Control of Spatially Distributed Multi-Agent Systems

Description

Spatially distributed multi-agent networks have been used successfully to model a wide range of natural, social and engineered complex systems, such as animal groups, online communities and electrical power grids. In various contexts, its is crucial to introduce control actions into such networks to either achieve desired collective dynamics or test the understanding of the systems' behavior. However, controlling such systems is challenging due to the complicated interaction patterns among the agents that are constrained by spatial regulations. Systematic methodologies to attack this challenge are in urgent need, especially when vast efforts are being made in multiple disciplines to apply the model of complex multi-agent networks.

The goal of this project is twofold. First, understand whether a complex multi-agent network can be effictively controlled when the agents with only local sensing and communication capabilities are distributed spatially. Second, provide methodologies to implement distributed control in typical such networks.

Projectleader

Prof.dr.ir. J.M.A. Scherpen, Dr Ming Cao

PhD

Pouria Ramazi

Funding

ERC Starting Grant