ABSTRACT: This research focuses on investigating the effects of disruption via grounding in discrete-time consensus networks. Grounding refers to a phenomenon where a subset of agents in a network no longer respond to inputs from other agents, potentially modifying their dynamics. These grounded agents, which can be leaders or stubborn agents, may experience grounding due to internal faults, safety protocols, external malicious attacks, or deliberate design choices. In this talk, we explore the impact of grounding on expander graph families, which are known for their favorable scaling properties as the network size increases. Our analysis reveals that grounding leads to a decrease in the algebraic connectivity and eigenratio of the network, resulting in a deterioration of performance and scalability. The findings of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of the consequences of grounding in consensus networks and its implications for network design and resilience.

BIOSKETCH: Dr. Yamin Yan received the B.E. degree from Wuyuzhang Honors College in Automation, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China, in 2013, and the Ph.D. degree from the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong, in 2017. She worked as a Research Associate at the University of Newcastle, Australia, from 2018 to 2021. She is currently a Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering/ the CKS Robotics Institute, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), as well as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Newcastle. Her research interests include networked systems and control, cyber-physical systems, and security control. She was a selected participant in the 2022 Asian Deans’ Forum-The Rising Stars Women in Engineering Workshop. She is also a recipient of the 2022 Royal Society International Kan Tong Po Visiting Fellowship, the 2019 Future Women Leaders Conference Award for women in STEM from Monash University, Australia, the 2019 IEEE International Conference on Control and Automation (ICCA) Best Paper Finalist, and 2017 CUHK Faculty Outstanding Tutors Award.