Electric-field-coupled oscillators for collective electrochemical perception in biohybrid robotics

This work explores the application of nonlinear oscillators coupled by an electric field in water, inspired by weakly electric fish. Such coupled oscillators operate in clear and colloidal (mud, bottom silt) water and represent a collective electrochemical sensor that is sensitive to global environmental parameters, the geometry of the common electric field and spatial dynamics of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Implemented in hardware and software, this approach can be used to create global awareness in a group of robots, which possess limited sensing and communication capabilities. Using oscillators from different AUVs enables extension of the range limitations related to the electric dipole of a single AUV. Applications of this technique are demonstrated for detecting the number of AUVs, distances between them, perception of dielectric objects and synchronization of behavior. Recognizing self-/nonself-generated signals by electric fish is re-embodied in a technological way through an 'electrical mirror' for discrimination between 'collective self' and 'collective nonself'. These approaches have been implemented in several research projects with bioinspired/biohybrid systems in fresh and salt water, and electrochemical sensing in fluidic media.

Recursive Minimum-Variance Filter Design for State-Saturated Complex Networks With Uncertain Coupling Strengths Subject to Deception Attacks

In this article, the recursive filtering problem is investigated for state-saturated complex networks (CNs) subject to uncertain coupling strengths (UCSs) and deception attacks. The measurement signals transmitted via the communication network may suffer from deception attacks, which are governed by Bernoulli-distributed random variables. The purpose of the problem under consideration is to design a minimum-variance filter for CNs with deception attacks, state saturations, and UCSs such that upper bounds on the resulting error covariances are guaranteed. Then, the expected filter gains are acquired via minimizing the traces of such upper bounds, and sufficient conditions are established to ensure the exponential mean-square boundedness of the filtering errors. Finally, two simulation examples (including a practical application) are exploited to validate the effectiveness of our designed approach.

Mixed H2/H∞ State Estimation for Discrete-Time Switched Complex Networks With Random Coupling Strengths Through Redundant Channels

This article investigates the mixed H₂/H_∞ state estimation problem for a class of discrete-time switched complex networks with random coupling strengths through redundant communication channels. A sequence of random variables satisfying certain probability distributions is employed to describe the stochasticity of the coupling strengths. A redundant-channel-based data transmission mechanism is adopted to enhance the reliability of the transmission channel from the sensor to the estimator. The purpose of the addressed problem is to design a state estimator for each node, such that the error dynamics achieves both the stochastic stability (with probability 1) and the prespecified mixed H₂/H_∞ performance requirement. By using the switched system theory, an extensive stochastic analysis is carried out to derive the sufficient conditions ensuring the stochastic stability as well as the mixed H₂/H_∞ performance index. The desired state estimator is also parameterized by resorting to the solutions to certain convex optimization problems. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the validity of the proposed estimation scheme.

Variance-Constrained State Estimation for Nonlinearly Coupled Complex Networks

This paper studies the state estimation problem for nonlinearly coupled complex networks. A variance-constrained state estimator is developed by using the structure of the extended Kalman filter, where the gain matrix is determined by optimizing an upper bound matrix for the estimation error covariance despite the linearization errors and coupling terms. Compared with the existing estimators for linearly coupled complex networks, a distinct feature of the proposed estimator is that the gain matrix can be derived separately for each node by solving two Riccati-like difference equations. By using the stochastic analysis techniques, sufficient conditions are established which guarantees the state estimation error is bounded in mean square. A numerical example is provided to show the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed estimator.

Pull-Based Distributed Event-Triggered Consensus for Multiagent Systems With Directed Topologies

This paper mainly investigates consensus problem with a pull-based event-triggered feedback control. For each agent, the diffusion coupling feedbacks are based on the states of its in-neighbors at its latest triggering time, and the next triggering time of this agent is determined by its in-neighbors' information. The general directed topologies, including irreducible and reducible cases, are investigated. The scenario of distributed continuous communication is considered first. It is proved that if the network topology has a spanning tree, then the event-triggered coupling algorithm can realize the consensus for the multiagent system. Then, the results are extended to discontinuous communication, i.e., self-triggered control, where each agent computes its next triggering time in advance without having to observe the system's states continuously. The effectiveness of the theoretical results is illustrated by a numerical example finally.

Event-Triggered State Estimation for Complex Networks With Mixed Time Delays via Sampled Data Information: The Continuous-Time Case

In this paper, the event-triggered state estimation problem is investigated for a class of complex networks with mixed time delays using sampled data information. A novel state estimator is presented to estimate the network states. A new event-triggered transmission scheme is proposed to reduce unnecessary network traffic between the sensors and the estimator, where the sampled data is transmitted to the estimator only when the so-called "event-triggered condition" is satisfied. The purpose of the problem addressed is to design an estimator for the complex network such that the estimation error is ultimately bounded in mean square. By utilizing Lyapunov theory combined with the stochastic analysis approach, sufficient conditions are established to guarantee the ultimate boundedness of the estimation error in mean square. Then, the desired estimator gain matrices are obtained via solving a convex problem. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the results.

Synchronization in Networks of Linearly Coupled Dynamical Systems via Event-Triggered Diffusions

In this paper, we utilize event-triggered coupling configurations to realize synchronization of linearly coupled dynamical systems. Here, the diffusion couplings are set up from the latest observations of the nodes and their neighborhood and the next observation time is triggered by the proposed criteria based on the local neighborhood information as well. Two scenarios are considered: 1) continuous monitoring, in which each node can observe its neighborhood's instantaneous states and 2) discrete monitoring, in which each node can obtain only its neighborhood's states at the same time point when the coupling term is triggered. In both the cases, we prove that if the system with persistent coupling can synchronize, then these event-triggered coupling strategies can synchronize the system too.