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This paper addresses the finite-time and fixed-time bipartite average tracking (BAT) problems in multi-agent systems (MASs) subject to bounded disturbances. A novel non-smooth protocol is first constructed on the basis of utilizing the finite-time control method, which can realize the finite-time BAT with structurally balanced graph. Then, the fixed-time BAT problem is dealt with nonlinear fixed-time algorithm, the setting time of which is obtained without depending on initial states. By employing Lyapunov stability theory, some sufficient criteria are obtained to achieve the finite-time and fixed-time BAT for MASs with disturbances. Numerical examples are finally developed for illustration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies consensus problems of multi-agent systems with binary-valued communications. Different from most existing works, the agents considered in this paper can only get binary-valued observations of its neighbors’ states with random noises. A consensus algorithm is proposed: first, each agent estimates its neighbors’ states by the recursive projection algorithm; then, each agent designs the control timely based on the estimates. It is proved that the estimates of the states can converge to the true states with a faster convergence rate than that in the parameter estimation. Moreover, the states of the agents can achieve mean-square consensus, and the corresponding consensus speed can achieve $O(1/t)$ under certain conditions. Finally, simulations are given to demonstrate the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predefined mymargin finite-time output containment control problem for nonlinear multi-agent systems with multiple dynamical leaders under directed topology is investigated, where the outputs of followers can converge to the predefined convex hull formed by the multiple leaders within a finite time, and the leaders can have unknown control inputs. Firstly, for the directed topological structure among the followers, a distributed adaptive observer is designed to estimate the whole states of all the leaders under the influences of the leaders’ unknown inputs. By utilizing Hardy’s inequality and common Lyapunov theory, the finite-time convergence of the proposed observer is proved. On the basis of this conclusion, a predefined distributed containment control protocol including the desired convex combinations of the leaders is developed for each follower by using the given weights. Then an algorithm is proposed to design the control parameters in the proposed containment control protocol. With the help of the output regulation theory, the finite-time output containment criterion for nonlinear multi-agent systems in the presence of the leaders’ unknown inputs is derived. Finally, a numerical simulation example is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies linear stochastic approximation (SA) algorithms and their application to multiagent systems in engineering and sociology. As main contribution, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for convergence of linear SA algorithms to a deterministic or random final vector. We also characterize the system convergence rate, when the system is convergent. Moreover, differing from non-negative gain functions in traditional SA algorithms, this paper considers also the case when the gain functions are allowed to take arbitrary real numbers. Using our general treatment, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions to reach consensus and group consensus for first-order discrete-time multiagent system over random signed networks and with state-dependent noise. Finally, we extend our results to the setting of multidimensional linear SA algorithms and characterize the behavior of the multidimensional Friedkin–Johnsen model over random interaction networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, distributed algorithms are proposed for training a group of neural networks with private data sets. Stochastic gradients are utilized in order to eliminate the requirement for true gradients. To obtain a universal model of the distributed neural networks trained using local data sets only, consensus tools are introduced to derive the model toward the optimum. Most of the existing works employ diminishing learning rates, which are often slow and impracticable for online learning, while constant learning rates are studied in some recent works, but the principle for choosing the rates is not well established. In this article, constant learning rates are adopted to empower the proposed algorithms with tracking ability. Under mild conditions, the convergence of the proposed algorithms is established by exploring the error dynamics of the connected agents, which provides an upper bound for selecting the constant learning rates. Performances of the proposed algorithms are analyzed with and without gradient noises, in the sense of mean square error (MSE). It is proved that the MSE converges with bounded errors determined by the gradient noises, and the MSE converges to zero if the gradient noises are absent. Simulation results are provided to validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problems discussed in this article are motivated by general ratio consensus algorithms, introduced by Kempe et al. in 2003 in a simple form as the push-sum algorithm, later extended by Bénézit et al. in 2010 under the name weighted gossip algorithm. We consider a communication protocol described by a strictly stationary, ergodic, sequentially primitive sequence of nonnegative matrices, applied iteratively to a pair of fixed initial vectors, the components of which are called values and weights defined at the nodes of a network. The subject of ratio consensus problems is to study the asymptotic properties of ratios of values and weights at each node, expecting convergence to the same limit for all nodes. The main results of this article provide upper bounds for the rate of the almost sure exponential convergence in terms of the spectral gap associated with the given sequence of random matrices. It will be shown that these upper bounds are sharp. Our results complement previous results of Picci and Taylor in 2013 and Iutzeler et al. in 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accelerated algorithm is proposed in this article for solving the linear quadratic optimal consensus problem of multiagent systems. To optimize the linear quadratic response and the final consensus state simultaneously, a nonseparable multiobjective optimization problem with coupled constraints on decision variables is formulated. The main difficulty in solving the optimization problem lies in the nonlinear coupling of objectives, which is overcome by separating the problem into two independent and solvable single-objective optimization subproblems using the alternating direction method of multipliers. The proximal gradient decent scheme is then introduced to approximate the precise optimal solutions of the subproblems so as to improve the computing efficiency. Convergence analysis is performed to estimate the convergence rate and derive the convergence condition, which is independent of any global information of the system and, therefore, is fully distributed. Furthermore, the solution of each subproblem is obtained in a distributed form, allowing the multiagent system to achieve optimal consensus. Numerical examples show the effectiveness of the accelerated algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses consensus problems for multiagent networks under directed communication graphs. The motions of agents are described by impulsive differential equations, and thus, consensus algorithms can be designed in terms of impulsive systems. Different from the standard consensus algorithms which rely on continuous-time or discrete-time models, the proposed algorithms based on impulsive systems take advantages of instantaneous information. It is shown that the proposed algorithms have a faster convergence speed than the standard consensus algorithms. Moreover, conditions under which all agents reach consensus with the desired performance are presented for the multiagent networks with external disturbances. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-agent consensus algorithms, with update steps based on so-called balanced asymmetric chains, are analyzed. For such algorithms, it is shown that: (i) the empirical distribution of state values converges asymptotically and (ii) the occurrence of consensus or multiple consensus is directly related to the property of absolute infinite flow of the underlying update chain. An example is provided to illustrate the novelty of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Inspired by the subgradient push method developed recently by Nedić et al. we present a distributed dual averaging push algorithm for constrained nonsmooth convex optimization over time-varying directed graph. Our algorithm combines the dual averaging method with the push-sum technique and achieves an $O(1/ \sqrt{k})$ convergence rate. Compared with the subgradient push algorithm, our algorithm, first, addresses the constrained problems, and, second, has a faster convergence rate, and, third, simplifies the convergence analysis. We also generalize the proposed algorithm so that input variables of subgradient oracles have guaranteed convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide new insight into the somewhat obscure definition of the Sarymsakov class of stochastic matrices and use it to construct a new necessary and sufficient condition for the convergence of products of stochastic matrices. Such convergence result is critical in establishing the effectiveness of distributed coordination algorithms for multi-agent systems and enables us to investigate a specific coordination task with asynchronous update events. The set of scrambling stochastic matrices, a subclass of the Sarymsakov class, is utilized to establish the convergence of the agents' states even when there is no common clock for the agents to synchronize their update actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have recently proposed a “surplus-based” algorithm which solves the multi-agent average consensus problem on general strongly connected and static digraphs. The essence of that algorithm is to employ an additional variable to keep track of the state changes of each agent, thereby achieving averaging even though the state sum is not preserved. In this note, we extend this approach to the more interesting and challenging case of time-varying topologies: An extended surplus-based averaging algorithm is designed, under which a necessary and sufficient graphical condition is derived that guarantees state averaging. The derived condition requires only that the digraphs be arbitrary strongly connected in a joint sense, and does not impose “balanced” or “symmetric” properties on the network topology, which is therefore more general than those previously reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We study distributed consensus problems of multi-agent systems on directed networks and subject to quantized information flow. For the communication among component agents, particular attention is given to the gossip type, which models their asynchronous behavior; for quantization effect, each agent's state is abstracted to be an integer. The central question investigated is how to design distributed algorithms and what connectivity of networks that together lead to consensus. This investigation is carried out for both general consensus and average consensus; for each case, a class of algorithms is proposed, under which a necessary and sufficient graphical condition is derived to guarantee the corresponding consensus. In particular, the obtained graphical condition ensuring average consensus is weaker than those in the literature for either real-valued or quantized states, in the sense that it does not require symmetric or balanced network topologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a distributed multi-agent network system where each agent has its own convex objective function, which can be evaluated with stochastic errors. The problem consists of minimizing the sum of the agent functions over a commonly known constraint set, but without a central coordinator and without agents sharing the explicit form of their objectives. We propose an asynchronous broadcast-based algorithm where the communications over the network are subject to random link failures. We investigate the convergence properties of the algorithm for a diminishing (random) stepsize and a constant stepsize, where each agent chooses its own stepsize independently of the other agents. Under some standard conditions on the gradient errors, we establish almost sure convergence of the method to an optimal point for diminishing stepsize. For constant stepsize, we establish some error bounds on the expected distance from the optimal point and the expected function value. We also provide numerical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]