Cooperative Control of Multi-Agent Systems over Signed Networks: Symmetry and Asymmetry Perspectives
A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Computer".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2026 | Viewed by 21
Special Issue Editor
Interests: cooperative control of multi-agent systems; signed networks; symmetry and asymmetry in networked systems; bipartite consensus and containment; distributed control algorithms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In recent years, multi-agent systems (MASs) have emerged as a fundamental architecture for distributed coordination in areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, robotic swarms, sensor networks, and smart grids. Within this domain, signed networks, where agents interact through both cooperative (positive) and antagonistic (negative) links, offer a powerful modeling framework to capture complex, and often competitive, multi-agent interactions.
One of the most intriguing phenomena in signed networks is the emergence of symmetric and asymmetric group behaviors, such as bipartite consensus, flocking with opposing velocities, or clustering into structurally balanced subgroups. These phenomena not only enrich the theoretical landscape of distributed control but also pose novel challenges in terms of stability, convergence, robustness, and system design.
We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, which aims to advance the frontier of cooperative control over signed networks by exploring the dual roles of symmetry and asymmetry in multi-agent system behavior. We seek contributions that delve into both the fundamental theories and practical applications of such control systems, especially under uncertainty, switching topologies, time delays, or adversarial disturbances.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and review papers are welcome. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Cooperative control over signed and structurally balanced networks;
- Bipartite consensus, containment, and flocking over signed networks;
- Fixed-time and finite-time control of multi-agent systems over signed networks;
- Effects of antagonistic interactions on global behavior;
- Trust dynamics, opinion polarization, and social networks modeling;
- Applications in UAV/UGV swarms, sensor networks, and intelligent transportation systems.
We look forward to receiving your high-quality submissions and to curating a Special Issue that provides a comprehensive view of the cooperative control of multi-agent systems over signed networks from symmetry and asymmetry perspectives.
Dr. Mengji Shi
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- cooperative control
- multi-agent systems
- signed networks
- symmetry
- asymmetry
- bipartite consensus
- distributed algorithms
- structural balance
- flocking
- switching topologies
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