A continuous-time distributed algorithm for solving linear equations

Ji Liu, Xudong Chen, Tamer Baar, Angelia Nedic

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

A continuous-time distributed algorithm is studied for solving linear equations of the form Ax = b with at least one solution. The equation is simultaneously solved by a network of m agents with the assumption that each agent knows only a subset of the rows of the partitioned matrix [A b ], the current estimates of the equation's solution generated by its current neighbors, and nothing more. Neighbor relationships among the agents are described by a piecewise-constant switching directed graph whose vertices correspond to agents and whose arcs depict neighbor relationships. It is shown that for any matrix-vector pair (A, b) for which the equation has a solution and any sequence of repeatedly jointly strongly connected graphs, the algorithm causes all agents' estimates to asymptotically converge to the same solution to Ax = b. The limiting behavior of the algorithm in the case when Ax = b does not have a solution is also studied. It is shown that for any static strongly connected graph, the algorithm causes all agents' estimates to asymptotically converge to different values, and therefore enables the agents to detect the no-solution case distributively.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2016 American Control Conference, ACC 2016
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages5551-5556
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9781467386821
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 28 2016
Externally publishedYes
Event2016 American Control Conference, ACC 2016 - Boston, United States
Duration: Jul 6 2016Jul 8 2016

Publication series

NameProceedings of the American Control Conference
Volume2016-July
ISSN (Print)0743-1619

Other

Other2016 American Control Conference, ACC 2016
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston
Period7/6/167/8/16

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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