Node-to-node consensus of multi-agent systems with switched pinning links

This paper considers the problem of distributed node-to-node consensus for general linear multi-agent systems with switched pinning links. The control goal in the present work is to make each follower track the corresponding leader asymptotically under the condition that only a small fraction of followers can sense their corresponding leaders through some switched communication channels. By using tools from M-matrix theory and switched systems theory, it is proved that such a node-to-node consensus can be achieved if each follower can be directly or indirectly influenced by at least one leader, and the inner linking matrix as well as coupling strength are appropriately designed.