Title: Sliding surface-based obstacle avoidance for second order multi-agent systems

Authors: Asma Essghaier; Lotfi Beji; Azgal Abichou

Addresses: LIM Laboratory, Ecole Polytechnique de Tunisie, BP 743, 2078 La Marsa, Tunisia ' IBISC Laboratory, Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne, FRE CNRS 3190, 40 rue du Pelvoux, 91020, Evry Cedex, France ' LIM Laboratory, Ecole Polytechnique de Tunisie, BP 743, 2078 La Marsa, Tunisia

Abstract: This paper studies formation keeping along with obstacle avoidance for second-order multi-agent systems. First, the flexible virtual structure (FVS) approach, used to model the communication topology between the agents of the formation, is recalled and relationship with graph theory-based communication exchange to achieve consensus is established. Second, using the regulation function (RF) which permits to change the behaviour of the system's solution without affecting convergence, obstacle avoidance is investigated for one agent (leader/co-leader) of the formation. Particularly, RF was used to ensure obstacle avoidance for first order agents and is extended in this work for second order agents. Relationship between the dynamic agent and a sliding surface with first order kinematics is established and condition on the sliding surface parameter is developed to ensure obstacle avoidance. Also, new shapes of the obstacle are considered namely square and rhombus. Finally, in order to perform a coordinated obstacle avoidance of a multi-agent system when only a subset of agents namely co-leaders, selected from the boarder, has obstacle information, one defines control laws which permit to control motions of the remaining formation agents.

Keywords: obstacle avoidance; second order multi-agent systems; flexible virtual structure; FVS; regulation function; consensus; graph theory.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAAC.2018.090805

International Journal of Automation and Control, 2018 Vol.12 No.2, pp.195 - 219

Received: 02 Aug 2016
Accepted: 14 Oct 2016
Published online: 28 Mar 2018 *

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