Fractional discrete-time consensus models for single- and double-summator dynamics

The leader–following consensus problem of fractional-order multi-agent discrete-time systems is considered. In the systems, interactions between opinions are defined like in Krause and Cucker–Smale models but the memory is included by taking the fractional-order discrete-time operator on the left-hand side of the nonlinear systems. In this paper, we investigate fractional-order models of opinions for the single- and double-summator dynamics of discrete-time by analytical methods as well as by computer simulations. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the leader–following consensus are formulated by proposing a consensus control law for tracking the virtual leader.