Preventing disruption of a mobile communication network using Higher Order Sliding Mode control

In this study, agents in a mobile communication network perform a data-gathering task in response to external commands. If the agents´ movement disrupts the connectivity of the network, data transmission may fail. By means of Higher Order Sliding Mode (HOSM) observers, the external commands are reconstructed so that locations of potential disruptions in network connectivity can be predicted on a given time window. A concomitant network of controlled agents is available to be driven to these locations by means of HOSM controllers in order to prevent disruptions. As controlled agents move, effects of unknown bounded external disturbances are cancelled out. The movement of the network of controlled agents thus ensures that the network of data-gathering agents remains intact. The proposed algorithm is demonstrated in a simulation example.