Global Synchronization of Multi-Agent Systems With Nonlinear Interactions

IEEE Control Systems Letters

Authors

Anthony Couthures

Vineeth Satheeskumar Varma

Samson Lasaulce

Irinel-Constantin Morărescu

Published

May 2025

Abstract
This letter addresses the synchronization of multi-agent systems with continuous-time dynamics interacting through a very general class of monotonic continuous signal functions that covers estimation biases, approximation of discrete quantization, or state-dependent estimation. Our analysis reveals that, in the setup under consideration, synchronization equilibria are exactly the fixed points of the signal function. We also derive intuitive stability conditions based on whether the signal underestimates or overestimates the state of the agents around these fixed points. Moreover, we show that network topology plays a crucial role in asymptotic synchronization. These results provide interesting insights into the interplay between communication nonlinearity and network connectivity, paving the way for advanced coordination strategies in complex systems.

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BibTeX citation:
@article{couthures2025,
  author = {Couthures, Anthony and Satheeskumar Varma, Vineeth and
    Lasaulce, Samson and Morărescu, Irinel-Constantin},
  title = {Global {Synchronization} of {Multi-Agent} {Systems} {With}
    {Nonlinear} {Interactions}},
  journal = {IEEE Control Systems Letters},
  volume = {9},
  pages = {354-359},
  date = {2025-05},
  url = {https://anthonycouthures.github.io/publications/2025_lcss_global-synchronization-nonlinear.html},
  doi = {10.1109/LCSYS.2025.3573563},
  langid = {en},
  abstract = {This letter addresses the synchronization of multi-agent
    systems with continuous-time dynamics interacting through a very
    general class of monotonic continuous signal functions that covers
    estimation biases, approximation of discrete quantization, or
    state-dependent estimation. Our analysis reveals that, in the setup
    under consideration, synchronization equilibria are exactly the
    fixed points of the signal function. We also derive intuitive
    stability conditions based on whether the signal underestimates or
    overestimates the state of the agents around these fixed points.
    Moreover, we show that network topology plays a crucial role in
    asymptotic synchronization. These results provide interesting
    insights into the interplay between communication nonlinearity and
    network connectivity, paving the way for advanced coordination
    strategies in complex systems.}
}
For attribution, please cite this work as:
Anthony Couthures, Vineeth Satheeskumar Varma, Samson Lasaulce, and Irinel-Constantin Morărescu. 2025. “Global Synchronization of Multi-Agent Systems With Nonlinear Interactions.” IEEE Control Systems Letters 9: 354–359. https://doi.org/10.1109/LCSYS.2025.3573563.