New multiagent coordination optimization algorithms for mixed-binary nonlinear programming with control applications

Abstract

Mixed-binary nonlinear programming (MBNP), which can be used to optimize network structure and network parameters simultaneously, has been seen widely in applications of cyber-physical network systems. However, it is quite challenging to develop efficient algorithms to solve it practically. On the other hand, swarm intelligence based optimization algorithms can simulate the cooperation and interaction behaviors from social or nature phenomena to solve complex, nonconvex nonlinear problems with high efficiency. Hence, motivated by this observation, we propose a class of new computationally efficient algorithms called coupled spring forced multiagent coordination optimization (CSFMCO), by exploiting the chaos-like behavior of two-mass two-spring mechanical systems to improve the ability of algorithmic exploration and thus to fast solve the MBNP problem. Together with the continuous version of CSFMCO, a binary version of CSFMCO and a switching version between continuous and binary versions are presented. Moreover, to numerically illustrate our proposed algorithms, a formation control problem and resource allocation problem for cyber-physical networks are investigated by using the proposed algorithms.