Consensus protocols for networks of dynamic agents

In this paper, we introduce linear and nonlinear consensus protocols for networks of dynamic agents that allow the agents to agree in a distributed and cooperative fashion. We consider the cases of networks with communication time-delays and channels that have filtering effects. We find a tight upper bound on the maximum fixed time-delay that can be tolerated in the network. It turns out that the connectivity of the network is the key in reaching a consensus. The case of agreement with bounded inputs is considered by analyzing the convergence of a class of nonlinear protocols. A Lyapunov function is introduced that quantifies the total disagreement among the nodes of a network. Simulation results are provided for agreement in networks with communication time-delays and constrained inputs.