Complete synchronization in fixed/preassigned time of multilayered heterogeneous networks.

This paper is concentrated on the fixed/preassigned-time (FXT/PAT) synchronization of multilayered networks, in which the self-dynamics of nodes are heterogeneous and the synchronized state can be an arbitrary prescribed smooth orbit. Above all, the original network is augmented by involving the synchronized state as a virtual node, it is allowed to remove the topological connectivity limitations and reduce the conservatism of the synchronization conditions. Subsequently, several continuous control protocols have been developed to achieve FXT synchronization and some effective criteria are established by utilizing the theorem of FXT stability. Additionally, the relationship is revealed between the estimation of the synchronized time and the layer parameter. Moreover, the PAT synchronization is investigated for a preassigned synchronized time by proposing two control schemes with finite control gains. Eventually, the developed control designs and criteria are validated by some numerical simulations.