Formation Control Algorithm for Coupled Unicycle-Type Mobile Robots Through Switching Interconnection Topology

Abstract

In this study, we address the formation control problem of coupled unicycle-type mobile robots, each of which can interact with its neighboring robots by communicating their position outputs. Each communication link between two mobile robots is assumed to be established according to the given time-varying interconnection topology that switches within a finite set of connected fixed undirected networks and has a non-vanishing dwell time. Under this setup, we propose a distributed formation control algorithm by using the dynamics extension and feedback linearization methods, and by employing a consensus algorithm for linear multi-agent systems which provides arbitrary fast convergence rate to the agreement of the multi-agent system. Finally, the proposed result is demonstrated through a computer simulation.