There will be four invited talks in ICC-10 by
- Anuj Tiwari, IIT Madras
- Bhargav Jha, IIT Kharagpur
- Mousumi Mukherjee, IIEST Shibpur
- Sharad Kumar Singh, IIT Indore
The details of these talks are as follows:
1) Speaker: Anuj Tiwari (IIT Madras)
Title: Multi-agent systems – cohesive control, its applications, and effects of delay
Abstract: Cohesion in networks during transitions from one consensus value to another, i.e., the ability of agents to respond in a similar manner during the transition, can be as important as achieving the new consensus value. Existing decentralized network control strategies mainly concern with the convergence speed to the final consensus value. However, even with increased convergence speed, the level of cohesion loss during transitions can be large. This loss of cohesion during transition (and tracking of varying consensus values) can be alleviated using a recently developed delayed self-reinforcement (DSR) approach. However, the current DSR-based approach assumes ideal conditions with agents having instant access to neighbor information – without network delays arising during sensing or communication between neighbors, as well as computation of control actions of each agent, which can cause instability. In this talk, I will present my work on addressing the issue of cohesive transitions in networks with delays. Additionally, I will discuss the results of cohesion control in formation control of multi-agent systems, multi-robot flexible object transport and inter-vehicle spacing control in connected vehicles.
Speaker Bio: Anuj Tiwari completed his B.Tech. degree from IIT Guwahati, India, in June 2017 and the Ph.D. degree at University of Washington, Seattle WA, USA, in December 2022. After a short stint as a Postdoctoral Scholar in Boeing Advanced Research Center till June 2023, he has joined IIT Madras as an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department. His research focus is on distributed control of networked multi-agent systems, with applications in robotics for advanced manufacturing, intelligent transportation systems, and cyber physical systems.
2) Speaker: Bhargav Jha (IIT Kharagpur)
Title: Constraint Motion Planning of Non-Holonomic Vehicles
Abstract: Moving platforms such as ships with firing turrets, mobile air-defense systems, surveillance aircraft, and military vehicles with directed sensors are all examples of moving pursuers equipped with rotating platforms. The platforms can be a turret, a directed energy weapon, or a gimbaled camera and sensor. This talk will explore time-optimal and energy-optimal motion planning strategies for such vehicles. We will begin by introducing a novel vehicle model, called the Dubins-Laser system. Following this, we will discuss how first-order necessary optimality conditions can be leveraged to reduce the trajectory search space to a finite set of candidate solutions. Finally, numerical simulations will be presented to demonstrate the practical applications of the proposed analytical results.
Speaker Bio: Bhargav Jha is currently an Assistant Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Kharagpur. Prior to this he was a post-doctoral fellow with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the Michigan State University, USA. He received his B.E. (Hons) degree in Electronics and Instrumentation from Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani, India in 2016 and the Masters as well as Ph.D. degree in Aerospace Engineering from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in 2019 and 2022, respectively. His current research interests lie at the intersection of motion planning, optimal control, and differential game theory.
3) Speaker: Mousumi Mukherjee (IIEST Shibpur)
Title: Data-based stability analysis of strongly autonomous nD systems
Abstract: With the advances in sensing technology, computing capabilities, and storage infrastructure there has been a surge in using data for an increasing number of applications. However, the vast literature on data based analysis and control is mostly focused on dynamical systems that evolve over one independent variable, namely, time. In this talk, we shall discuss about data-based conditions for checking stability of a special class of systems having more than one independent variable. It is known that because of the lack of natural ordering of the domain, the problem of defining and studying stability of systems having n independent variables (nD systems) is not straightforward. We focus on the following two notions of stability: (i) stability with respect to a given direction, and more generally, (ii) conic stability, that is, stability with respect to subsets of the domain having the structure of a cone, and provide data-based tests for checking them.
Speaker Bio: Mousumi Mukherjee is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur. Prior to joining IIEST, Shibpur, she served as a DST-INSPIRE Faculty at IIT Madras. She obtained her PhD from the Control and Computing group of the Electrical Engineering Department at IIT Bombay, where her research earned the “Excellence in PhD” award. Following her doctoral studies, she was a postdoctoral researcher in the Chair for Mechatronics at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. Her research interests encompass systems and control theory, with a particular focus on algebraic analysis of dynamical systems, multidimensional (nD) systems, computational commutative algebra, and data-driven control.
4) Speaker: Sharad Kumar Singh (IIT Indore)
Title: Efficient Conflict-Free Path Planning for Multi-Agent Systems: Methods and Applications
Abstract: In multi-agent systems—such as robotic fleets, autonomous vehicles, and industrial automation—efficient, conflict-free path planning is essential for safe, reliable operation. This talk explores innovative methods that enable multiple agents to navigate shared spaces without conflicts, balancing computational efficiency with real-world constraints. Practical approaches will be covered, including optimization techniques, heuristic algorithms, and decentralized frameworks, with a focus on scalability and adaptability to dynamic obstacles. Special emphasis will be placed on handling complex, high-density environments where collision avoidance is critical. Attendees will gain insights into strategies that enhance pathfinding efficiency, minimize conflicts, and provide robust solutions for complex, real-world applications across diverse multi-agent scenarios.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Sharad Kumar Singh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at IIT Indore. His research interests include game theory, control and optimization, robotics, and multi-agent systems. Dr. Singh earned both his M.S. (by research) and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from IIT Madras. Following his Ph.D., he worked as a Researcher in Mobile Robotics at Addverb Technologies in Noida. Later, he served as an Operations Research Analyst at Solverminds Solutions and Technologies in Chennai. Dr. Singh’s diverse professional experience and strong academic background uniquely position him to contribute to advancements in multi-agent systems, robotics, and game theory.
The time and venue for these talks can be found in the technical program.