On the Stability Margin and Input Delay Margin of Linear Multi-agent systems

Abstract

This paper provides a framework to characterize the gain margin, phase margin, and maximum input delay margin of a linear time-invariant multi-agent system where the interaction topology is described by a graph with a directed spanning tree. The stability analysis of the multi-agent system based on the generalized Nyquist theorem is converted to finding a minimum gain positive definite Hermitian perturbation and minimum phase unitary perturbation in the feedback path of the loop transfer function. Specifically, two constrained minimization problems are solved to calculate the gain, phase, and input delay margins of the multi-agent system. We further state necessary and sufficient conditions concerning stability of the multi-agent system independent of gain and phase perturbations, and input delay.