Finite-Time Resource Allocation Algorithm for Networked Fractional Nonlinear Agents

This paper investigates finite-time resource allocation problems (RAPs) for uncertain nonlinear fractional-order multi-agent systems (FOMASs), considering global equality and local inequality constraints. Each agent is described by high-order dynamics with multiple-input multiple-output and only knows its local objective function. Due to the characteristics of dynamic systems, the outputs of agents are inconsistent with their inputs, making it challenging to satisfy the inequality constraints when solving RAPs. To address this complex optimization control problem, a novel hierarchical algorithm is proposed, consisting of a distributed estimator and a local controller. Specifically, the distributed estimator is established by adopting the ϵ-exact penalty function and the gradient descent method. This estimator enables the system states to reach the optimal solution of RAPs within a finite time. Furthermore, the local controller is presented based on the fractional-order tracking differentiator and adaptive neural control approach. Under this controller, the system states are slaved to track the optimal signals generated by the estimator within a finite time. In both the estimator and controller algorithms, the finite-time stability is uniformly guaranteed with the help of Lyapunov functions. Finally, the effectiveness of our algorithm is demonstrated through three simulation examples.