Global synchronization of multi-agent systems with nonlinear interactions

Abstract

The paper addresses the synchronization of multi-agent systems with continuous-time dynamics interacting through a very general class of monotonic continuous signal functions that covers estimation biases, approximation of discrete quantization, or state-dependent estimation. Our analysis reveals that, in the setup under consideration, synchronization equilibria are exactly the fixed points of the signal function. We also derive intuitive stability conditions based on whether the signal underestimates or overestimates the state of the agents around these fixed points. Moreover, we show that network topology plays a crucial role in asymptotic synchronization. These results provide interesting insights into the interplay between communication nonlinearity and network connectivity, paving the way for advanced coordination strategies in complex systems.