Barrier Lyapunov function-based adaptive fuzzy attitude tracking control for rigid satellite with input delay and output constraint

This paper investigates the adaptive attitude tracking problem for the rigid satellite involving output constraint, input saturation, input time delay, and external disturbance by integrating barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) and prescribed performance control (PPC). In contrast to the existing approaches, the input delay is addressed by Pade approximation, and the actual control input concerning saturation is obtained by utilizing an auxiliary variable that simplifies the controller design with respect to mean value methods or Nussbaum function-based strategies. Due to the implementation of the BLF control, together with an interval notion-based PPC strategy, not only the system output but also the transformed error produced by PPC are constrained. An adaptive fuzzy controller is then constructed and the predesigned constraints for system output and the transformed error will not be violated. In addition, a smooth switch term is imported into the controller such that the finite time convergence for all error variables is guaranteed for a certain case while the singularity problem is avoided. Finally, simulations are provided to show the effectiveness and potential of the proposed new design techniques.     

High dynamic adaptive robust control of load emulator with output feedback signal

This paper is concerned with the high performance adaptive robust control problem for an aircraft load emulator (LE). High dynamic capability is a key performance index of load emulator. However, physical load emulators exist a lot of nonlinearities and modeling uncertainties, which are the main obstacles for achieving high performance of load emulator. To handle the modeling uncertainty and achieve adjustable model-based compensation, firstly, the mathematical model of the load emulator is built, and then a nonlinear adaptive robust controller only with output feedback signal is proposed to improve the tracking accuracy and dynamic response capability. The controller is constructed based on the adaptive robust control framework with necessary design modifications required to accommodate uncertainties and nonlinearities of hydraulic load emulator. In this approach, nonlinearities are canceled by output feedback signal; and modeling errors, including parametric uncertainties and uncertain nonlinearities, are dealt with adaptive control and robust control respectively. The resulting controller guarantees a prescribed disturbance attenuation capability in general while achieving asymptotic output tracking in the absence of time-varying uncertainties. Experimental results are obtained to verify the high performance nature of the proposed control strategy, especially the high dynamic capability.     

Barrier Lyapunov function based adaptive region tracking control for underwater vehicles with thruster saturation and dead zone

This paper proposes a new adaptive region tacking control scheme with nonlinear error transformation for underwater vehicles based on barrier Lyapunov functions. In the new scheme, a redefinition of the tracking error is given by introducing nonlinear error transformation in prescribed performance control. Although the results created by the new scheme indicate a slight decrease in the tracking precision, the real tracking error will be still kept within the prescribed performance functions, while the control signals also become smoother, compared with the original prescribed performance control scheme. Then an approximation form of the control input with constraints, together with an improved Nussbaum function, is designed to derive the control law for underwater vehicles with thruster saturation and dead zone. Furthermore, a new velocity error variable is given by introducing an auxiliary variable to compensate the effect from thruster saturation. Finally, it is proved that the nonlinear system is semi-global practical finite-time stable and the tracking error is always kept within the prescribed boundaries. The effectiveness of the proposed region tracking control scheme is validated through simulation-based case studies on an underwater vehicle with measurement noise.     

Sampled observer-based adaptive output feedback fault-tolerant control for a class of strict-feedback nonlinear systems

This paper studies the sampled outputs-based adaptive fault-tolerant control problem for a class of strict-feedback uncertain nonlinear systems, where the nonlinear functions are allowed to include the unmeasured system states. Within the framework, a sampled output observer is introduced to jointly estimate the system states and parameters. By combining the estimated states and the supervisory switching strategy, an adaptive fault-tolerant controller is designed to achieve the desirable tracking performance. By using Lyapunov stability theory, it is proved that all the signals of the closed-loop systems are bounded and the tracking error converges to an adjustable neighbourhood of the origin eventually both in the fault free and faulty cases. Especially, if the outputs are available all the time, the proposed output feedback fault-tolerant control method can ensure the tracking error satisfy the prescribed performance bounds regardless of the faults. Finally, two examples are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Distributed adaptive observer-based prescribed finite-time control of constrained multi-agent systems

This work considers a distributed adaptive output feedback control problem for nonlinear constrained multi-agent systems (MAS) in the prescribed finite time. To begin with, a state observer is constructed to estimate the unmeasurable state. Then, we develop a novel observer based distributed adaptive prescribed finite time output feedback control algorithm by incorporating the prescribed finite-time control technique into the backstepping design method. Through Lyapunov stability theory, it can be shown that all signals of MASs are bounded, the tracking errors converge to the adjustable regions around the origin within the pre-given error accuracy and settling time, and all states keep in the prescribed constraint regions. Finally, a simulation example verifies the efficacy of the obtained theoretical results.     

Reduced-order K-filters-based event-triggered adaptive command filtered tracking control for stochastic constrained nonlinear systems

To ensure better performance and simultaneously save resources, an event-triggered adaptive command filtered dynamic surface control (ACFDSC) method for uncertain stochastic nonstrict-feedback nonlinear systems with dynamic output constraints and prescribed performance is designed in this article. Firstly, with the help of reduced-order K-filters, linearly parameterized neural networks and specific coordinate transformation technique, the unmeasurable states, nonlinearities, two types of unmodeled dynamics and output constraints are dealt with respectively. Then, an event-triggered ACFDSC strategy is proposed to ensure that the tracking error reaches a specific bound within a finite time. By introducing the compensated signal into the complete Lyapunov function, and with the assistance of the compact set defined in the stability analysis, all signals are strictly demonstrated to be semi-globally uniformly ultimately bounded. The simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Prescribed performance tracking control of a free-flying flexible-joint space robot with disturbances under input saturation

Aiming at the trajectory tracking of a free-flying flexible-joint space robot (FFSR) with unknown time-varying disturbances and input saturation, we develop a robust control law with prescribed performance constraints via backstepping technique. A disturbance observer is employed to estimate the unknown time-varying disturbances and two auxiliary systems are introduced to handle input saturation. Moreover, we use the dynamic surface control (DSC) technique to deal with the complexity explosion caused by multiple derivatives of the virtual control signals. The performance function and transformation function are utilized to improve the tracking performance. It is proved that the designed control law can maintain the tracking error of the FFSR within a predefined region, while guaranteeing the uniform ultimate boundedness of all signals in the FFSR closed-loop control system. Finally, simulations are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed prescribed performance tracking control.     

Decentralized adaptive tracking quantized control for interconnected pure feedback time delay nonlinear systems

This paper focuses on the problem of adaptive tracking quantized control for a class of interconnected pure feedback time delay nonlinear systems. To satisfy the requirement of prescribed performance on the output tracking error, a novel asymmetric tangent barrier Lyapunov function is developed. The decentralized adaptive controller is designed via backstepping method. To deal with the uncertain interconnected nonlinear functions, we design a new virtual control input in the first step. Instead of estimating the bound of each unknown function, we use the adaptive method to estimate the bound of the composite function which is composed of the unknown functions. Thus the over parameterization problem is avoided. It is proved that the output of each subsystem satisfies the prescribed performance requirement and other state variables are bounded. Finally, the simulations are performed and the results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Adaptive prescribed performance control for nonlinear robotic systems

This paper investigates the problem of asymptotic tracking control of nonlinear robotic systems with prescribed performance. The control strategy is developed based on a modified prescribed performance function (PPF) to guarantee the transient behavior, while the requirements on the accurate initial tracking error in the classical PPF can be remedied. The fuzzy logic system (FLS) is used to approximate the unknown dynamics. In the existing PPF based adaptive control schemes with FLSs, the tracking error does not achieve asymptotic convergence. To address this issue, a robust integral of the sign of the error (RISE) term is incorporated into the control design to reject the FLS approximation errors and external disturbances, such that the asymptotic convergence is achieved. Finally, numerical simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.     

Predictor-based optimal robust guaranteed cost control for uncertain nonlinear systems with completely tracking errors constraint

In this paper, a novel composite controller is proposed to achieve the prescribed performance of completely tracking errors for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems. The proposed controller contains a feedforward controller and a feedback controller. The feedforward controller is constructed by incorporating the prescribed performance function (PPF) and a state predictor into the neural dynamic surface approach to guarantee the transient and steady-state responses of completely tracking errors within prescribed boundaries. Different from the traditional adaptive laws which are commonly updated by the system tracking error, the state predictor uses the prediction error to update the neural network (NN) weights such that a smooth and fast approximation for the unknown nonlinearity can be obtained without incurring high-frequency oscillations. Since the uncertainties existing in the system may influence the prescribed performance of tracking error and the estimation accuracy of NN, an optimal robust guaranteed cost control (ORGCC) is designed as the feedback controller to make the closed-loop system robustly stable and further guarantee that the system cost function is not more than a specified upper bound. The stabilities of the whole closed-loop control system is certified by the Lyapunov theory. Simulation and experimental results based on a servomechanism are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Global output feedback tracking control for switched nonlinear systems with deferred prescribed performance

In this paper, the global output feedback tracking control is investigated for a class of switched nonlinear systems with time-varying system fault and deferred prescribed performance. The shifting function is introduced to improve the traditional prescribed performance control technique, remove the constraint condition on the initial value, and make the constraint bounds have more alternative forms. To estimate the unmeasured state variables and compensate the system fault, the switched dynamic gain extended state observer is constructed, which relaxes the traditional Lipschitz conditions on the nonlinear functions. Based on the proposed observer, by constructing the new Lyapunov function and using the backstepping method, the global robust output feedback controller is designed to make the output track the reference signal successfully, and after the adjustment time, the tracking error enters into the prescribed set. The stability of the system is analyzed by the average dwell time method. Finally, simulation results are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Fixed-time adaptive fuzzy control scheme with prescribed tracking accuracy for uncertain nonlinear hysteretic systems

When the Preisach operator, a commonly used hysteresis model, is coupled with uncertain unparametrizable nonlinear dynamics of systems, its tracking control problem in particular with the demands for prescribed tracking accuracy and finite convergence time is challenging, and has not yet been solved in the existing literature. In this study, we focus on the problem, and develop a fixed-time adaptive fuzzy control scheme as a solution to it, based upon a novel decomposition of the Preisach model, the design of a robust control framework, and the integration of a direct adaptive fuzzy control approach. With our scheme, it can be rigorously proved that the tracking error goes to a predefined interval around zero in a bounded convergence time, and all signals in the closed-loop system are bounded. Besides theoretical analysis, the obtained results are also confirmed by experimental tests based on a real-life piezoactuated positioner.     

Event-triggered adaptive tracking control of uncertain nonlinear systems with prescribed performance and actuator failures

This article studies adaptive prescribed performance tracking control problem for a class of strict-feedback nonlinear systems with parametric uncertainties and actuator failures. Firstly, in order to compensate the multiple uncertainties and eliminate the influence of actuator failure, a new adaptive tracking controller based on first-order filter technology will be proposed, which simplifies the algorithm design process. Then, by introducing an asymmetric state transition function, the transient and steady performances of the output tracking error are both constrained such that the predetermined performance control goal is achieved. Moreover, to reduce the communication burden from the controller to the actuator, the event-triggered mechanism is designed, and there will be no Zeno phenomenon. Based on Lyapunov stability theory, it is strictly proved that output signal can track the reference signal and all the signals of the closed-loop system are bounded. Finally, a simulation example is performed and the results demonstrate effectiveness of the proposed strategy.     

Adaptive fuzzy asymptotically tracking control of full state constrained nonlinear system based on a novel Nussbaum-type function

This study carries out the problem of adaptive backstepping fuzzy tracking control for a class of full state constrained uncertain nonlinear system with unknown control directions. Based on Nussbaum-type functions and tan-type Barrier Lyapunov functions, a novel adaptive fuzzy tracking controller is proposed to guarantee that the system output tracking error asymptotically converges to zero, while the constraints on the states of system will not be violated during operation. Compared with the existing results, a better convergence effect is obtained for this class of systems. Stability analysis of the proposed closed-loop control system is supported by the Lyapunov stability theory. Finally, a simulation example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.     

Adaptive fault-tolerant control for high-order fully actuated system with full-state constraints

This paper studies the adaptive tracking control problem for a class of uncertain high-order fully actuated (HOFA) systems with actuator faults and full-state constraints. Firstly, we design a novel nonlinear transformation function (NTF) only related to state and constraint boundaries and capable of handling asymmetric time-varying constraints. With the designed function, we obtain an equivalent totally unconstrained HOFA model which is generally simpler to design controllers than first-order state-space model. Then, the adaptive fault-tolerant controller is constructed with the help of the HOFA approach. By applying the Lyapunov stability theory, it is rigorously proved that the output tracking error converges to zero asymptotically, other signals of the resulting closed-loop systems are bounded, and full-state constraints are not violated for all time. Finally, the simulation results verify the efficiency of the proposed control design method.     

Compound tracking control based on MPC for quadrotors with disturbances

In this paper, a compound control strategy is proposed to realize the trajectory tracking task of quadrotors under operating constraints and disturbances. Disturbances caused by model uncertainties, environmental noises, and measurement disturbances are divided into matched disturbances and unmatched ones, which are compensated and suppressed separately by using two control components. The integral sliding mode control component is designed to actively reject the matched disturbances, and the control system is then transformed into an equivalent control system subject to equivalent disturbances only related to the unmatched disturbances. The remaining equivalent disturbances are treated by a robust model predictive control component based on the idea of constraints tightening, which minimizes the tracking error in an optimization framework and takes both state and input constraints into account explicitly. The derived compound control strategy is based on these two control components. Conditions are provided to guarantee the robust constraint satisfaction, recursive feasibility and closed-loop stability of the tracking error system. An illustrative example on the quadrotors shows the efficiency and robustness of this compound tracking control algorithm.     

Event-triggered adaptive control of multi-agent systems with saturated input and partial state constraints

In this paper, we study the consensus tracking control problem of a class of strict-feedback multi-agent systems (MASs) with uncertain nonlinear dynamics, input saturation, output and partial state constraints (PSCs) which are assumed to be time-varying. An adaptive distributed control scheme is proposed for consensus achievement via output feedback and event-triggered strategy in directed networks containing a spanning tree. To handle saturated control inputs, a linear form of the control input is adopted by transforming the saturation function. The radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is applied to approximate the uncertain nonlinear dynamics. Since the system outputs are the only available data, a high-gain adaptive observer based on RBFNN is constructed to estimate the unmeasurable states. To ensure that the constraints of system outputs and partial states are never violated, a barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) with time-varying boundary function is constructed. Event-triggered control (ETC) strategy is applied to save communication resources. By using backstepping design method, the proposed distributed controller can guarantee the boundedness of all system signals, consensus tracking with a bounded error and avoidance of Zeno behavior. Finally, the correctness of the theoretical results is verified by computer simulation.     

Fuzzy adaptive output-feedback tracking control for nonlinear strict-feedback systems in prescribed finite time

The current paper addresses the fuzzy adaptive tracking control via output feedback for single-input single-output (SISO) nonlinear systems in strict-feedback form. Under the situation of system states being unavailable, the system output is used to set up the state observer to estimate the real system states. Furthermore, the estimation states are employed to design controller. During the control design process, fuzzy logic systems (FLSs) are used to model the unknown nonlinearities. A novel observer-based finite-time tracking control scheme is proposed via fuzzy adaptive backstepping and barrier Lyapunov function approach. The suggested fuzzy adaptive output feedback controller can force the output tracking error to meet the pre-specified accuracy in a fixed time. Meanwhile, all the closed-loop variables are bounded. Compared to some existing finite-time output feedback control schemes, the developed control strategy guarantees that the settling time and the error accuracy are independent of the uncertainties and can be specified by the designer. At last, the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed control scheme are demonstrated by two simulation examples.     

Barrier function-based prescribed-performance adaptive attitude tracking control for spacecraft with uncertainties

This paper addresses the problem of robust adaptive attitude tracking control for spacecraft with mismatched and matched uncertainties. The idea of disturbance estimation and compensation is introduced into the control design. First, finite-time disturbance observers are developed for different channels of spacecraft based on barrier functions for achieving finite-time asymptotic estimates of unknown bounded uncertainties in the system. Second, a class of prescribed performance functions is considered in the design of the barrier function. The spacecraft attitude adaptive tracking control strategy with finite-time convergence capability and prescribed performance is proposed based on the designed finite-time disturbance observers and barrier function. Finally, the theoretical findings are verified by numerical simulations and compared with the simulation results of existing methods.     

Finite-time performance guaranteed event-triggered adaptive control for nonlinear systems with unknown control direction

This paper studies the issue of finite-time performance guaranteed event-triggered (ET) adaptive neural tracking control for strict-feedback nonlinear systems with unknown control direction. A novel finite-time performance function is first constructed to describe the prescribed tracking performance, and then a new lemma is given to show the differentiability and boundedness of the performance function, which is important for the verification of the closed-loop system stability. Furthermore, with the help of the error transformation technique, the origin constrained tracking error is transformed into an equivalent unconstrained one. By utilizing the first-order sliding mode differentiator, the issue of “explosion of complexity” caused by the backstepping design is adequately addressed. Subsequently, an ingenious adaptive updated law is given to co-design the controller and the ET mechanism by the combination of the Nussbaum-type function, thus effectively handling the influences of the measurement error resulted from the ET mechanism and the challenge of the controller design caused by the unknown control direction. The presented event-triggered control scheme can not only guarantee the prescribed tracking performance, but also alleviate the communication burden simultaneously. Finally, numerical and practical examples are provided to demonstrate the validity of the proposed control strategy.