Control of Multi-Layer Mobile Autonomous Systems in Adversarial Environments: A Games-in-Games Approach

TL;DR

This paper introduces a games-in-games framework for controlling multi-layer mobile autonomous systems in adversarial environments, focusing on maximizing network connectivity and resilience against jamming attacks.

Contribution

It proposes a novel meta-equilibrium solution and a resilient algorithm for secure control of multi-layer MAS networks under adversarial conditions.

Findings

The algorithm converges to a meta-equilibrium asymptotically.

The control strategy enhances network security and resilience.

Case studies demonstrate improved connectivity and robustness.

Abstract

Mobile autonomous system (MAS) becomes pervasive especially in the vehicular and robotic networks. Multiple heterogeneous MAS networks can be integrated together as a multi-layer MAS network to offer holistic services. The network connectivity of multi-layer MAS plays an important role in the information exchange between agents within and across different layers of the network. In this paper, we establish a games-in-games framework to capture the uncoordinated nature of decision makings under adversarial environment at different layers. Specifically, each network operator controls the mobile agents in his own subnetwork and designs a secure strategy to maximize the global network connectivity by considering the behavior of jamming attackers that aim to disconnect the network. The solution concept of meta-equilibrium is proposed to characterize the system-of-systems behavior of the autonomous agents. For online implementation of the control, we design a resilient algorithm that improves the network algebraic connectivity iteratively. We show that the designed algorithm converges to a meta-equilibrium asymptotically. Finally, we use case studies of a two-layer MAS network to corroborate the security and agile resilience of the network controlled by the proposed strategy.