Dynamic consensus estimation of weighted average on directed graphs

Recent applications call for distributed weighted average estimation over sensor networks, where sensor measurement accuracy or environmental conditions need to be taken into consideration in the final consensused group decision. In this paper, we propose new dynamic consensus filter design to distributed estimate weighted average of sensors’ inputs on directed graphs. Based on recent advances in the filed, we modify the existing proportional-integral consensus filter protocol to remove the requirement of bi-directional gain exchange between neighbouring sensors, so that the algorithm works for directed graphs where bi-directional communications are not possible. To compensate for the asymmetric structure of the system introduced by such a removal, sufficient gain conditions are obtained for the filter protocols to guarantee the convergence. It is rigorously proved that the proposed filter protocol converges to the weighted average of constant inputs asymptotically, and to the weighted average of time-varying inputs with a bounded error. Simulations verify the effectiveness of the proposed protocols.     

基于有向通信拓扑的高阶分布式一致性算法

为了提高有向通信拓扑下分布式一致性算法的收敛速度,提出了一种基于有向通信拓扑的高阶分布式一致性算法。该算法通过有向单跳通信,利用有向二跳邻接节点的前多步信息提高分布式一致性算法的收敛速度。对有向通信拓扑下该算法的收敛性能和收敛速度进行了分析和仿真比较。结果显示,该算法在满足一定条件下能收敛到初始状态的平均值,与其他同样利用二跳邻接节点信息的一致性算法相比,具有通信量小、收敛速度更快的特点,但是能容忍的最大通信延时变小。     

On average consensus in directed networks of agents with switching topology and time delay

In this article, the average consensus problem in directed networks of agents with both switching topology and coupling delay is investigated. First, based on a specific orthogonal transformation of the Laplacian matrix, an important proposition for verifying the positive definiteness of a class of quadratic forms is provided, which is of independent interest in matrix theory. And the relation between weakly connected and strongly connected digraphs is also investigated. Then, it is proved that all the agents reach the average consensus asymptotically for appropriate time delay if the communication topology keeps weakly connected and balanced. Finally, a numerical example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness and advantage of the new result.     

Graph-balancing algorithms for average consensus over directed networks

Consensus strategies find extensive applications in coordination of robot groups and decision-making of agents. Since balanced graph plays an important role in the average consensus problem and many other coordination problems for directed communication networks, this work explores the conditions and algorithms for the digraph balancing problem. Based on the analysis of graph cycles, we prove that a digraph can be balanced if and only if the null space of its incidence matrix contains positive vectors. Then, based on this result and the corresponding analysis, two weight balance algorithms have been proposed, and the conditions for obtaining a unique balanced solution and a set of analytical results on weight balance problems have been introduced. Then, we point out the relationship between the weight balance problem and the features of the corresponding underlying Markov chain. Finally, two numerical examples are presented to verify the proposed algorithms.     

Distributed consensus filter on directed switching graphs

We consider distributed estimation on a directed graph with switching topologies. Motivated by a recent PI consensus filter, we modify the protocol and remove the requirement of bidirectional exchange of neighboring gains for fixed topologies. We then extend the protocol to switching topologies and propose a new hybrid consensus filter design. Convergence results under both balanced directed, and general directed graphs are given for switching graphs. Consensus error bounds are analytically derived in the case of time‐varying inputs. Satisfactory simulation results are shown. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic average consensus under limited control authority and privacy requirements

This paper introduces a novel continuous‐time dynamic average consensus algorithm for networks whose interaction is described by a strongly connected and weight‐balanced directed graph. The proposed distributed algorithm allows agents to track the average of their dynamic inputs with some steady‐state error whose size can be controlled using a design parameter. This steady‐state error vanishes for special classes of input signals. We analyze the asymptotic correctness of the algorithm under time‐varying interaction topologies and characterize the requirements on the stepsize for discrete‐time implementations. We show that our algorithm naturally preserves the privacy of the local input of each agent. Building on this analysis, we synthesize an extension of the algorithm that allows individual agents to control their own rate of convergence towards agreement and handle saturation bounds on the driving command. Finally, we show that the proposed extension additionally preserves the privacy of the transient response of the agreement states and the final agreement value from internal and external adversaries. Numerical examples illustrate the results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Output consensus for multiple non-holonomic systems under directed communication topology

In this paper, the problem of output consensus for multiple non-holonomic systems in chained form has been investigated. First, an output consensus controller under the strongly connected communication topology is devised by two steps, where a time-varying control strategy and the backstepping design technique are employed. Then, the results are extended to the general directed topology case via graph decomposition, in which the input-to-state stability theory plays a critical role. We prove that the proposed controller can achieve the semi-global output consensus among multiple non-holonomic systems, provided that the interaction graph contains a spanning tree. Finally, numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the designed controller.     

Finite-time consensus for multi-agent systems with globally bounded convergence time under directed communication graphs

In this paper, we study the finite-time consensus problems with globally bounded convergence time also known as fixed-time consensus problems for multi-agent systems subject to directed communication graphs. Two new distributed control strategies are proposed such that leaderless and leader-follower consensus are achieved with convergence time independent on the initial conditions of the agents. Fixed-time formation generation and formation tracking problems are also solved as the generalizations. Simulation examples are provided to demonstrate the performance of the new controllers.     

Robust discrete time dynamic average consensus

This paper deals with the problem of average consensus of a set of time-varying reference signals in a distributed manner. We propose a new class of discrete time algorithms that are able to track the average of the signals with an arbitrarily small steady-state error and with robustness to initialization errors. We provide bounds on the maximum step size allowed to ensure convergence to the consensus with error below the desired one. In addition, for certain classes of reference inputs, the proposed algorithms allow arbitrarily large step size, an important issue in real networks, where there are constraints in the communication rate between the nodes. The robustness to initialization errors is achieved by introducing a time-varying sequence of damping factors that mitigates past errors. Convergence properties are shown by the decomposition of the algorithms into sequences of static consensus processes. Finally, simulation results corroborate the theoretical contributions of the paper.     

Cluster consensus control of generic linear multi-agent systems under directed topology with acyclic partition

This paper investigates the cluster consensus control for generic linear multi-agent systems (MASs) under directed interaction topology via distributed feedback controller. Focus of this paper is particularly on addressing the following problem which is of both theoretical and practical interests but have not been considered in the existing literature: under what kind of interaction among the clusters can the cluster consensus control be achieved regardless of the magnitudes of the coupling strengths among the agents? Directed acyclic interaction topology among the clusters is proved to have this property. As opposed to the algebraic conditions provided in the existing literature, conditions for guaranteeing the cluster consensus control in this paper are presented in terms of purely the graphic topology conditions and thus are very easy to be verified.     

Stationary average consensus protocol for a class of heterogeneous high-order multi-agent systems with application for aircraft

This paper investigates the stationary average consensus problem for a class of heterogeneous-order multi-agent systems. The goal is to bring the positions of agents to the average of their initial positions while letting the other states converge to zero. To this end, three different consensus protocols are proposed. First, based on the auxiliary variables information among the agents under switching directed networks and state-feedback control, a protocol is proposed whereby all the agents achieve stationary average consensus. In the second and third protocols, by resorting to only measurements of relative positions of neighbouring agents under fixed balanced directed networks, two control frameworks are presented with two strategies based on state-feedback and output-feedback control. Finally, simulation results are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed protocols.     

Robust finite-time consensus tracking for second-order multi-agent systems with input saturation under general directed communication graphs

In this paper, we study the global finite-time consensus tracking problem for uncertain second-order multi-agent systems subject to input saturation. The communication graphs are allowed to be general directed graphs. Sliding-mode observer-based distributed controllers are proposed such that global finite-time consensus tracking is achieved with bounded control inputs. Only relative state or output measurements are used in the proposed controller which reduces the communication requirement on the agents. Simulation examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategies.     

Impulsive consensus seeking in directed networks of multi-agent systems with communication time delays

In this article, we consider average consensus problem in directed delayed networked multi-agent systems having impulsive effects with fixed topology and stochastic switching topology. A simple impulsive consensus protocol for such networks is proposed, and some generic criteria for solving the average consensus problem are analytically derived. It is shown that a directed delayed networked multi-agent system can achieve average consensus globally exponentially with suitable impulsive gain and impulsive interval. Subsequently, two typical illustrative examples, along with computer simulation results, are provided to visualise the effectiveness and feasibility of our theoretical results.     

Group consensus of multi-agent systems in directed networks with noises and time delays

In this paper, group consensus problems in fixed directed networks of dynamic agents are investigated. Group consensus means that the agents in each group share a consistent value while there is no agreement between any two groups. Based on algebraic graph theory, sufficient conditions guaranteeing group consensus under the proposed control protocol in the presence of random noises and communication delays are derived. The analysis uses a stability result of Mao for stochastic differential delay equations, which ensures the consensus can be achieved almost surely and exponentially fast. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the availability of the obtained results as well as the effect of time delay/noise intensity.     

Distributed event‐triggered consensus control with fully continuous communication free for general linear multi‐agent systems under directed graph

This paper considers the distributed event‐triggered consensus problem for multi‐agent systems with general linear dynamics under a directed graph. We propose a novel distributed event‐triggered consensus controller with state‐dependent threshold for each agent to achieve consensus. In this strategy, continuous communication in both controller update and triggering condition monitoring is not required, which means the proposed strategy is fully continuous communication free. Each agent only needs to monitor its own state continuously to determine if the event is triggered. Additionally, the approach shown here provides consensus with guaranteed positive inter‐event time intervals. Therefore, there is no Zeno behavior under the proposed consensus control algorithm. Finally, numerical simulations are given to illustrate the theoretical results.     

Transcale average consensus of directed multi-vehicle networks with fixed and switching topologies

This paper contributes to solving a class of so-called ‘transcale average consensus’ problems for directed networks of vehicles with single-integrator dynamics. It generalises the idea of average consensus by taking into account the measurement scale of every vehicle's information state. Using the nearest neighbour-interaction rules, distributed algorithms are presented which are shown with the ability to achieve the transcale average consensus for directed networks associated with balanced graphs. Such consensus results are applicable to networks in the presence of both fixed topology and switching topologies, which are also illustrated via simulation tests. Moreover, improved algorithms and results of consensus are given for directed networks associated with unbalanced graphs.     

Distributed average consensus with least-mean-square deviation

We consider a stochastic model for distributed average consensus, which arises in applications such as load balancing for parallel processors, distributed coordination of mobile autonomous agents, and network synchronization. In this model, each node updates its local variable with a weighted average of its neighbors’ values, and each new value is corrupted by an additive noise with zero mean. The quality of consensus can be measured by the total mean-square deviation of the individual variables from their average, which converges to a steady-state value. We consider the problem of finding the (symmetric) edge weights that result in the least mean-square deviation in steady state. We show that this problem can be cast as a convex optimization problem, so the global solution can be found efficiently. We describe some computational methods for solving this problem, and compare the weights and the mean-square deviations obtained by this method and several other weight design methods.     

Group consensus of multi-agent systems with directed information exchange

We discuss a new consensus problem – a group consensus problem – in networks of dynamic agents. For a complex network consisting of several sub-networks owing to physical quantities or task distributions, it is concerned with this case that the agents in a sub-network share a consistent value while there is no agreement between any two sub-networks. When the information exchange is directed, a novel consensus protocol is designed to solve the group consensus problem. The convergence analysis is discussed and several criteria are established based on graph theories and matrix theories. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.     

有向图中模块化航天器系统相对轨道的自适应分布式一致性

基于多智能体系统一致性理论,对模块化航天器相对轨道的分布式一致性问题进行了研究.各模块之间的信息交互拓扑结构为更具一般性的有向图.当存在模块质量不确定性的情形下,设计了仅依赖模块自身及其邻近模块信息且无需模块间相对速度信息的自适应控制算法.针对模型中存在外部干扰的情形,通过引入带有时变自适应参数的变结构控制项,实现了对未知上界干扰的补偿,并且证明了闭环系统是渐近稳定的.此外,本文所设计的算法具有分布式的特点,不会因为模块数量的增多而增加所提算法的复杂度.最后对6个模块组成的模块化航天器的编队飞行进行了仿真分析,仿真结果表明本文设计的控制律是有效可行的.     

Leader-following scaled consensus of second-order multi-agent systems under directed topologies

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates the leader-following scaled consensus problem of second-order multi-agent systems under directed topologies. Three novel leader-following scaled consensus protocols are designed. First, a novel scaled consensus protocol is proposed. It can guarantee the velocity of each agent in one sub-group exactly follow that of a leader, and the follower agents achieve scaled consensus. Second, another proposed protocol enables the agents' positions and velocities of one sub-group accurately track those of a leader, and the follower agents achieve scaled consensus. Third, consider the case where the leader's states available to one or multiple followers and the leader travels with a varying velocity, a novel scaled consensus tracking protocol is proposed. Sufficient and necessary conditions are obtained to guarantee scaled consensus tracking for the three cases,respectively. Finally, simulation examples are made to verify the effectiveness of the theoretical results.