This paper investigates the challenges associated with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) collaborative search and target tracking in dynamic and unknown environments characterized by limited field of view. The primary obj...This paper investigates the challenges associated with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) collaborative search and target tracking in dynamic and unknown environments characterized by limited field of view. The primary objective is to explore the unknown environments to locate and track targets effectively. To address this problem, we propose a novel Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) method based on Graph Neural Network (GNN). Firstly, a method is introduced for encoding continuous-space multi-UAV problem data into spatial graphs which establish essential relationships among agents, obstacles, and targets. Secondly, a Graph AttenTion network (GAT) model is presented, which focuses exclusively on adjacent nodes, learns attention weights adaptively and allows agents to better process information in dynamic environments. Reward functions are specifically designed to tackle exploration challenges in environments with sparse rewards. By introducing a framework that integrates centralized training and distributed execution, the advancement of models is facilitated. Simulation results show that the proposed method outperforms the existing MARL method in search rate and tracking performance with less collisions. The experiments show that the proposed method can be extended to applications with a larger number of agents, which provides a potential solution to the challenging problem of multi-UAV autonomous tracking in dynamic unknown environments.展开更多
This paper addresses the consensus problem of nonlinear multi-agent systems subject to external disturbances and uncertainties under denial-ofservice(DoS)attacks.Firstly,an observer-based state feedback control method...This paper addresses the consensus problem of nonlinear multi-agent systems subject to external disturbances and uncertainties under denial-ofservice(DoS)attacks.Firstly,an observer-based state feedback control method is employed to achieve secure control by estimating the system's state in real time.Secondly,by combining a memory-based adaptive eventtriggered mechanism with neural networks,the paper aims to approximate the nonlinear terms in the networked system and efficiently conserve system resources.Finally,based on a two-degree-of-freedom model of a vehicle affected by crosswinds,this paper constructs a multi-unmanned ground vehicle(Multi-UGV)system to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.Simulation results show that the proposed control strategy can effectively handle external disturbances such as crosswinds in practical applications,ensuring the stability and reliable operation of the Multi-UGV system.展开更多
Cooperative multi-agent reinforcement learning(MARL)is a key technology for enabling cooperation in complex multi-agent systems.It has achieved remarkable progress in areas such as gaming,autonomous driving,and multi-...Cooperative multi-agent reinforcement learning(MARL)is a key technology for enabling cooperation in complex multi-agent systems.It has achieved remarkable progress in areas such as gaming,autonomous driving,and multi-robot control.Empowering cooperative MARL with multi-task decision-making capabilities is expected to further broaden its application scope.In multi-task scenarios,cooperative MARL algorithms need to address 3 types of multi-task problems:reward-related multi-task,arising from different reward functions;multi-domain multi-task,caused by differences in state and action spaces,state transition functions;and scalability-related multi-task,resulting from the dynamic variation in the number of agents.Most existing studies focus on scalability-related multitask problems.However,with the increasing integration between large language models(LLMs)and multi-agent systems,a growing number of LLM-based multi-agent systems have emerged,enabling more complex multi-task cooperation.This paper provides a comprehensive review of the latest advances in this field.By combining multi-task reinforcement learning with cooperative MARL,we categorize and analyze the 3 major types of multi-task problems under multi-agent settings,offering more fine-grained classifications and summarizing key insights for each.In addition,we summarize commonly used benchmarks and discuss future directions of research in this area,which hold promise for further enhancing the multi-task cooperation capabilities of multi-agent systems and expanding their practical applications in the real world.展开更多
Formation control in multi-agent systems has become a critical area of interest due to its wide-ranging applications in robotics,autonomous transportation,and surveillance.While various studies have explored distribut...Formation control in multi-agent systems has become a critical area of interest due to its wide-ranging applications in robotics,autonomous transportation,and surveillance.While various studies have explored distributed cooperative control,this review focuses on the theoretical foundations and recent developments in formation control strategies.The paper categorizes and analyzes key formation types,including formation maintenance,group or cluster formation,bipartite formations,event-triggered formations,finite-time convergence,and constrained formations.A significant portion of the review addresses formation control under constrained dynamics,presenting both modelbased and model-free approaches that consider practical limitations such as actuator bounds,communication delays,and nonholonomic constraints.Additionally,the paper discusses emerging trends,including the integration of eventdriven mechanisms and AI-enhanced coordination strategies.Comparative evaluations highlight the trade-offs among various methodologies regarding scalability,robustness,and real-world feasibility.Practical implementations are reviewed across diverse platforms,and the review identifies the current achievements and unresolved challenges in the field.The paper concludes by outlining promising research directions,such as adaptive control for dynamic environments,energy-efficient coordination,and using learning-based control under uncertainty.This review synthesizes the current state of the art and provides a road map for future investigation,making it a valuable reference for researchers and practitioners aiming to advance formation control in multi-agent systems.展开更多
In recent years,significant research attention has been directed towards swarm intelligence.The Milling behavior of fish schools,a prime example of swarm intelligence,shows how simple rules followed by individual agen...In recent years,significant research attention has been directed towards swarm intelligence.The Milling behavior of fish schools,a prime example of swarm intelligence,shows how simple rules followed by individual agents lead to complex collective behaviors.This paper studies Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning to simulate fish schooling behavior,overcoming the challenges of tuning parameters in traditional models and addressing the limitations of single-agent methods in multi-agent environments.Based on this foundation,a novel Graph Convolutional Networks(GCN)-Critic MADDPG algorithm leveraging GCN is proposed to enhance cooperation among agents in a multi-agent system.Simulation experiments demonstrate that,compared to traditional single-agent algorithms,the proposed method not only exhibits significant advantages in terms of convergence speed and stability but also achieves tighter group formations and more naturally aligned Milling behavior.Additionally,a fish school self-organizing behavior research platform based on an event-triggered mechanism has been developed,providing a robust tool for exploring dynamic behavioral changes under various conditions.展开更多
In the islanded operation of distribution networks,due to the mismatch of line impedance at the inverter output,conventional droop control leads to inaccurate power sharing according to capacity,resulting in voltage a...In the islanded operation of distribution networks,due to the mismatch of line impedance at the inverter output,conventional droop control leads to inaccurate power sharing according to capacity,resulting in voltage and frequency fluctuations under minor external disturbances.To address this issue,this paper introduces an enhanced scheme for power sharing and voltage-frequency control.First,to solve the power distribution problem,we propose an adaptive virtual impedance control based on multi-agent consensus,which allows for precise active and reactive power allocation without requiring feeder impedance knowledge.Moreover,a novel consensus-based voltage and frequency control is proposed to correct the voltage deviation inherent in droop control and virtual impedance methods.This strategy maintains voltage and frequency stability even during communication disruptions and enhances system robustness.Additionally,a small-signal model is established for system stability analysis,and the control parameters are optimized.Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.展开更多
Cybertwin-enabled 6th Generation(6G)network is envisioned to support artificial intelligence-native management to meet changing demands of 6G applications.Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning(MADRL)technologies dri...Cybertwin-enabled 6th Generation(6G)network is envisioned to support artificial intelligence-native management to meet changing demands of 6G applications.Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning(MADRL)technologies driven by Cybertwins have been proposed for adaptive task offloading strategies.However,the existence of random transmission delay between Cybertwin-driven agents and underlying networks is not considered in related works,which destroys the standard Markov property and increases the decision reaction time to reduce the task offloading strategy performance.In order to address this problem,we propose a pipelining task offloading method to lower the decision reaction time and model it as a delay-aware Markov Decision Process(MDP).Then,we design a delay-aware MADRL algorithm to minimize the weighted sum of task execution latency and energy consumption.Firstly,the state space is augmented using the lastly-received state and historical actions to rebuild the Markov property.Secondly,Gate Transformer-XL is introduced to capture historical actions'importance and maintain the consistent input dimension dynamically changed due to random transmission delays.Thirdly,a sampling method and a new loss function with the difference between the current and target state value and the difference between real state-action value and augmented state-action value are designed to obtain state transition trajectories close to the real ones.Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed methods are effective in reducing reaction time and improving the task offloading performance in the random-delay Cybertwin-enabled 6G networks.展开更多
Moving Target Defense(MTD)necessitates scientifically effective decision-making methodologies for defensive technology implementation.While most MTD decision studies focus on accurately identifying optimal strategies,...Moving Target Defense(MTD)necessitates scientifically effective decision-making methodologies for defensive technology implementation.While most MTD decision studies focus on accurately identifying optimal strategies,the issue of optimal defense timing remains underexplored.Current default approaches—periodic or overly frequent MTD triggers—lead to suboptimal trade-offs among system security,performance,and cost.The timing of MTD strategy activation critically impacts both defensive efficacy and operational overhead,yet existing frameworks inadequately address this temporal dimension.To bridge this gap,this paper proposes a Stackelberg-FlipIt game model that formalizes asymmetric cyber conflicts as alternating control over attack surfaces,thereby capturing the dynamic security state evolution of MTD systems.We introduce a belief factor to quantify information asymmetry during adversarial interactions,enhancing the precision of MTD trigger timing.Leveraging this game-theoretic foundation,we employMulti-Agent Reinforcement Learning(MARL)to derive adaptive temporal strategies,optimized via a novel four-dimensional reward function that holistically balances security,performance,cost,and timing.Experimental validation using IP addressmutation against scanning attacks demonstrates stable strategy convergence and accelerated defense response,significantly improving cybersecurity affordability and effectiveness.展开更多
This paper mainly focuses on the velocity-constrained consensus problem of discrete-time heterogeneous multi-agent systems with nonconvex constraints and arbitrarily switching topologies,where each agent has first-ord...This paper mainly focuses on the velocity-constrained consensus problem of discrete-time heterogeneous multi-agent systems with nonconvex constraints and arbitrarily switching topologies,where each agent has first-order or second-order dynamics.To solve this problem,a distributed algorithm is proposed based on a contraction operator.By employing the properties of the stochastic matrix,it is shown that all agents’position states could converge to a common point and second-order agents’velocity states could remain in corresponding nonconvex constraint sets and converge to zero as long as the joint communication topology has one directed spanning tree.Finally,the numerical simulation results are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.展开更多
This article investigates the time-varying output group formation tracking control(GFTC)problem for heterogeneous multi-agent systems(HMASs)under switching topologies.The objective is to design a distributed control s...This article investigates the time-varying output group formation tracking control(GFTC)problem for heterogeneous multi-agent systems(HMASs)under switching topologies.The objective is to design a distributed control strategy that enables the outputs of the followers to form the desired sub-formations and track the outputs of the leader in each subgroup.Firstly,novel distributed observers are developed to estimate the states of the leaders under switching topologies.Then,GFTC protocols are designed based on the proposed observers.It is shown that with the distributed protocol,the GFTC problem for HMASs under switching topologies is solved if the average dwell time associated with the switching topologies is larger than a fixed threshold.Finally,an example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.展开更多
Policy training against diverse opponents remains a challenge when using Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning(MARL)in multiple Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle(UCAV)air combat scenarios.In view of this,this paper proposes...Policy training against diverse opponents remains a challenge when using Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning(MARL)in multiple Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle(UCAV)air combat scenarios.In view of this,this paper proposes a novel Dominant and Non-dominant strategy sample selection(DoNot)mechanism and a Local Observation Enhanced Multi-Agent Proximal Policy Optimization(LOE-MAPPO)algorithm to train the multi-UCAV air combat policy and improve its generalization.Specifically,the LOE-MAPPO algorithm adopts a mixed state that concatenates the global state and individual agent's local observation to enable efficient value function learning in multi-UCAV air combat.The DoNot mechanism classifies opponents into dominant or non-dominant strategy opponents,and samples from easier to more challenging opponents to form an adaptive training curriculum.Empirical results demonstrate that the proposed LOE-MAPPO algorithm outperforms baseline MARL algorithms in multi-UCAV air combat scenarios,and the DoNot mechanism leads to stronger policy generalization when facing diverse opponents.The results pave the way for the fast generation of cooperative strategies for air combat agents with MARLalgorithms.展开更多
This paper focuses on the problem of leaderfollowing consensus for nonlinear cascaded multi-agent systems.The control strategies for these systems are transformed into successive control problem schemes for lower-orde...This paper focuses on the problem of leaderfollowing consensus for nonlinear cascaded multi-agent systems.The control strategies for these systems are transformed into successive control problem schemes for lower-order error subsystems.A distributed consensus analysis for the corresponding error systems is conducted by employing recursive methods and virtual controllers,accompanied by a series of Lyapunov functions devised throughout the iterative process,which solves the leaderfollowing consensus problem of a class of nonlinear cascaded multi-agent systems.Specific simulation examples illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm.展开更多
This paper presents a novel approach to dynamic pricing and distributed energy management in virtual power plant(VPP)networks using multi-agent reinforcement learning(MARL).As the energy landscape evolves towards grea...This paper presents a novel approach to dynamic pricing and distributed energy management in virtual power plant(VPP)networks using multi-agent reinforcement learning(MARL).As the energy landscape evolves towards greater decentralization and renewable integration,traditional optimization methods struggle to address the inherent complexities and uncertainties.Our proposed MARL framework enables adaptive,decentralized decision-making for both the distribution system operator and individual VPPs,optimizing economic efficiency while maintaining grid stability.We formulate the problem as a Markov decision process and develop a custom MARL algorithm that leverages actor-critic architectures and experience replay.Extensive simulations across diverse scenarios demonstrate that our approach consistently outperforms baseline methods,including Stackelberg game models and model predictive control,achieving an 18.73%reduction in costs and a 22.46%increase in VPP profits.The MARL framework shows particular strength in scenarios with high renewable energy penetration,where it improves system performance by 11.95%compared with traditional methods.Furthermore,our approach demonstrates superior adaptability to unexpected events and mis-predictions,highlighting its potential for real-world implementation.展开更多
Continuous control protocols are extensively utilized in traditional MASs,in which information needs to be transmitted among agents consecutively,therefore resulting in excessive consumption of limited resources.To de...Continuous control protocols are extensively utilized in traditional MASs,in which information needs to be transmitted among agents consecutively,therefore resulting in excessive consumption of limited resources.To decrease the control cost,based on ISC,several LFC problems are investigated for second-order MASs without and with time delay,respectively.Firstly,an intermittent sampled controller is designed,and a sufficient and necessary condition is derived,under which state errors between the leader and all the followers approach zero asymptotically.Considering that time delay is inevitable,a new protocol is proposed to deal with the time-delay situation.The error system’s stability is analyzed using the Schur stability theorem,and sufficient and necessary conditions for LFC are obtained,which are closely associated with the coupling gain,the system parameters,and the network structure.Furthermore,for the case where the current position and velocity information are not available,a distributed protocol is designed that depends only on the sampled position information.The sufficient and necessary conditions for LFC are also given.The results show that second-order MASs can achieve the LFC if and only if the system parameters satisfy the inequalities proposed in the paper.Finally,the correctness of the obtained results is verified by numerical simulations.展开更多
The Internet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(I-UAVs)is expected to execute latency-sensitive tasks,but limited by co-channel interference and malicious jamming.In the face of unknown prior environmental knowledge,defendin...The Internet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(I-UAVs)is expected to execute latency-sensitive tasks,but limited by co-channel interference and malicious jamming.In the face of unknown prior environmental knowledge,defending against jamming and interference through spectrum allocation becomes challenging,especially when each UAV pair makes decisions independently.In this paper,we propose a cooperative multi-agent reinforcement learning(MARL)-based anti-jamming framework for I-UAVs,enabling UAV pairs to learn their own policies cooperatively.Specifically,we first model the problem as a modelfree multi-agent Markov decision process(MAMDP)to maximize the long-term expected system throughput.Then,for improving the exploration of the optimal policy,we resort to optimizing a MARL objective function with a mutual-information(MI)regularizer between states and actions,which can dynamically assign the probability for actions frequently used by the optimal policy.Next,through sharing their current channel selections and local learning experience(their soft Q-values),the UAV pairs can learn their own policies cooperatively relying on only preceding observed information and predicting others’actions.Our simulation results show that for both sweep jamming and Markov jamming patterns,the proposed scheme outperforms the benchmarkers in terms of throughput,convergence and stability for different numbers of jammers,channels and UAV pairs.展开更多
To address the shortcomings of traditional Genetic Algorithm (GA) in multi-agent path planning, such as prolonged planning time, slow convergence, and solution instability, this paper proposes an Asynchronous Genetic ...To address the shortcomings of traditional Genetic Algorithm (GA) in multi-agent path planning, such as prolonged planning time, slow convergence, and solution instability, this paper proposes an Asynchronous Genetic Algorithm (AGA) to solve multi-agent path planning problems effectively. To enhance the real-time performance and computational efficiency of Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) in path planning, the AGA incorporates an Equal-Size Clustering Algorithm (ESCA) based on the K-means clustering method. The ESCA divides the primary task evenly into a series of subtasks, thereby reducing the gene length in the subsequent GA process. The algorithm then employs GA to solve each subtask sequentially. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method, a simulation program was designed to perform path planning for 100 trajectories, and the results were compared with those of State-Of-The-Art (SOTA) methods. The simulation results demonstrate that, although the solutions provided by AGA are suboptimal, it exhibits significant advantages in terms of execution speed and solution stability compared to other algorithms.展开更多
This paper delves into the problem of optimal placement conditions for a group of agents collaboratively localizing a target using range-only or bearing-only measurements.The challenge in this study stems from the unc...This paper delves into the problem of optimal placement conditions for a group of agents collaboratively localizing a target using range-only or bearing-only measurements.The challenge in this study stems from the uncertainty associated with the positions of the agents,which may experience drift or disturbances during the target localization process.Initially,we derive the Cramer-Rao lower bound(CRLB)of the target position as the primary analytical metric.Subsequently,we establish the necessary and sufficient conditions for the optimal placement of agents.Based on these conditions,we analyze the maximal allowable agent position error for an expected mean squared error(MSE),providing valuable guidance for the selection of agent positioning sensors.The analytical findings are further validated through simulation experiments.展开更多
An Interval Type-2(IT-2)fuzzy controller design approach is proposed in this research to simultaneously achievemultiple control objectives inNonlinearMulti-Agent Systems(NMASs),including formation,containment,and coll...An Interval Type-2(IT-2)fuzzy controller design approach is proposed in this research to simultaneously achievemultiple control objectives inNonlinearMulti-Agent Systems(NMASs),including formation,containment,and collision avoidance.However,inherent nonlinearities and uncertainties present in practical control systems contribute to the challenge of achieving precise control performance.Based on the IT-2 Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Model(T-SFM),the fuzzy control approach can offer a more effective solution for NMASs facing uncertainties.Unlike existing control methods for NMASs,the Formation and Containment(F-and-C)control problem with collision avoidance capability under uncertainties based on the IT-2 T-SFM is discussed for the first time.Moreover,an IT-2 fuzzy tracking control approach is proposed to solve the formation task for leaders in NMASs without requiring communication.This control scheme makes the design process of the IT-2 fuzzy Formation Controller(FC)more straightforward and effective.According to the communication interaction protocol,the IT-2 Containment Controller(CC)design approach is proposed for followers to ensure convergence into the region defined by the leaders.Leveraging the IT-2 T-SFM representation,the analysis methods developed for linear Multi-Agent Systems(MASs)are successfully extended to perform containment analysis without requiring the additional assumptions imposed in existing research.Notably,the IT-2 fuzzy tracking controller can also be applied in collision avoidance situations to track the desired trajectories calculated by the avoidance algorithm under the Artificial Potential Field(APF).Benefiting from the combination of vortex and source APFs,the leaders can properly adjust the system dynamics to prevent potential collision risk.Integrating the fuzzy theory and APFs avoidance algorithm,an IT-2 fuzzy controller design approach is proposed to achieve the F-and-C purposewhile ensuring collision avoidance capability.Finally,amulti-ship simulation is conducted to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the designed IT-2 fuzzy controller.展开更多
This paper addresses the time-varying formation-containment(FC) problem for nonholonomic multi-agent systems with a desired trajectory constraint, where only the leaders can acquire information about the desired traje...This paper addresses the time-varying formation-containment(FC) problem for nonholonomic multi-agent systems with a desired trajectory constraint, where only the leaders can acquire information about the desired trajectory. Input the fixed time-varying formation template to the leader and start executing, this process also needs to track the desired trajectory, and the follower needs to converge to the convex hull that the leader crosses. Firstly, the dynamic models of nonholonomic systems are linearized to second-order dynamics. Then, based on the desired trajectory and formation template, the FC control protocols are proposed. Sufficient conditions to achieve FC are introduced and an algorithm is proposed to resolve the control parameters by solving an algebraic Riccati equation. The system is demonstrated to achieve FC, with the average position and velocity of the leaders converging asymptotically to the desired trajectory. Finally, the theoretical achievements are verified in simulations by a multi-agent system composed of virtual human individuals.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12272104,U22B2013).
文摘This paper investigates the challenges associated with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) collaborative search and target tracking in dynamic and unknown environments characterized by limited field of view. The primary objective is to explore the unknown environments to locate and track targets effectively. To address this problem, we propose a novel Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) method based on Graph Neural Network (GNN). Firstly, a method is introduced for encoding continuous-space multi-UAV problem data into spatial graphs which establish essential relationships among agents, obstacles, and targets. Secondly, a Graph AttenTion network (GAT) model is presented, which focuses exclusively on adjacent nodes, learns attention weights adaptively and allows agents to better process information in dynamic environments. Reward functions are specifically designed to tackle exploration challenges in environments with sparse rewards. By introducing a framework that integrates centralized training and distributed execution, the advancement of models is facilitated. Simulation results show that the proposed method outperforms the existing MARL method in search rate and tracking performance with less collisions. The experiments show that the proposed method can be extended to applications with a larger number of agents, which provides a potential solution to the challenging problem of multi-UAV autonomous tracking in dynamic unknown environments.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China(W2431048)The Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission,China(KJZDK202300807)The Chongqing Natural Science Foundation,China(CSTB2024NSCQQCXMX0052).
文摘This paper addresses the consensus problem of nonlinear multi-agent systems subject to external disturbances and uncertainties under denial-ofservice(DoS)attacks.Firstly,an observer-based state feedback control method is employed to achieve secure control by estimating the system's state in real time.Secondly,by combining a memory-based adaptive eventtriggered mechanism with neural networks,the paper aims to approximate the nonlinear terms in the networked system and efficiently conserve system resources.Finally,based on a two-degree-of-freedom model of a vehicle affected by crosswinds,this paper constructs a multi-unmanned ground vehicle(Multi-UGV)system to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.Simulation results show that the proposed control strategy can effectively handle external disturbances such as crosswinds in practical applications,ensuring the stability and reliable operation of the Multi-UGV system.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China(62136008,62293541)The Beijing Natural Science Foundation(4232056)The Beijing Nova Program(20240484514).
文摘Cooperative multi-agent reinforcement learning(MARL)is a key technology for enabling cooperation in complex multi-agent systems.It has achieved remarkable progress in areas such as gaming,autonomous driving,and multi-robot control.Empowering cooperative MARL with multi-task decision-making capabilities is expected to further broaden its application scope.In multi-task scenarios,cooperative MARL algorithms need to address 3 types of multi-task problems:reward-related multi-task,arising from different reward functions;multi-domain multi-task,caused by differences in state and action spaces,state transition functions;and scalability-related multi-task,resulting from the dynamic variation in the number of agents.Most existing studies focus on scalability-related multitask problems.However,with the increasing integration between large language models(LLMs)and multi-agent systems,a growing number of LLM-based multi-agent systems have emerged,enabling more complex multi-task cooperation.This paper provides a comprehensive review of the latest advances in this field.By combining multi-task reinforcement learning with cooperative MARL,we categorize and analyze the 3 major types of multi-task problems under multi-agent settings,offering more fine-grained classifications and summarizing key insights for each.In addition,we summarize commonly used benchmarks and discuss future directions of research in this area,which hold promise for further enhancing the multi-task cooperation capabilities of multi-agent systems and expanding their practical applications in the real world.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 6237319in part by the Postgraduate Research and Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province under Grant KYCX230479.
文摘Formation control in multi-agent systems has become a critical area of interest due to its wide-ranging applications in robotics,autonomous transportation,and surveillance.While various studies have explored distributed cooperative control,this review focuses on the theoretical foundations and recent developments in formation control strategies.The paper categorizes and analyzes key formation types,including formation maintenance,group or cluster formation,bipartite formations,event-triggered formations,finite-time convergence,and constrained formations.A significant portion of the review addresses formation control under constrained dynamics,presenting both modelbased and model-free approaches that consider practical limitations such as actuator bounds,communication delays,and nonholonomic constraints.Additionally,the paper discusses emerging trends,including the integration of eventdriven mechanisms and AI-enhanced coordination strategies.Comparative evaluations highlight the trade-offs among various methodologies regarding scalability,robustness,and real-world feasibility.Practical implementations are reviewed across diverse platforms,and the review identifies the current achievements and unresolved challenges in the field.The paper concludes by outlining promising research directions,such as adaptive control for dynamic environments,energy-efficient coordination,and using learning-based control under uncertainty.This review synthesizes the current state of the art and provides a road map for future investigation,making it a valuable reference for researchers and practitioners aiming to advance formation control in multi-agent systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 62273351 and Grant 62303020.
文摘In recent years,significant research attention has been directed towards swarm intelligence.The Milling behavior of fish schools,a prime example of swarm intelligence,shows how simple rules followed by individual agents lead to complex collective behaviors.This paper studies Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning to simulate fish schooling behavior,overcoming the challenges of tuning parameters in traditional models and addressing the limitations of single-agent methods in multi-agent environments.Based on this foundation,a novel Graph Convolutional Networks(GCN)-Critic MADDPG algorithm leveraging GCN is proposed to enhance cooperation among agents in a multi-agent system.Simulation experiments demonstrate that,compared to traditional single-agent algorithms,the proposed method not only exhibits significant advantages in terms of convergence speed and stability but also achieves tighter group formations and more naturally aligned Milling behavior.Additionally,a fish school self-organizing behavior research platform based on an event-triggered mechanism has been developed,providing a robust tool for exploring dynamic behavioral changes under various conditions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52007009)Natural Science Foundation of Excellent Youth Project of Hunan Province of China(2023JJ20039)Science and Technology Projects of State Grid Hunan Provincial Electric Power Co.,Ltd.(5216A522001K,SGHNDK00PWJS2310173).
文摘In the islanded operation of distribution networks,due to the mismatch of line impedance at the inverter output,conventional droop control leads to inaccurate power sharing according to capacity,resulting in voltage and frequency fluctuations under minor external disturbances.To address this issue,this paper introduces an enhanced scheme for power sharing and voltage-frequency control.First,to solve the power distribution problem,we propose an adaptive virtual impedance control based on multi-agent consensus,which allows for precise active and reactive power allocation without requiring feeder impedance knowledge.Moreover,a novel consensus-based voltage and frequency control is proposed to correct the voltage deviation inherent in droop control and virtual impedance methods.This strategy maintains voltage and frequency stability even during communication disruptions and enhances system robustness.Additionally,a small-signal model is established for system stability analysis,and the control parameters are optimized.Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China under Grant 2019YFB1803301Beijing Natural Science Foundation (L202002)。
文摘Cybertwin-enabled 6th Generation(6G)network is envisioned to support artificial intelligence-native management to meet changing demands of 6G applications.Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning(MADRL)technologies driven by Cybertwins have been proposed for adaptive task offloading strategies.However,the existence of random transmission delay between Cybertwin-driven agents and underlying networks is not considered in related works,which destroys the standard Markov property and increases the decision reaction time to reduce the task offloading strategy performance.In order to address this problem,we propose a pipelining task offloading method to lower the decision reaction time and model it as a delay-aware Markov Decision Process(MDP).Then,we design a delay-aware MADRL algorithm to minimize the weighted sum of task execution latency and energy consumption.Firstly,the state space is augmented using the lastly-received state and historical actions to rebuild the Markov property.Secondly,Gate Transformer-XL is introduced to capture historical actions'importance and maintain the consistent input dimension dynamically changed due to random transmission delays.Thirdly,a sampling method and a new loss function with the difference between the current and target state value and the difference between real state-action value and augmented state-action value are designed to obtain state transition trajectories close to the real ones.Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed methods are effective in reducing reaction time and improving the task offloading performance in the random-delay Cybertwin-enabled 6G networks.
基金funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China No.62302520.
文摘Moving Target Defense(MTD)necessitates scientifically effective decision-making methodologies for defensive technology implementation.While most MTD decision studies focus on accurately identifying optimal strategies,the issue of optimal defense timing remains underexplored.Current default approaches—periodic or overly frequent MTD triggers—lead to suboptimal trade-offs among system security,performance,and cost.The timing of MTD strategy activation critically impacts both defensive efficacy and operational overhead,yet existing frameworks inadequately address this temporal dimension.To bridge this gap,this paper proposes a Stackelberg-FlipIt game model that formalizes asymmetric cyber conflicts as alternating control over attack surfaces,thereby capturing the dynamic security state evolution of MTD systems.We introduce a belief factor to quantify information asymmetry during adversarial interactions,enhancing the precision of MTD trigger timing.Leveraging this game-theoretic foundation,we employMulti-Agent Reinforcement Learning(MARL)to derive adaptive temporal strategies,optimized via a novel four-dimensional reward function that holistically balances security,performance,cost,and timing.Experimental validation using IP addressmutation against scanning attacks demonstrates stable strategy convergence and accelerated defense response,significantly improving cybersecurity affordability and effectiveness.
基金2024 Jiangsu Province Youth Science and Technology Talent Support Project2024 Yancheng Key Research and Development Plan(Social Development)projects,“Research and Application of Multi Agent Offline Distributed Trust Perception Virtual Wireless Sensor Network Algorithm”and“Research and Application of a New Type of Fishery Ship Safety Production Monitoring Equipment”。
文摘This paper mainly focuses on the velocity-constrained consensus problem of discrete-time heterogeneous multi-agent systems with nonconvex constraints and arbitrarily switching topologies,where each agent has first-order or second-order dynamics.To solve this problem,a distributed algorithm is proposed based on a contraction operator.By employing the properties of the stochastic matrix,it is shown that all agents’position states could converge to a common point and second-order agents’velocity states could remain in corresponding nonconvex constraint sets and converge to zero as long as the joint communication topology has one directed spanning tree.Finally,the numerical simulation results are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
文摘This article investigates the time-varying output group formation tracking control(GFTC)problem for heterogeneous multi-agent systems(HMASs)under switching topologies.The objective is to design a distributed control strategy that enables the outputs of the followers to form the desired sub-formations and track the outputs of the leader in each subgroup.Firstly,novel distributed observers are developed to estimate the states of the leaders under switching topologies.Then,GFTC protocols are designed based on the proposed observers.It is shown that with the distributed protocol,the GFTC problem for HMASs under switching topologies is solved if the average dwell time associated with the switching topologies is larger than a fixed threshold.Finally,an example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
文摘Policy training against diverse opponents remains a challenge when using Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning(MARL)in multiple Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle(UCAV)air combat scenarios.In view of this,this paper proposes a novel Dominant and Non-dominant strategy sample selection(DoNot)mechanism and a Local Observation Enhanced Multi-Agent Proximal Policy Optimization(LOE-MAPPO)algorithm to train the multi-UCAV air combat policy and improve its generalization.Specifically,the LOE-MAPPO algorithm adopts a mixed state that concatenates the global state and individual agent's local observation to enable efficient value function learning in multi-UCAV air combat.The DoNot mechanism classifies opponents into dominant or non-dominant strategy opponents,and samples from easier to more challenging opponents to form an adaptive training curriculum.Empirical results demonstrate that the proposed LOE-MAPPO algorithm outperforms baseline MARL algorithms in multi-UCAV air combat scenarios,and the DoNot mechanism leads to stronger policy generalization when facing diverse opponents.The results pave the way for the fast generation of cooperative strategies for air combat agents with MARLalgorithms.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.12071370)。
文摘This paper focuses on the problem of leaderfollowing consensus for nonlinear cascaded multi-agent systems.The control strategies for these systems are transformed into successive control problem schemes for lower-order error subsystems.A distributed consensus analysis for the corresponding error systems is conducted by employing recursive methods and virtual controllers,accompanied by a series of Lyapunov functions devised throughout the iterative process,which solves the leaderfollowing consensus problem of a class of nonlinear cascaded multi-agent systems.Specific simulation examples illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Project of State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Company Chengdu Power Supply Company under Grant No.521904240005.
文摘This paper presents a novel approach to dynamic pricing and distributed energy management in virtual power plant(VPP)networks using multi-agent reinforcement learning(MARL).As the energy landscape evolves towards greater decentralization and renewable integration,traditional optimization methods struggle to address the inherent complexities and uncertainties.Our proposed MARL framework enables adaptive,decentralized decision-making for both the distribution system operator and individual VPPs,optimizing economic efficiency while maintaining grid stability.We formulate the problem as a Markov decision process and develop a custom MARL algorithm that leverages actor-critic architectures and experience replay.Extensive simulations across diverse scenarios demonstrate that our approach consistently outperforms baseline methods,including Stackelberg game models and model predictive control,achieving an 18.73%reduction in costs and a 22.46%increase in VPP profits.The MARL framework shows particular strength in scenarios with high renewable energy penetration,where it improves system performance by 11.95%compared with traditional methods.Furthermore,our approach demonstrates superior adaptability to unexpected events and mis-predictions,highlighting its potential for real-world implementation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grants 62476138 and 42375016.
文摘Continuous control protocols are extensively utilized in traditional MASs,in which information needs to be transmitted among agents consecutively,therefore resulting in excessive consumption of limited resources.To decrease the control cost,based on ISC,several LFC problems are investigated for second-order MASs without and with time delay,respectively.Firstly,an intermittent sampled controller is designed,and a sufficient and necessary condition is derived,under which state errors between the leader and all the followers approach zero asymptotically.Considering that time delay is inevitable,a new protocol is proposed to deal with the time-delay situation.The error system’s stability is analyzed using the Schur stability theorem,and sufficient and necessary conditions for LFC are obtained,which are closely associated with the coupling gain,the system parameters,and the network structure.Furthermore,for the case where the current position and velocity information are not available,a distributed protocol is designed that depends only on the sampled position information.The sufficient and necessary conditions for LFC are also given.The results show that second-order MASs can achieve the LFC if and only if the system parameters satisfy the inequalities proposed in the paper.Finally,the correctness of the obtained results is verified by numerical simulations.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grants 62001225,62071236,62071234 and U22A2002in part by the Major Science and Technology plan of Hainan Province under Grant ZDKJ2021022+1 种基金in part by the Scientific Research Fund Project of Hainan University under Grant KYQD(ZR)-21008in part by the Key Technologies R&D Program of Jiangsu(Prospective and Key Technologies for Industry)under Grants BE2023022 and BE2023022-2.
文摘The Internet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(I-UAVs)is expected to execute latency-sensitive tasks,but limited by co-channel interference and malicious jamming.In the face of unknown prior environmental knowledge,defending against jamming and interference through spectrum allocation becomes challenging,especially when each UAV pair makes decisions independently.In this paper,we propose a cooperative multi-agent reinforcement learning(MARL)-based anti-jamming framework for I-UAVs,enabling UAV pairs to learn their own policies cooperatively.Specifically,we first model the problem as a modelfree multi-agent Markov decision process(MAMDP)to maximize the long-term expected system throughput.Then,for improving the exploration of the optimal policy,we resort to optimizing a MARL objective function with a mutual-information(MI)regularizer between states and actions,which can dynamically assign the probability for actions frequently used by the optimal policy.Next,through sharing their current channel selections and local learning experience(their soft Q-values),the UAV pairs can learn their own policies cooperatively relying on only preceding observed information and predicting others’actions.Our simulation results show that for both sweep jamming and Markov jamming patterns,the proposed scheme outperforms the benchmarkers in terms of throughput,convergence and stability for different numbers of jammers,channels and UAV pairs.
文摘To address the shortcomings of traditional Genetic Algorithm (GA) in multi-agent path planning, such as prolonged planning time, slow convergence, and solution instability, this paper proposes an Asynchronous Genetic Algorithm (AGA) to solve multi-agent path planning problems effectively. To enhance the real-time performance and computational efficiency of Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) in path planning, the AGA incorporates an Equal-Size Clustering Algorithm (ESCA) based on the K-means clustering method. The ESCA divides the primary task evenly into a series of subtasks, thereby reducing the gene length in the subsequent GA process. The algorithm then employs GA to solve each subtask sequentially. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method, a simulation program was designed to perform path planning for 100 trajectories, and the results were compared with those of State-Of-The-Art (SOTA) methods. The simulation results demonstrate that, although the solutions provided by AGA are suboptimal, it exhibits significant advantages in terms of execution speed and solution stability compared to other algorithms.
文摘This paper delves into the problem of optimal placement conditions for a group of agents collaboratively localizing a target using range-only or bearing-only measurements.The challenge in this study stems from the uncertainty associated with the positions of the agents,which may experience drift or disturbances during the target localization process.Initially,we derive the Cramer-Rao lower bound(CRLB)of the target position as the primary analytical metric.Subsequently,we establish the necessary and sufficient conditions for the optimal placement of agents.Based on these conditions,we analyze the maximal allowable agent position error for an expected mean squared error(MSE),providing valuable guidance for the selection of agent positioning sensors.The analytical findings are further validated through simulation experiments.
基金founded by the National Science and Technology Council of the Republic of China under contract NSTC113-2221-E-019-032.
文摘An Interval Type-2(IT-2)fuzzy controller design approach is proposed in this research to simultaneously achievemultiple control objectives inNonlinearMulti-Agent Systems(NMASs),including formation,containment,and collision avoidance.However,inherent nonlinearities and uncertainties present in practical control systems contribute to the challenge of achieving precise control performance.Based on the IT-2 Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Model(T-SFM),the fuzzy control approach can offer a more effective solution for NMASs facing uncertainties.Unlike existing control methods for NMASs,the Formation and Containment(F-and-C)control problem with collision avoidance capability under uncertainties based on the IT-2 T-SFM is discussed for the first time.Moreover,an IT-2 fuzzy tracking control approach is proposed to solve the formation task for leaders in NMASs without requiring communication.This control scheme makes the design process of the IT-2 fuzzy Formation Controller(FC)more straightforward and effective.According to the communication interaction protocol,the IT-2 Containment Controller(CC)design approach is proposed for followers to ensure convergence into the region defined by the leaders.Leveraging the IT-2 T-SFM representation,the analysis methods developed for linear Multi-Agent Systems(MASs)are successfully extended to perform containment analysis without requiring the additional assumptions imposed in existing research.Notably,the IT-2 fuzzy tracking controller can also be applied in collision avoidance situations to track the desired trajectories calculated by the avoidance algorithm under the Artificial Potential Field(APF).Benefiting from the combination of vortex and source APFs,the leaders can properly adjust the system dynamics to prevent potential collision risk.Integrating the fuzzy theory and APFs avoidance algorithm,an IT-2 fuzzy controller design approach is proposed to achieve the F-and-C purposewhile ensuring collision avoidance capability.Finally,amulti-ship simulation is conducted to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the designed IT-2 fuzzy controller.
文摘This paper addresses the time-varying formation-containment(FC) problem for nonholonomic multi-agent systems with a desired trajectory constraint, where only the leaders can acquire information about the desired trajectory. Input the fixed time-varying formation template to the leader and start executing, this process also needs to track the desired trajectory, and the follower needs to converge to the convex hull that the leader crosses. Firstly, the dynamic models of nonholonomic systems are linearized to second-order dynamics. Then, based on the desired trajectory and formation template, the FC control protocols are proposed. Sufficient conditions to achieve FC are introduced and an algorithm is proposed to resolve the control parameters by solving an algebraic Riccati equation. The system is demonstrated to achieve FC, with the average position and velocity of the leaders converging asymptotically to the desired trajectory. Finally, the theoretical achievements are verified in simulations by a multi-agent system composed of virtual human individuals.
