A Novel Dual-Phase Based Approach for Distributed Event-Triggered Control of Multiagent Systems With Guaranteed Performance.

This article presents a novel dual-phase based approach for distributed event-triggered control of uncertain Euler-Lagrange (EL) multiagent systems (MASs) with guaranteed performance under a directed topology. First, a fully distributed robust filter is designed to estimate the reference signal for each agent with guaranteed observation performance under continuous state feedback, which transforms the distributed event-triggered control problem into a centralized one for multiple single systems. Second, an event-triggered controller is constructed via intermittent state feedback, making the output of each agent follow the corresponding estimated signal with guaranteed tracking performance. The proposed co-design scheme is of relatively low complexity in structure and cheap in computation since a priori knowledge of system nonlinearities or estimation of their bounds is not required in building the control scheme, and yet neither approximating structures nor adaptive online updating algorithms are needed. It is shown that the output tracking error of each agent is ensured to shrink into a prescribed precision set at an arbitrarily assignable convergence rate, although the plant states and the actuation signal are triggered simultaneously. All the internal signals are uniformly bounded and the occurrence of Zeno behavior is precluded. The efficiency of the proposed method is verified via numerical simulation.

Cooperative Control of Multiagent Systems: A Quantization Feedback-Based Event-Triggered Approach.

This article addresses the synchronization tracking problem for high-order uncertain nonlinear multiagent systems via intermittent feedback under a directed graph. By resorting to a novel storer-based triggering transmission strategy in the state channels, we propose an event-triggered neuroadaptive control method with quantitative state feedback that exhibits several salient features: 1) avoiding continuous control updates by making the parameter estimations updated intermittently at the trigger instants; 2) resulting in lower-frequency triggering transmissions by using one event detector to monitor the triggering condition such that each agent only needs to broadcast information at its own trigger times; and 3) saving communication and computation resources by designing the intermittent updating of neural network weights using a dual-phase technique during the triggering period. Besides, it is shown that the proposed scheme is capable of steering the tracking/disagreement errors into an adjustable neighborhood close to the origin, and the existence of a strictly positive dwell time is proved to circumvent Zeno behavior. Both theoretical analysis and numerical simulation authenticate and validate the efficiency of the proposed protocols.

Performance-Based Distributed Control of Multiagent Systems: A Dual Phase Approach.

In this article, we investigate the distributed tracking control problem for networked uncertain nonlinear strict-feedback systems with unknown time-varying gains under a directed interaction topology. A dual phase performance-guaranteed approach is established. In the first phase, a fully distributed robust filter is constructed for each agent to estimate the desired trajectory with prescribed performance such that the control directions of all agents are allowed to be nonidentical. In the second phase, by establishing a novel lemma regarding Nussbaum function, a new adaptive control protocol is developed for each agent based on backstepping technique, which not only steers the output to track the corresponding estimated signal asymptotically with arbitrarily prescribed transient response but also extends the application scope of the proposed control scheme largely since the unknown control gains are allowed to be time-varying and even state-dependent. In such a way, the underlying problem is tackled with the output tracking error converging into an arbitrarily preassigned residual set exhibiting an arbitrarily predefined convergence rate. Besides, all the internal signals are ensured to be semi-globally ultimately uniformly bounded (SGUUB). Finally, two examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the co-designed scheme.

Asymptotic Tracking Control for Uncertain Nonlinear Strict-Feedback Systems With Unknown Time-Varying Delays.

It is nontrivial to achieve asymptotic tracking control for uncertain nonlinear strict-feedback systems with unknown time-varying delays. This problem becomes even more challenging if the control direction is unknown. To address such problem, the Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional (LKF) is used to deal with the time delays, and the neural network (NN) is applied to compensate for the time-delay-free yet unknown terms arising from the derivative of LKF, and then an NN-based adaptive control scheme is constructed on the basis of backstepping technique, which enables the output tracking error to converge to zero asymptotically. Besides, with a milder condition on time delay functions, the notorious singularity issue commonly encountered in coping with time delay problems is subtly settled, which makes the proposed scheme simple in structure and inexpensive in computation. Moreover, all the signals in the closed-loop system are ensured to be semiglobally uniformly ultimately bounded, and the transient performance can be improved with proper choice of design parameters. Both the theoretical analysis and numerical simulation are carried out to validate the relevance of the proposed method.

Neuro-Adaptive Control With Given Performance Specifications for Strict Feedback Systems Under Full-State Constraints.

In this paper, we investigate the tracking control problem for a class of strict feedback systems with pregiven performance specifications as well as full-state constraints. Our focus is on developing a feasible neural network (NN)-based control method that is able to, under full-state constraints, force the tracking error to converge into a prescribed region within preset finite time and further reduce the error to a smaller and adjustable residual set, while confining the overshoot within predefined small level. Based on two consecutive error transformations governed by two auxiliary functions, named with behavior-shaping function and asymmetric scaling function, respectively, a novel approach to achieve given performance specifications is developed under certain bound condition on the transformed error, such condition, along with the full-stated constraints, is guaranteed by imbedding barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) into the back-stepping design. Furthermore, asymmetric output constraints are maintained with a single symmetric BLF, simplifying the procedure of stability analysis. All internal signals including the stimulating inputs to the NN unit are ensured to be bounded. Both theoretical analysis and numerical simulation verify the effectiveness and the benefits of the design.

Neuroadaptive Control of Strict Feedback Systems With Full-State Constraints and Unknown Actuation Characteristics: An Inexpensive Solution.

In this paper, we present a neuroadaptive control for a class of uncertain nonlinear strict-feedback systems with full-state constraints and unknown actuation characteristics where the break points of the dead-zone model are considered as time-variant. In order to deal with the modeling uncertainties and the impact of the nonsmooth actuation characteristics, neural networks are utilized at each step of the backstepping design. By using barrier Lyapunov function, together with the concept of virtual parameter, we develop a neuroadaptive control scheme ensuring tracking stability and at the same time maintaining full-state constraints. The proposed control strategy bears the structure of proportional-integral (PI) control, with the PI gains being automatically and adaptively determined, making its design less demanding and its implementation less costly. Both theoretical analysis and numerical simulation validate the benefits and the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Dealing With the Issues Crucially Related to the Functionality and Reliability of NN-Associated Control for Nonlinear Uncertain Systems.

The "universal" approximating/learning feature of neural network (NN), widely and extensively used for control design, is contingent upon some critical conditions, either of which, if not satisfied, would render such feature vanished. In this paper, we show that these conditions are literally linked with several fundamental issues that have been overlooked in most existing NN-based control designs, either unconsciously or deliberately. We further propose a collective approach to explicitly address these issues, establishing a strategy enabling the NN unit to be fully functional in the control loop during the entire process of system operation and ensuring the more reliable and more effective NN-associated control performance. This is achieved by incorporating the control with a new structural NN unit, consisting of a group of diversified neurons with self-adjusting subneurons, each being driven/stimulated by input signals confined within a compact set. Meanwhile, the continuity of the control signal and the boundedness of all the closed-loop signals are ensured. Both the theoretical analysis and numerical simulation validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.The "universal" approximating/learning feature of neural network (NN), widely and extensively used for control design, is contingent upon some critical conditions, either of which, if not satisfied, would render such feature vanished. In this paper, we show that these conditions are literally linked with several fundamental issues that have been overlooked in most existing NN-based control designs, either unconsciously or deliberately. We further propose a collective approach to explicitly address these issues, establishing a strategy enabling the NN unit to be fully functional in the control loop during the entire process of system operation and ensuring the more reliable and more effective NN-associated control performance. This is achieved by incorporating the control with a new structural NN unit, consisting of a group of diversified neurons with self-adjusting subneurons, each being driven/stimulated by input signals confined within a compact set. Meanwhile, the continuity of the control signal and the boundedness of all the closed-loop signals are ensured. Both the theoretical analysis and numerical simulation validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Smooth Neuroadaptive PI Tracking Control of Nonlinear Systems With Unknown and Nonsmooth Actuation Characteristics.

This paper considers the tracking control problem for a class of multi-input multi-output nonlinear systems subject to unknown actuation characteristics and external disturbances. Neuroadaptive proportional-integral (PI) control with self-tuning gains is proposed, which is structurally simple and computationally inexpensive. Different from traditional PI control, the proposed one is able to online adjust its PI gains using stability-guaranteed analytic algorithms without involving manual tuning or trial and error process. It is shown that the proposed neuroadaptive PI control is continuous and smooth everywhere and ensures the uniformly ultimately boundedness of all the signals of the closed-loop system. Furthermore, the crucial compact set precondition for a neural network (NN) to function properly is guaranteed with the barrier Lyapunov function, allowing the NN unit to play its learning/approximating role during the entire system operation. The salient feature also lies in its low complexity in computation and effectiveness in dealing with modeling uncertainties and nonlinearities. Both square and nonsquare nonlinear systems are addressed. The benefits and the feasibility of the developed control are also confirmed by simulations.