<p> In this dissertation, we present novel solutions to cooperative control of autonomous multi-agent network topologies pertaining to the area of hostile target tracking by multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The present work assumes an undirected graph comprising point-mass UAVs with time-varying communication topology among agents. The level of information sharing ability among agents in a multi-agent network, i.e. the <i>network connectivity,</i> plays pivotal role in group dynamics. A neighborhood information based decentralized controller is proposed in order to drive UAVs into a symmetric formation of polygon shape surrounding a mobile target, simultaneously with maintaining and controlling connectivity during the formation process. Appropriate controller parameter selection schemes, both for controller weights and gains, are adapted for dynamic topologies to maintain the connectivity measure above zero at all times. A challenging task of tracking a desired connectivity profile along with the formation control, is accomplished by using time-varying controller gains throughout agents dynamics. We next present a generalized formation controller, which in fact generates a family of UAV trajectories satisfying the control criteria. The proposed decentralized controller contains additional tuning parameters as fractional powers on proportional and derivative terms, rendering flexibility in achieving the control objective. The proposed controller with proper fractional powers, results in gradual state changes in UAV dynamics by using limited control inputs. Moreover, we extend our work by addressing a ground target tracking and reacquiring problem using the visual information gathered by flying UAV. The proposed guidance law uses line-of-sight guidance to track the target pushing it towards the image center captured by UAV, and exploits UAV-target mutual information to reacquire the target in case it steers away from the field-of-view for a short time. The convergence of the closed loop systems under the proposed controllers are shown using Lyapunov theory. Simulation results validate the effectiveness and novelty of the proposed control laws.</p><p> In addition to the above, this work focuses on categorizing multi-agent topologies in concern with the network dynamics and connectivity to analyze, realize, and visualize multi-agent interactions. In order to explore various useful agents reconfiguration possibilities without compromising the network connectivity, the present work aims at determining distinct topologies with the same connectivity or <i>isoconnected topologies.</i> Different topologies with identical connectivity are found out with the help of analytic techniques utilizing matrix algebra and calculus of variation. Elegant strategies for preserving connectivity in a network with a single mobile agent and rest of the stationary members, are proposed in this work as well. The proposed solutions are validated with the help of sufficient examples. For visual understanding of how agents locations and topology configurations influence the network connectivity, a MATLAB based graphical user interface is designed to interact with multi-agent graphs in a user-friendly manner.</p><p> To this end, the present work succeeds to determine solutions to challenging multi-UAV cooperative control problems, such as: (1) Symmetric formation control surrounding a mobile target; (2) Maintaining, improving and controlling the network connectivity during a mission; and (3) Categorizing different multi-agent topologies to unravel useful reconfiguration options for a group. The proposed theories with appropriate analysis, and the simulation results suffice to show the contribution and novelty of this work.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:10151348 |
| Date | 03 November 2016 |
| Creators | Dutta, Rajdeep |
| Publisher | The University of Texas at San Antonio |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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