Distributed Consensus Algorithm For Multi-Missile Networks With Switching-Topologies And Dynamically-Changed Delay (Dcams)

Abstract

The Department of Defense conducts missions that include multiple missiles that communicate in order to successfully achieve mission goals. To accomplish this goal, delay in the multi-missile systems must be minimized. Algorithms exist that address portions of this problem by providing a consensus protocol that considers time-delayed communications for synchronized networks with fixed topologies. This paper expands this approach to provide a common consensus protocol that can be used in both fixed topology and switched topology communications networks. The effect of this enhancement is to dramatically reduce delay for multi-missile communications systems; thereby enabling more time-efficient consensus and improving mission success.