# Single-Bit Consensus with Finite-Time Convergence: Theory and Applications

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2001.00141 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2001.00141/

## Key facts

- Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 1 Jan 2020.

## Built on by (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [Distributed TD(0) with Almost No Communication](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.16246/) (2023)
- [Distributed support-vector-machine over dynamic balanced directed networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.00399/) (2021)
- [Distributed TD(0) with Almost No Communication](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.07855/) (2021)
- [Distributed Finite-Sum Constrained Optimization subject to Nonlinearity on the Node Dynamics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.14527/) (2022)
- [D-SVM over Networked Systems with Non-Ideal Linking Conditions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.06667/) (2023)
- [Using Non-Lipschitz Signum-based Functions for Distributed Optimization and Machine Learning: Trade-off Between Con-vergence Rate and Optimality Gap](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.01220/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

In this brief paper, a new consensus protocol based on the sign of innovations is proposed. Based on this protocol each agent only requires single-bit of information about its relative state to its neighboring agents. This is significant in real-time applications, since it requires less computation and/or communication load on agents. Using Lyapunov stability theorem the convergence is proved for networks having a spanning tree. Further, the convergence is shown to be in finite-time, which is significant as compared to most asymptotic protocols in the literature. Time-variant network topologies are also considered in this paper, and final consensus value is derived for undirected networks. Applications of the proposed consensus protocol in (i) 2D/3D rendezvous task, (ii) distributed estimation, (iii) distributed optimization, and (iv) formation control are considered and significance of applying this protocol is discussed. Numerical simulations are provided to compare the protocol with the existing protocols in the literature.