Introduction to Multi-Agent Systems

By Prof. Twinkle Tripathy | IIT Kanpur

Learners enrolled: 233 | Exam registration: 3

ABOUT THE COURSE:

This course introduces foundational and some advanced concepts in multi-agent systems with a focus on its applications in various domains. Students will explore mathematical tools from linear algebra, systems theory and algebraic and spectral graph theory to model and analyse the inter-agent interactions in coordinated frameworks. Thereafter, we will study some protocols to achieve consensus among the agents. The course will conclude with some applications of consensus protocols in the areas of path planning and coordination of multi-robot systems, networks of coupled oscillators and mathematical sociology.

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering Control and Instrumentation
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Postgraduate
Start Date :	21 Jul 2025
End Date :	10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	28 Jul 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	15 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	01 Nov 2025 IST
NCrF Level	4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: Introduction to Networked Dynamical Systems, Motivational examples.

Week 2: Mathematical Preliminaries - Linear algebra and Matrix theory.

Week 3: Elementary Graph theory - Graphs, digraphs, subgraphs, walks and connectivity.

Week 4: Algebraic Graph theory - Adjacency matrix, Spectral graph theory, Algebraic connectivity, Averaging systems.

Week 5: Controllability in multi-agent systems.

Week 6: Centrality indices and their applications

Week 7: Incidence matrix, Laplacian flows.

Week 8: Dynamical systems and stability notions, Applications in formation control problems.

Week 9: Opinion evolution in social networks.

Week 10: Distributed strategies in autonomous vehicles

Week 11: Consensus protocols for cyber-physical systems.

Week 12: Consensus protocols in coupled oscillator networks.

Books and references

“Lectures on network systems,” by F. Bullo, Vol. 1, CA: Kindle Direct Publishing, Santa Barbara, 2019.
“Graph theoretic methods in multiagent networks,” by M. Mesbahi, and M. Egerstedt, Princeton University Press, 2010.
“Opinion Dynamics on Social Networks” C. Altafini, 2022.

Instructor bio

Prof. Twinkle Tripathy

IIT Kanpur

Prof. Twinkle Tripathy is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering of IIT Kanpur. She received a Dual Degree of M.Tech. and Ph.D. at Systems & Control Engineering, IIT Bombay in Dec. 2016. Thereafter, she served at the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, NTU, Singapore and with the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology as a post-doctoral fellow till Aug. 2020. Her research interests broadly include guidance and control of autonomous systems, missile guidance and opinion dynamics in social networks.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: November 01, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Kanpur. It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team

SWAYAM Helpline / Support