Cooperative Control of Multiple Autonomous Unmanned Vehicles (AUVs)

自主式无人机（AUV）是能够在空中、地面、水面或水下机动的系统。AUV在民用、军事和安全领域有许多潜在的应用。与单AUV相比，多AUV系统具有更高的精度、鲁棒性、灵活性、更低的成本、更高的能效和更高的成功率等固有优势，在各种复杂的团队任务中更有效。随着AUV硬件技术和网络化系统理论的发展，越来越多的任务需要多AUV协同完成。然而，多水下机器人的合作也提出了许多重大的理论和实践挑战的工程师和设计师。因此，拟议的研究非常及时，因为它旨在推进这一领域的关键技术。这对于在加拿大发展下一阶段AUV研发所需的专业知识和人才也很重要。

Autonomous Unmanned Vehicles (AUVs) are systems that are capable of maneuvering in the air, on theground, above or under the water. There are a number of potential applications for AUVs in civilian, militaryand security areas. Compared to single AUV, systems with multiple AUVs are more effective in variouscomplicated team tasks due to its inherent advantages, including increased accuracy, robustness, flexibility,lower cost, energy efficiency, and probability of success. With the recent advancements in AUV hardware andnetworked system theory, more and more missions require the cooperation of multiple AUVs. However,cooperation of multiple AUVs also poses many significant theoretical and practical challenges to engineers anddesigners. The proposed research is therefore very timely, since it aims to advance key technologies in thisarea. It is also important for developing expertise and talent within Canada needed for the next phases of AUVresearch and development.