Experimental comparison between discrete- and continuous-time controllers for multi-agent robots systems

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental comparison between discrete- and continuous-time formation and marching controllers for Multi-Agent Systems. The analysis is applied to the kinematic model of unicycle-type robots where the output function is a point off the robots' wheels axis. The control strategies are based on Artificial Potential Functions. The discrete-time model is obtained using Euler approximation. The comparison is made by matching the sum of the control signals of all the robots. Since there is an algebraic relation between the control signals and the energy applied to the system, if the overall control is equal for both schemes then the errors of the discrete- and continuous-time schemes can be compared.