title: Realization of consensus of multi-agent systems with stochastically mixed interactions.
abstract: In this paper, we propose a new consensus model in which the interactions among agents stochastically switch between attraction and repulsion. Such a positive-and-negative mechanism is described by the white-noise-based coupling. Analytic criteria for the consensus and non-consensus in terms of the eigenvalues of the noise intensity matrix are derived, which provide a better understanding of the constructive roles of random interactions. Specifically, we discover a positive role of noise coupling that noise can accelerate the emergence of consensus. We find that the converging speed of the multi-agent network depends on the square of the second smallest eigenvalue of its graph Laplacian. The influence of network topologies on the consensus time is also investigated.
authors.affiliation: School of Science, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yongzheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: School of Science, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Donghua
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao