Directed Communication Topology Research Articles

Scaled consensus of heterogeneous multi-agent systems under asynchronous DoS attacks

This paper addresses the issue of scaled consensus in heterogeneous multi-agent systems (HMASs) under asynchronous Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks. In the system structure, our exploration centers on the challenge of achieving scaled consensus in HMASs. The aim is to guarantee that the states of both first-order and second-order agents within the system reach predetermined scalar values, aligning with diverse real-world scenarios. Subsequently, the security of the system in directed communication topology under asynchronous DoS attack is also taken into account. To achieve above research objectives, an impulsive control scheme based on topology switching is proposed and a corresponding algorithm for determining the pulse moments based on the Floyd algorithm is devised. This scheme utilizes the topology switching caused by asynchronous DoS attacks as the driving force for impulsive control. Furthermore, leveraging the correlation property of random matrices, we derive the sufficient conditions for the system to achieve secure control. Finally, a numerical simulation is provided to validate the effectiveness of the protocol and the accuracy of conclusions.

Quantised adaptive consensus control of heterogeneous nonlinear multi-agent systems under external disturbance

This paper is primarily devoted to the distributed consensus tracking control for heterogeneous nonlinear multi-agent systems (MASs) with a directed communication topology. Taking the considered heterogeneous nonlinear MASs own unknown nonlinear term and quantised input signals, the adaptive radial basis function neural networks (RBFNNs)-based approximator is utilised to tackle these interesting challenges. Next, considering the boundness of disturbances, the upper bound of time-varying disturbance is utilised in the controller design. Then, a distributed dynamic compensator is developed to complete coordination task, which only requires to exchange output information via the communication network. In addition, the compensator transforms the adaptive output consensus problem into asymptotic tracking problem, without needing extra stability conditions. Finally, by means of the Lyapunov stability theory, the satisfying result of the consensus error converging to zero asymptotically can be obtained. Through simulations, the effectiveness of the developed protocol is illustrated.

Bumpless transfer consensus control for linear multi-agent systems under agent-dependent switching directed topologies

The bumpless transfer consensus control problem for linear homogeneous multi-agent systems subject to agent-dependent switching directed communication topologies is investigated in this paper. According to the information of graph Laplacian matrix and relative state of agent, we propose a novel agent-dependent switching law to guide the switching among these topologies, then the leader-following consensus performance of multi-agent systems is achieved via using the multiple Lyapunov functions method. Further, since the switching consensus controllers are considered, the control signal bumps are inevitable at switching instants, and some sufficient conditions via linear matrix inequalities are developed to pursue the bumpless transfer performance of multi-agent systems. Besides, the agent-dependent switching law also allows the error dynamics under each directed subtopology to be unstabilizable. Finally, the theoretical results are verified by two illustrative examples.

Distributed Fixed-Time Formation Tracking Control for the Multi-Agent System and an Application in Wheeled Mobile Robots

This work addresses the issue of multi-agent system (MAS) formation control under external disturbances and a directed communication topology. Firstly, a new disturbance observer is proposed to effectively reconstruct and compensate for external disturbances within a short period of time. Then, the integral terminal sliding mode technology is introduced to devise a novel distributed formation control protocol, ultimately realizing the stability of the MAS within a fixed time. Moreover, by means of rigorous Lyapunov theory analyses, a faster formation convergence rate and more accurate consensus accuracies are achieved in the proposed fixed-time strategy with variable exponent form. Finally, the formation tracking control scheme is applied to a multi-wheeled mobile robot (WMR) system. The experimental results strongly support the fine effectiveness of the control scheme designed in this work.

Cooperative Time-Varying Formation Fuzzy Tracking Control of Multiple Heterogeneous Uncertain Marine Surface Vehicles With Actuator Failures.

This article addresses the cooperative time-varying formation fuzzy tracking control problem for a cluster of heterogeneous multiple marine surface vehicles subject to unknown nonlinearity and actuator failures. The proposed cooperative control scheme consists of two parts: 1) a distributed time-varying formation observer and 2) a decentralized adaptive fuzzy tracking controller. The distributed observer is designed to obtain a predefined time-varying formation pattern under a directed communication topology. Subsequently, based on the states of the distributed observer, a decentralized fuzzy tracking control law is developed using fuzzy-logic systems and the adaptive approach. Lyapunov functions are constructed to guarantee that the controlled marine vehicles attain the desired time-varying formation with asymptotical stability of tracking errors. Finally, simulation results are presented to validate the efficacy of the proposed control methodology.

Distributed Online Constrained Optimization With Feedback Delays.

We investigate multiagent distributed online constrained convex optimization problems with feedback delays, where agents make sequential decisions before being aware of the cost and constraint functions. The main purpose of the distributed online constrained convex optimization problem is to cooperatively minimize the sum of time-varying local cost functions subject to time-varying coupled inequality constraints. The feedback information of the distributed online optimization problem is revealed to agents with time delays, which is common in practice. Every node in the system can interact with neighbors through a time-varying sequence of directed communication topologies, which is uniformly strongly connected. The distributed online primal-dual bandit push-sum algorithm that generates primal and dual variables with delayed feedback is used for the presented problem. Expected regret and expected constraint violation are proposed for measuring the performance of the algorithm, and both of them are shown to be sublinear with respect to the total iteration span T in this article. In the end, the optimization problem for the power grid is simulated to justify the proposed theoretical results.

Robust Decentralized Formation Tracking Control of Complex Multiagent Systems

This article investigates the decentralized formation tracking problem for complex multiagent systems in finite settling time, subjected to output constraints and external disturbances. The barrier Lyapunov function is used to constrain the output of each agent. Therefore, starting inside a closed boundary, the agents are guaranteed to remain inside it for all future time. Under directed communication topology, decentralized time-varying formation tracking is achieved in finite time. Furthermore, in the proposed work, the linear sliding manifold is employed to mitigate the singularity problem that occurs in the conventional robust finite-time methods, i.e., terminal sliding mode-based control schemes. The stability properties of the proposed framework are established through the Lyapunov method which not only ensures the finite-time formation tracking of nonlinear multiagent systems under directed communication but also guarantees that for all time the agents remain inside a closed boundary if they are initially inside it. Consequently, the uniqueness of this article is that it presents a novel formation tracking control framework for multiagent systems that simultaneously considers three performance metrics of robustness, finite-time convergence, and output constraints while mitigating the singularity problem. The proposed topology is validated by implementing the numerical examples in MATLAB/SIMULINK.

Distributed Adaptive Output Feedback Consensus for Nonlinear Stochastic Multiagent Systems by Reference Generator Approach.

This article investigates the distributed leader-following consensus for a class of nonlinear stochastic multiagent systems (MASs) under directed communication topology. In order to estimate unmeasured system states, a dynamic gain filter is designed for each control input with reduced filtering variables. Then, a novel reference generator is proposed, which plays a key role in relaxing the restriction on communication topology. Based on the reference generators and filters, a distributed output feedback consensus protocol is proposed by a recursive control design approach, which incorporates adaptive radial basis function (RBF) neural networks to approximate the unknown parameters and functions. Compared with existing works on stochastic MASs, the proposed approach can significantly reduce the number of dynamic variables in filters. Furthermore, the agents considered in this article are quite general with multiple uncertain/unmatched inputs and stochastic disturbance. Finally, a simulation example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of our results.

Attitude control of multi-spacecraft systems on SO(3) with stochastic links failure

In this paper, for Multi-Spacecraft System (MSS) with a directed communication topology link and a static virtual leader, a controller is proposed to realize attitude consensus and attitude stabilization with stochastic links failure and actuator saturation. First, an MSS attitude error model suitable for a directed topology link and with a static virtual leader based on SO(3) is derived, which considers that the attitude error on SO(3) cannot be defined based on algebraic subtraction. Then, we design a controller to realize the MSS on SO(3) with attitude consensus and attitude stabilization under stochastic links failure and actuator saturation. Finally, the simulation results of a multi-spacecraft system with stochastic links failure and a static virtual leader spacecraft are demonstrated to illustrate the efficiency of the attitude controller.

Adaptive output-constrained finite-time formation control for multiple unmanned surface vessels with directed communication topology

This paper tackles the intricate task of leader-following formation control for multiple unmanned surface vessels (USVs) operating over a directed communication network. Our investigation takes into meticulous consideration several critical variables, including prescribed output constraints, the presence of enigmatic dynamics, and the pervasive influence of external disturbances on each individual USV. Our methodology commences with the introduction of an ingenious output transformation technique, which adeptly converts constrained output variables into their unconstrained counterparts. Subsequently, we craft a novel distributed tracking error metric, artfully harnessing the potential of the transformed output. We build an adaptive, non-singular finite-time formation controller, firmly rooted in the backstepping framework. This controller seamlessly integrates vital components such as virtual velocity control, command filters, neural networks, and parametric adaptive strategies, which is underpinned by our meticulous attention to maintaining C1 continuity within our proposed virtual control law. Furthermore, we introduce the concept of minimum parameter learning, a strategic inclusion aimed at streamlining the computational demands of our controller. Significantly, any potential output overshoot resulting from minimum parameter learning is adeptly managed through our innovative output-constrained control strategy. To substantiate the effectiveness and robustness of our approach, we provide an exhaustive stability analysis, which offers conclusive evidence of our controller’s performance under a diverse array of conditions.

Distributed Formation Control with Obstacle and Collision Avoidance for Hypersonic Gliding Vehicles Subject to Multiple Constraints

Multiple hypersonic gliding vehicles’ (HGVs’) formation control problems with obstacle and collision avoidance are investigated in this paper, which is addressed in the stage of entry gliding. The originality of this paper stems from the formation control algorithm where constraints of dynamic pressure, heating rate, total aerodynamic load, control inputs, collision avoidance, obstacle avoidance, and the terminal states are considered simultaneously. The algorithm implements a control framework designed to be of two terms: distributed virtual controller and actual control input solver. The distributed virtual controller is based on distributed model predictive control with synchronous update strategy, where the virtual control signals are derived by the optimization simultaneously at each time step for each HGV under directed communication topology. Subsequently, according to the virtual control signals obtained, a coupled nonlinear equation set is solved to get actual control signals: each HGV’s bank angle together with the angle of attack. The actual control input solver adopts a feasible solution process to calculate the actual control signals while dealing with constraints. Finally, extensive numerical simulations are implemented to unveil the proposed algorithm’s performance and superiority.

Distributed robust fault‐tolerant control of networked Euler–Lagrange systems with time delays

AbstractThis article addresses the distributed robust fault‐tolerant control design problem for networked Euler–Lagrange (EL) systems with time‐varying delays under directed communication topologies. The leaderless and leader‐follower consensus is established. In order to eliminate the influence of actuator faults and external disturbances on the system performance, some designer‐specified performance constraints are imposed on the sliding variables rather than the tracking errors. Based on the variable transformation, two kinds of fault‐tolerant control schemes are proposed under the prescribed constraints. The stability of the closed‐loop systems with time delays is analyzed, and it is shown that the sliding variables eventually converge within an arbitrarily small boundary range. Simulation studies are presented to exhibit the effectiveness of the proposed control schemes.

Particle swarm optimization based leader-follower cooperative control in multi-agent systems

Multi-agent systems (MAS) have attracted significant attention in recent years due to their wide applications in cooperative control, formation control, synchronization of complex networks, and distributed coordination. A fundamental problem in MAS is the leader-follower consensus or cooperative tracking, where the followers are required to track the state trajectory of the leader agent. To solve the leader-follower consensus problem, we propose a novel evolutionary computation approach to design the optimal distributed control protocols for leader-follower MAS. First, we formulate the design of distributed control gains for leader-follower consensus as an optimization problem to minimize tracking errors. Then, we leverage particle swarm optimization as an efficient evolutionary technique for distributed gain optimization in multi-agent networks. Finally, we guarantee stability for the closed-loop dynamics under directed communication topologies based on algebraic graph theory. The simulation results indicate that the proposed method yields a diminished tracking error, expedites the convergence process, and minimizes the requisite control effort while enhancing computational efficiency. Furthermore, these results exemplify the method's versatility when applied to nonlinear dynamic scenarios, directed network topologies, fluctuating disturbances, and optimization across multiple domains.

Global Reachability of Heterogeneous Multiagent Systems Under Collaborative Interaction Topology and Unknown Delays

The multi-agent rendezvous problem for single- and double-integrator agents in the presence of unknown constant input and communication delays is investigated in this paper. Existing works address the rendezvous problem by incorporating negative gain(s) into the distributed consensus protocol and showing that negative gain(s) expands the reachable set beyond the initial configuration of the agents' convex hull. On the contrary, the present control protocol ensures global reachability of a network of agents with a directed communication topology having non-negative edge weights. This is accomplished with the help of a dynamic distributed control protocol, where the information exchange among agents occurs in the internal controller states. For homogeneous delays, the analytical expression of the rendezvous point confesses the non-dependency of the point with delays, which in turn signifies that rendezvous can be achieved with unknown and arbitrarily large but bounded delays. The very structure of the control protocol ensures rendezvous at any desired point, even if the input delays are heterogeneous and unknown. However, heterogeneity in communication delays has an effect on the rendezvous point, and hence, global reachability of agents can be established if these delays are exactly known. For heterogeneous multi-agent systems composed of single- and double-integrator agents, tuning of the design parameters gets simplified due to the single-integrator based internal controller structure for all agents. Numerical simulations are provided to validate the robustness of the protocol against delays.

Distributed Fuzzy Containment Control for Stochastic Nonlinear Multiagent Systems Under Denial-of-Service Attacks

The paper investigates distributed fuzzy adaptive containment control problem of stochastic nonlinear multi-agent systems under an directed communication topology suffering Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks. Firstly, considering unknown stochastic disturbance and nonlinear characteristics for the followers, the mathematical models are modeled as It <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\hat{o}$</tex-math></inline-formula> stochastic nonlinearities terms approximated through fuzzy logic systems (FLS). Secondly, the proposed dynamically adjusted event-triggered condition can effectively avoid inefficient transmission behavior. Moreover, an adaptive compensation protocol for input saturation is constructed to eliminate the effects of nonlinearities caused by input saturation. Finally, instead of the previous uniformly ultimately bounded containment control results, stability and asymptotic performance are guaranteed through valid reasonable adaptive control laws acquired through backstepping control approach despite suffers DoS cyber attacks. Moreover, a simulation is given to verify the feasibility of the proposed method.

Adaptive prescribed-time containment control for multiple unmanned surface vehicles with uncertain dynamics and actuator dead-zones

This paper investigates the containment control problem of multiple unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) with directed communication topology. The unknown dynamics, external disturbances and actuator dead-zones of each USV are taken into account. Firstly, an event-triggered quantized (ETQ) control strategy and an improved prescribed-time control technique are combined, such that a balance is achieved between reducing the channel burden and ensuring control performance. Then, with the aid of backstepping method, finite-time differentiators, neural networks and parametric adaptive techniques, a fully-distributed adaptive containment controller is developed. The idea of single-parameter learning and estimating the upper bound of disturbances greatly reduce the calculation of the controller. Importantly, the degradation of the control performance caused by saving channel resources and reducing calculation is not worth worrying about, thanks to the performance prescribed control scheme. It is proved that all signals in the closed-loop system are bounded and the containment error of the multi-USV system is semi-globally practically finite-time stable. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed controller was verified by simulations of 1:70 scale ship models.

Attack-free protocols design for leader-following consensus of discrete-time multi-agent systems with multiple input delays

The consensus problem for leader-following multi-agent systems (MASs) characterised by discrete-time multiple input delays linear systems with directed communication topologies is investigated. Under reasonable assumptions, full-order observer-based output feedback protocols are first established by using the relative outputs and inputs of neighbouring agents. In order to overcome the impact of potential network attacks, we truncate the relative inputs of the proposed protocols, namely the exchange of communication information between neighbouring agents is forbidden, so that the closed-loop leader-following MAS is inherently immune to being attacked and achieves consensus. Additionally, the improved attack-free protocols not only allow arbitrarily large yet bounded delays, but also only relative output measurement can be available, which reduces the communication burden and thus are easy to implement in practice. A numerical example is worked out to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Two-Phase Performance Adjustment Approach for Distributed Neuroadaptive Consensus Control of Strict-Feedback Multiagent Systems.

This article addresses the practical prescribed-time leaderless consensus problem for multiple networked strict-feedback systems under directed topology. Different from most existing protocols for finite-time consensus that rely on the signum function or fractional power state feedback (thus, the finite convergence time is contingent upon the initial positions of the agents or other design parameters), the proposed distributed neuroadaptive consensus solution is based on a two-phase performance adjustment approach, which exhibits several salient features: 1) the consensus error is ensured to converge to a preassigned arbitrarily small residual set within prescribed time; 2) the tunable transient behavior and desired steady-state control performance of the consensus error is maintained under any unknown initial conditions; and 3) the control scheme involves only one parameter estimation, significantly reducing the design complexity and online computation. Furthermore, we extend the result to practical prescribed-time leader-following consensus control under directed communication topology. Numerical simulation verifies the benefits and efficiency of the proposed method.

Global Consensus Tracking Control for High-Order Nonlinear Multiagent Systems With Prescribed Performance.

In this article, we investigate the prescribed performance tracking control problem for high-order nonlinear multiagent systems (MASs) under directed communication topology and unknown control directions. Different from most existing prescribed performance consensus control methods where certain initial conditions are needed to be satisfied, here the restriction related to the initial conditions is removed and global tracking result irrespective of initial condition is established. Furthermore, output consensus tracking is achieved asymptotically with arbitrarily prescribed transient performance in spite of the directed topology and unknown control directions. Our development benefits from the performance function and prescribed-time observer. Both theoretical analysis and numerical simulation confirm the validity of the developed control scheme.

Adaptive Bipartite Event-Triggered Time-Varying Output Formation Tracking of Heterogeneous Linear Multi-Agent Systems Under Signed Directed Graph.

This study investigates the adaptive bipartite event-triggered time-varying output formation tracking for heterogeneous linear multi-agent systems (MASs) under signed directed communication topology. Both cooperative communication and antagonistic communication among agents are considered. The fully distributed bipartite compensator based on the novel composite event-triggered transmission mechanism is first put forward to estimate the state of the leader. Compared with the existing methods, our compensator can save communication resources using event-triggered transmission mechanism; is independent of the global information of the network graph; and is applicable for the signed directed graph. With the developed compensator, the distributed control protocol is designed to achieve the time-varying output formation tracking. Moreover, the case that the networked systems subject to external disturbances is also considered. To estimate the state of leader with disturbance, the fully distributed bipartite compensator based on an innovative composite event-triggered mechanism is presented. And the novel distributed control protocol is proposed to address the output formation tracking issue for linear MASs with heterogeneous dynamics and external disturbances. It is shown that the Zeno-behavior can be excluded in both transmission mechanisms. Finally, the effectiveness of the developed control methods is illustrated through three simulation examples.