“…1,2 As a basic branch of formation control, the formation maneuver technique endows multiple USVs with the ability to alter their relative geometric pattern to execute missions in complex water terrains, such as passing through reef waters, narrow waterways, and avoiding obstacles. 3,4 Tremendous efforts have been made by researchers to realize the formation maneuver goal for multiple USVs, for example, time-varying formation methods, 5,6 cooperative path maneuver methods, [7][8][9] formation containment maneuver methods [10][11][12] and bearing-based formation control methods. 13,14 Generally speaking, the USV formation system often operates in dynamically changing ocean environments that are real-time sensed by onboard sensors.…”