Time-varying formation of uncertain nonlinear multi-agent systems via adaptive feedback control approach with event-triggered impulsive estimator

The time-varying formation problem under directed topology is investigated for the uncertain nonlinear multi-agent systems (MASs) via the neural networks-based adaptive feedback control (NNAFC). Compared with the simple adaptive control, the designed control protocol consists of two parts: NNAFC and the event-triggered impulsive estimator. To save communication costs, communications among followers are only carried out at discrete instants determined by the event-triggered impulsive rule. Two kinds of estimators and controllers are designed for two cases with or without communication delay, respectively. Further, NNAFC can be further improved to eliminate errors due to uncertain function approximation for some special cases. Utilizing the Lyapunov stability theory and impulsive control theory, we obtain some sufficient conditions to implement time-varying formation task. Finally, three examples are given to show the feasibility of theoretical analysis.