A consensus-based multi-agent approach for estimation in robust fault detection

•We consider distributed estimation with networked-induced delay and packet dropouts.•We design agent-based robust fault detection filters by estimation and consensus.•The dynamics of distributed filters is transformed to a multiple-delay system.•The Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional is constructed and LMI technology is utilized.•We derive asymptotically stable sufficient conditions for the multiple-delay system.

This paper is devoted to distributed estimation in robust fault detection for sensor networks with networked-induced delays and packet dropouts by using a consensus-based multi-agent approach. Utilizing the information interaction and coordination among the neighboring networks based on multi-agent theory, we design novel and multiple agent-based robust fault detection filters (RFDFs) subject to only partial estimated and measured information. Asymptotically stable sufficient conditions for the innovative constructed filters are derived in the form of linear matrix inequality (LMI) and the threshold fit for each agent-based RFDF is determined. An illustrative example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the consensus-based multi-agent approach for the estimation in robust fault detection.