Distributed Continuous-Time Strategy-Updating Rules for Noncooperative Games With Discrete-Time Communication

In this article, a class of continuous-time noncooperative games in networks of double-integrator agents is explored. The existing methods require that agents communicate with their neighbors in real time. In this article, we propose two discrete-time communication schemes based on the designed continuous-time strategy-updating rule for the efficient use of communication resources. First, the property of the designed continuous-time rule is analyzed to ensure that all agents’ strategies can reach the Nash equilibrium (NE). Then, we propose, respectively, periodic and event-triggered communication schemes for the discrete-time interactions among agents. The rule in the periodic case is implemented synchronously. The rule in the event-triggered case is executed asynchronously without Zeno behaviors. All agents in both cases can reach the NE asymptotically by interacting with neighbors at discrete times. Simulations are performed in networks of Cournot competition to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.