Robust Adaptive Leader-Following Formation Control of Nonlinear Multiagents Using Three-Layer Neural Networks

This article studies a formation control problem for a group of heterogeneous, nonlinear, uncertain, input-affine, second-order agents modeled by a directed graph. A tunable neural network (NN) is presented, with three layers (input, two hidden, and output) that can approximate an unknown nonlinearity. Unlike one- or two-layer NNs, this design has the advantage of being able to set the number of neurons in each layer ahead of time rather than relying on trial and error. The NN weights tuning law is rigorously derived using the Lyapunov theory. The formation control problem is tackled using a robust integral of the sign of the error feedback and NNs-based control. The robust integral of the sign of the error feedback compensates for the unknown dynamics of the leader and disturbances in the agent errors, while the NN-based controller accounts for the unknown nonlinearity in the multiagent system. The stability and semi-global asymptotic tracking of the results are proven using the Lyapunov stability theory. The study compares its results with two others to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method.