Consensus of high-order linear systems using dynamic output feedback compensator: Low gain approach

In this paper, we study the consensus (and synchronization) problem for multi-agent linear dynamic systems. All the agents have identical MIMO linear dynamics which can be of any order, and only the output information of each agents is delivered throughout the communication network. It is shown that consensus is reached if there exists a stable compensator which simultaneously stabilizes N−1 systems in a special form, where N is the number of agents. We show that there exists such a compensator under a very general condition. Finally, the consensus value is characterized as a function of initial conditions with stable compensators in place.     

Synchronization in networks of identical linear systems

The paper investigates the synchronization of a network of identical linear state-space models under a possibly time-varying and directed interconnection structure. The main result is the construction of a dynamic output feedback coupling that achieves synchronization if the decoupled systems have no exponentially unstable mode and if the communication graph is uniformly connected. The result can be interpreted as a generalization of classical consensus algorithms. Stronger conditions are shown to be sufficient–but to some extent, also necessary–to ensure synchronization with the diffusive static output coupling often considered in the literature.     

The synchronization of linear systems under quantized measurements

This paper studies the synchronization of high order linear systems in the presence of quantized relative state information. Using the Lyapunov method and non-smooth analysis, it is shown that when a uniform quantizer is used, the original multi-agent system can reach finite-time practical synchronization under the given communication protocol. It is also pointed out that when a logarithmic quantizer is considered, the given systems can reach synchronization under some conditions. The obtained results generalized the existing results of single integrator systems and double integrator systems. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the given results.     

Solving a modified consensus problem of linear multi-agent systems

A distributed protocol is proposed for a modified consensus problem of a network of agents that have the same continuous-time linear dynamics. Each agent estimates its own state using its output information and then sends the estimated state to its neighbor agents for the purpose of reaching a consensus. The modified consensus problem requires the group decision value to be a linear function of initial states and initial estimated states of all agents in the network, and the transformation matrix associated with this linear function not to be a zero matrix. It is proved that under the proposed control protocol, the modified consensus problem can be solved if and only if the system matrices of the agent’s dynamics are stabilizable and detectable, the input matrix is not a zero matrix, and the communication topology graph has a spanning tree. The proposed protocol can also be extended to multi-agent systems where agents are described by discrete-time linear dynamics. The corresponding necessary and sufficient conditions are provided as well.     

Cluster synchronization in directed networks of partial-state coupled linear systems under pinning control

This paper investigates the cluster synchronization for network of linear systems via a generalized pinning control strategy which allows the network of each cluster to take relaxed topological structure. For the case with fixed topology, it is shown that a feasible feedback controller can be designed to achieve the given cluster synchronization pattern if the induced network topology of each cluster has a directed spanning tree and further compared to the couplings among different clusters, the couplings within the each cluster are sufficiently strong. An extra balanced condition is imposed on the network topology of each cluster to allow for the cluster synchronization under arbitrary switching network topologies. Such a balanced condition can be removed via the use of dwell-time technique. For all the cases, the lower bounds for such strengths of couplings within each cluster that secure the synchronization as well as cluster synchronization rate are explicitly specified. Finally, some illustrative examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical findings.     

Robust cooperative control for multi-agent systems via distributed output regulation

Robust cooperative control for multi-agent systems is considered in this paper, under the framework of the distributed output regulation problem. With some fundamental assumptions, two necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the distributed output regulation problem to be solvable. The algorithm of designing the robust distributed control law is provided, with the help of internal models. It is shown that this robust controller is effective in a neighborhood of the nominal system, which is tolerant of system uncertainties.     

Consensus of linear multi-agent systems with reduced-order observer-based protocols

This paper considers the consensus problems for both continuous- and discrete-time linear multi-agent systems with directed communication topologies. Distributed reduced-order observer-based consensus protocols are proposed, based on the relative outputs of neighboring agents. A multi-step algorithm is presented to construct a reduced-order protocol, under which a continuous-time multi-agent system whose communication topology contains a directed spanning tree can reach consensus. This algorithm is further modified to achieve consensus with a prescribed convergence rate. These two algorithms have a favorable decoupling property. In light of the modified algebraic Riccati equation, an algorithm is then given to construct a reduced-order protocol for the discrete-time case.     

Global partial-state feedback and output-feedback tracking controllers for underactuated ships

New global partial-state feedback and output-feedback control schemes for tracking control of an underactuated surface ship without sway force available are presented. For the case of partial-state feedback, we do not require measurements of the ship sway and surge velocities, while, for the case of output-feedback, none of the ship velocities are required for feedback. The reference trajectory to be tracked can be a curve including a straight-line. Global nonlinear coordinate changes are introduced to transform the ship dynamics to a system affine in the ship velocities to design observers to globally exponentially estimate unmeasured velocities. The controllers’ development is based on Lyapunov's direct method and backstepping technique, and utilizes the passive property of ship dynamics and their interconnected structure. Numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed controllers.     

Stabilizability of two-dimensional linear systems via switched output feedback

The problem of stabilizing a second-order SISO LTI system of the form , y=Cx with feedback of the form u(x)=v(x)Cx is considered, where v(x) is real-valued and has domain which is all of . It is shown that, when stabilization is possible, v(x) can be chosen to take on no more than two values throughout the entire state-space (i.e., v(x){k₁,k₂} for all x and for some k₁,k₂), and an algorithm for finding a specific choice of v(x) is presented. It is also shown that the classical root locus of the corresponding transfer function C(sI-A)^-1B has a strong connection to this stabilization problem, and its utility is demonstrated through examples.     

An internal model principle is necessary and sufficient for linear output synchronization

Output synchronization of a network of heterogeneous linear state–space models under time-varying and directed interconnection structures is investigated. It is shown that, assuming stabilizability and detectability of the individual systems and imposing very mild connectedness assumptions on the interconnection structure, an internal model requirement is necessary and sufficient for synchronizability of the network to polynomially bounded trajectories. The resulting dynamic feedback couplings can be interpreted as a generalization of existing methods for identical linear systems.     

Output Consensus of Heterogeneous Multi-agent Systems under Directed Topologies via Dynamic Feedback

This paper discusses the problem of dynamic output consensus for heterogeneous multi-agent systems (MAS) with fixed topologies. All the agents possess unique linear dynamics, and only the output information of each agent is delivered throughout the communication digraphs. A series of conditions and protocols are set for reaching the consensus. With the proper feedback controllers, the output consensus of the overall system is guaranteed. An application illustrates the theorems.     

Cooperative output synchronisation of networked feedforward nonlinear systems via linear sampled-data control

This paper studies the problem of cooperative output synchronisation of networked feedforward nonlinear systems via linear sampled-data control. To dominate the unknown nonlinear perturbing terms, a scaling gain is introduced by a change in coordinates. Then, we construct a reduced-order sampled-data observer and use the backstepping method to design a linear sampled-data controller. By using combined graph theory with feedback domination approach, an explicit formula for the sampling period can be obtained under the proposed controller with appropriate gains such that all outputs of the agents in the network can be synchronised. Finally, two examples are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Stabilization via dynamic output feedback for systems with output nonlinearities

The problem of asmptotically stabilizing a class of systems by means of continuous output feedback is considered. These systems are characterized by nonlinear terms, depending only on the ouputs. It is shown that for these systems stabilization via continuous state-feedback plus stabilization via output injection imply stabilization via continuous dynamic output-feedback. This generalizes a well-knwon result for linear systems.     

Dissipativity and synchronization of fractional-order output-coupled neural networks with multiple adaptive coupling weights

Different from the majority of existing results that focus on the passivity analysis of nonlinear systems, this paper attempts to analyze the more general QSR-dissipativity of fractional-order neural networks that own output coupling and multiple coupled weights, where outer coupling weights can be adjusted online by developing an adaptation law. Using the linear matrix inequality technique, several sufficient criteria that not only guarantee the QSR-dissipativity of the network system but also achieve global synchronization even under zero input are established. Of particular significance is the proposal of a fractional Lyapunov-like lemma, which plays a crucial role in verifying the asymptotic stability of synchronization errors. Finally, a simulation example is presented to verify the plausibility of the theoretical results.     

On-line identification of SISO linear time-invariant delay systems from output measurements

The paper presents a theoretical treatment of on-line identification issues and develops parameter identification algorithms for a class of single input single output (SISO) linear time delay systems (LTDS) with uncertain time-invariant parameters. The delays can also be unknown if their possible values belong to a set consisting of a finite number of known values. Since only output measurements are assumed to be available, a sliding mode-based observer of an underlying SISO LTDS with uncertain parameters is constructed and utilized to design an adaptive identifier of system parameters. The theory is supported by an application of the developed algorithms to transient fuel identification in a port fuel injected (PFI) internal combustion engine.     

Output containment control for swarm systems with general linear dynamics: A dynamic output feedback approach

Output containment control problems for high-order linear time-invariant swarm systems under directed interaction topologies are investigated using a dynamic output feedback approach. Firstly, to propel the outputs of followers to converge to the convex hull formed by the outputs of leaders, a dynamic output containment protocol is presented. Then necessary and sufficient conditions for swarm systems to achieve output containment are proposed. To ensure the scalability of the criteria, a sufficient condition which only includes two linear matrix inequality constraints independent of the number of agents is further presented. Moreover, an approach independent of the number of agents is proposed to determine the gain matrices in the dynamic output containment protocols. Finally, numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate theoretical results.     

A note on asymptotic stabilization of linear systems by periodic, piecewise constant, output feedback

This note studies the asymptotic stabilization problem for controllable and observable, single-input single-output, linear, time-invariant, continuous-time systems by means of memoryless output feedback of the form u(t)=k(t)y(t), with k(t) periodic and piecewise constant. A necessary and sufficient condition, together with a simpler to test sufficient condition, given in terms of a bilinear matrix inequality, is presented. A few illustrative examples complete the paper.     

Model matching with strong stability in switched linear systems

This work deals with model matching by output dynamic feedback in switched linear systems. The plant and the model are assumed to be subject to different switching signals. A necessary and sufficient condition for achieving model matching with asymptotic stability of both the closed-loop compensated system and the compensator, for a sufficiently large dwell time, is proven. Such condition is obtained by specializing the structural condition with a suitable redefinition of the robust controlled invariant subspace involved, capable of capturing not only the structural aspect of the problem but also the stability aspects. The effect of the combined action of nonzero initial states and nonzero inputs is dealt with. The solution to a more demanding problem formulation, where the dwell time is assumed to be fixed and given is also discussed.     

Synchronization of multi-agent systems with delayed control input information from neighbors

In this paper, we consider the synchronization of continuous multi-agent systems with integrator node dynamics. We comparatively study two control protocols, a standard local voting protocol, and a protocol that includes information about the control inputs of neighbors. It is shown that using control input information from neighbors improves performance in two aspects. First, the performance is improved with respect to a certain quadratic performance index defined herein and second, speed of convergence can be selected arbitrarily, independently of the graph topology. Realistically, control input information from neighbors can only be received after a time delay. It is therefore shown that the second protocol using time-delayed control input information from neighbors guarantees the synchronization of the multi-agent system for any nonnegative delay. Furthermore, it is shown that the convergence rate using time-delayed control inputs can still be selected with considerable freedom, and remains superior to the performance of the standard local voting protocol which depends on the graph topology. Some numerical examples and experiments are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new protocols.