems on time scale with bounded graininess function. The proposed scheme is used to study the leader–follower consensus problem under intermittent information transmissions.     

Finite-time semistability,Filippov systems,and consensus protocols for nonlinear dynamical networks with switching topologies

This paper focuses on semistability and finite-time semistability for discontinuous dynamical systems. Semistability is the property whereby the solutions of a dynamical system converge to Lyapunov stable equilibrium points determined by the system initial conditions. In this paper, we extend the theory of semistability to discontinuous autonomous dynamical systems. In particular, Lyapunov-based tests for strong and weak semistability as well as finite-time semistability for autonomous differential inclusions are established. Using these results we then develop a framework for designing semistable and finite-time semistable protocols for dynamical networks with switching topologies. Specifically, we present distributed nonlinear static and dynamic output feedback controller architectures for multiagent network consensus and rendezvous with dynamically changing communication topologies.     

Leader-following finite-time consensus for multi-agent systems with jointly-reachable leader

Finite-time consensus problems of the leader-following multi-agent systems with jointly-reachable leader and switching jointly-reachable leader are studied in this paper. Based on the graph theory, LaSalle’s invariance principle and Lyapunov stability theory, the finite-time consensus protocols are presented for the first-order and second-order leader-following systems. Some examples and simulation results are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the obtained theoretical results.     

PDα‐type distributed learning control for nonlinear fractional‐order multiagent systems

This paper considers the consensus tacking problem for nonlinear fractional‐order multiagent systems by presenting a PD^α‐type iterative learning control update law with initial learning mechanisms. The asymptotical convergence of the proposed distributed learning algorithm is strictly proved by using the properties of fractional calculus. A sufficient condition is derived to guarantee the whole multiagent system achieving an asymptotic output consensus. An illustrative example is given to verify the theoretical results.     

Leaderless and leader-following consensus of multi-agent chaotic systems with unknown time delays and switching topologies

In this paper the distributed consensus problem for a class of multi-agent chaotic systems with unknown time delays under switching topologies and directed intermittent communications is investigated. Each agent is modeled as a general nonlinear system including many chaotic systems with or without time delays. Based on the Lyapunov stability theory and graph theory, some sufficient conditions guarantee the exponential convergence. A graph-dependent Lyapunov proof provides the definite relationship among the bound of unknown time delays, the admissible communication rate and each possible topology duration. Moreover, the relationship reveals that these parameters have impacts on both the convergence speed and control cost. The case with leader-following communication graph is also addressed. Finally, simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Second-order cluster consensus of multi-agent dynamical systems with impulsive effects

This paper discuss the cluster consensus of multi-agent dynamical systems (MADSs) with impulsive effects and coupling delays. Some sufficient conditions that guarantee cluster consensus in MADS are derived. In each cluster, agents update their position and velocity states according to a leader’s instantaneous information, and interactions among agents are uncertain. Furthermore, switching topology problem in MADS is considered by impulsive stability and adaptive strategy. Finally, numerical simulations are given to verify our theoretical analysis.     

Distributed containment control of second‐order multiagent systems with input delays under general protocols

This article addresses the distributed containment control problem in a group of agents governed by second‐order dynamics with directed network topologies. Considering there are multiple leaders, we study a general second‐order containment controller which can realize several different consensus modes by adjusting control gains. A necessary and sufficient condition on the control gains of the general containment controller is provided. Moreover, the delay sensitivity of the closed‐loop multiagent system under the general containment controller is studied; the maximal upper bound of the constant delays is obtained. Finally, several numerical examples are used to illustrate the theoretical results. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 112–120, 2016     

Practical scaled consensus for nonlinear multiagent systems with input time delay via a new distributed integral-type event-triggered scheme

This paper studies scaled-based practical consensus issue for multiagent systems with input time delay by a fully continuous communication-free integral-type event-triggered scheme. By choosing the proper scales, scaled consensus can be induced to synchronization, bipartite consensus or cluster consensus. By defining a continuous communication-free measurement error for the integral-type event-triggered mechanism, the new integral-type event-triggered condition is proposed which can not only reduce the energy consumption but also prolong the interevent time. Then, with time domain analysis method, the distributed integral-type event-triggered control problem for nonlinear general multiagent systems involving input time delay is investigated and then the second-order counterpart, with a calculated upper-bound for time-delay. Moreover, it is concluded that with such event-triggered protocols, practical scaled consensus can be achieved without the exhibition of Zeno behavior. At last, simulations are shown to support the results.     

Impulsive consensus problem of second-order multi-agent systems with switching topologies

The paper proposes an impulsive consensus protocol to solve the consensus problem of the second-order multi-agent systems with fixed and switching topologies. Some sufficient conditions are obtained for the states of follower agents converging to the state of leader asymptotically. Two numerical simulations are also given to verify the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis.     

A new approach using multiple Lyapunov functions for bipartite consensus of multi-agents over directed switching signed graphs

This paper investigates a new approach for the bipartite (cooperative–competitive) consensus control design for a class of nonlinear agents with Lipschitz dynamics under directed switching topologies. The design technique utilizes multiple Lyapunov functions (MLFs), inequality-based criteria, and average dwell-time (ADT) for switching instances to develop relaxed and less conservative constraints. The results are derived for structurally balanced signed graphs which switch among different configurations with persistent or frequent directed spanning tree (DST), rooted at the leader node. Further, results are also investigated for the dynamic leader agent with non-zero norm-bounded control input. To the best of our knowledge, bipartite consensus of a generic form of Lipschitz nonlinear agents under directed switching topologies has been addressed for the first time. In addition, advanced concepts of MLFs and ADT are used for dealing with switching among signed communication topologies. Numerical simulations to validate the proposed theoretical analysis are provided for different conditions.     

Distributed impulsive control consensus for a class of unknown nonlinear multi-agent systems based on event-triggered scheme

In this study, we are concerned with the impulsive consensus control problem for a class of nonlinear multi-agent systems (MASs) which have unknown dynamics and directed communication topology. The neural networks (NNs) method is the first utilized to construct distributed event-triggered impulsive consensus protocol. In contrast to the existing impulsive consensus protocol, the consensus protocol proposed in this paper does not need the dynamics of agents, which enhances the system robustness, and realizes distributed event-triggered communication between agents, which can reduce unnecessary consumption of communication resources. Sufficient conditions are derived to ensure the consensus of the controlled MASs and the exclusion of Zeno-behavior. Finally, simulation examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control protocol.     

Consensus seeking in multi-agent systems via hybrid protocols with impulse delays

This paper studies the consensus problem of multi-agent systems with both fixed and switching topologies. A hybrid consensus protocol is proposed to take into consideration of continuous-time communications among agents and delayed instant information exchanges on a sequence of discrete times. Based on the proposed algorithms, the multi-agent systems with the hybrid consensus protocols are described in the form of impulsive systems or impulsive switching systems. By employing results from matrix theory and algebraic graph theory, some sufficient conditions for the consensus of multi-agent systems with fixed and switching topologies are established, respectively. Our results show that, for small impulse delays, the hybrid consensus protocols can solve the consensus problem if the union of continuous-time and impulsive-time interaction digraphs contains a spanning tree frequently enough. Simulations are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed consensus protocols.     

非平衡拓扑和随机干扰情形下多自主体系统的趋同条件

研究了具有一般有向通信拓扑和高斯通信噪声的多自主体系统的趋同条件.这里所研究的有向拓扑不仅包含有向平衡图,而且包含非平衡图,后者是本文的重点.我们利用马氏链的结果得到了一个网络节点的互通类;通过对噪声影响的细化,给出了不同噪声情形下系统趋同条件:(1)对互通类的自主体获取信息受到噪声干扰情形,给出了系统均方趋同的充要条件,并证明该条件也保证以概率1 趋同;(2)对互通类的自主体获取信息未受到噪声干扰但其余自主体获取信息受到干扰情形,给出了系统均方趋同的充分条件,并证明该条件在一定意义下也是必要的;(3)对整个系统无噪声情形,给出了系统趋同的充要条件.     

Distributed adaptive switching consensus control of heterogeneous multi-agent systems with switched leader dynamics

In this paper, the leader-following distributed consensus control problem is addressed for general linear multi-agent systems with heterogeneous uncertain agent dynamics and switched leader dynamics. Different from most existing results with a single linear time-invariant (LTI) leader dynamics, the leader dynamics under consideration is composed by a family of LTI models and a switching logic governing the switches among them, which is capable of generating more diverse and sophisticated reference signals to accommodate more complicated consensus control design tasks. A novel distributed adaptive switching consensus protocol is developed by incorporating the model reference adaptive control mechanism and arbitrary switching control technique, which can be synthesized by following a two-layer hierarchical design scheme. A numerical example has been used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.