Search Results (24)

This paper introduces a novel model-free nonsingular fixed-time sliding mode control (MF-NFxTSMC) strategy for precise trajectory tracking in robot arm systems. Unlike conventional sliding mode control (SMC) approaches that require accurate dynamic models, the proposed method leverages the time delay estimation (TDE) approach to effectively estimate system dynamics and external disturbances in real-time, enabling a fully model-free control solution. This significantly enhances its practicality in real-world scenarios where obtaining precise models is challenging or infeasible. A significant innovation of this work lies in designing a novel fixed-time control framework that achieves faster convergence than traditional fixed-time methods. Building on this, a novel MF-NFxTSMC law is developed, featuring a novel singularity-free fixed-time sliding surface (SF-FxTSS) and a novel fixed-time reaching law (FxTRL). The proposed SF-FxTSS incorporates a dynamic proportional term and an adaptive exponent, ensuring rapid convergence and robust tracking. Notably, its smooth transition between nonlinear and linear dynamics eliminates the singularities often encountered in terminal and fixed-time sliding mode surfaces. Additionally, the designed FxTRL effectively suppresses chattering while guaranteeing fixed-time convergence, leading to smoother control actions and reduced mechanical stress on the robotic hardware. The fixed-time stability of the proposed method is rigorously proven using the Lyapunov theory. Numerical simulations on the SAMSUNG FARA AT2 robotic platform demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method in terms of tracking accuracy, convergence speed, and control smoothness compared to existing strategies, including conventional SMC, finite-time SMC, approximate fixed-time SMC, and global fixed-time nonsingular terminal SMC (NTSMC). Overall, this approach offers compelling advantages, i.e., model-free implementation, fixed-time convergence, singularity avoidance, and reduced chattering, making it a practical and scalable solution for high-performance control in uncertain robotic systems. Full article

In contrast to the majority of model-based terminal sliding mode control (TSMC) approaches that rely on the plant physical model and/or data-driven adaptive pointwise model, this study treats the unknown dynamic plant as a total uncertainty in a black box with enabled control inputs and attainable outputs (either measured or estimated), which accordingly proposes a model-free (MF) nonsingular terminal sliding mode control (MFTSMC) for higher-order dynamic systems to reduce the tedious modelling work and the design complexity associated with the model-based control approaches. The total model-free controllers, derived from the Lyapunov differential inequality, obviously provide conciseness and robustness in analysis/design/tuning and implementation while keeping the essence of the TSMC. Three simulated bench test examples, in which two of them have representatively numerical challenges and the other is a two-link rigid robotic manipulator with two input and two output (TITO) operational mode as a typical multi-degree interconnected nonlinear dynamics tool, are studied to demonstrate the effectiveness of the MFTSMC and employed to show the user-transparent procedure to facilitate the potential applications. The major MFTSMC performance includes (1) finite time ($2.5\pm 0.05$ s) dynamic stabilization to equilibria in dealing with total physical model uncertainty and disturbance, (2) effective dynamic tracking and small steady state error $0\pm 0.002$, (3) robustness (zero sensitivity at state output against the unknown bounded internal uncertainty and external disturbance), (4) no singularity issue in the neighborhood of TSM $\sigma =0$, (5) stable chattering with low amplitude ($\pm 0.01$) at frequency 50 mHz due to high gain used against disturbance $d(t)=100+30\sin (2\pi t)$). The simulation results are similar to those from well-known nominal model-based approaches. Full article

Sliding Mode Control (SMC) has gained significant attention due to its simplicity, robustness, and rapid response in ensuring system stability, particularly with the Lyapunov approach. Despite its advantages, SMC faces challenges such as chattering near equilibrium, sensitivity to parameter variations, and delayed convergence. To address these issues, advanced techniques like Terminal Sliding Mode Control (TSMC) and Integral Terminal Sliding Mode Control (ITSMC) have been proposed. TSMC ensures finite-time convergence while mitigating chattering, while ITSMC further handles singularities and disturbances. Additionally, Adaptive Switching Control (ASC) based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is applied to achieve faster convergence, suppress chattering, and enhance system robustness. The adaptive control law, utilizing a Lyapunov-based approach, is employed to estimate and compensate for external disturbances, further improving system performance under uncertainties. Gain tuning, essential for optimizing system performance and reducing tracking errors, is achieved using the efficient Teaching–Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO) algorithm. This study applies TSMC, ITSMC, and ASC-based PSO to an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), aiming to enhance robustness, stability, and finite-time convergence while reducing chattering. Stability is analyzed through the Lyapunov theory, ensuring rigorous validation. MATLAB simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods in improving ABS performance, offering a valuable contribution to robust control techniques for systems operating under dynamic and uncertain conditions. Full article

With the large-scale integration of renewable energy into off-grid DC systems, the stability issues caused by their fluctuations have become increasingly prominent. The dual active bridge (DAB) converter, as a DC-DC converter suitable for high power and high voltage level off-grid DC systems, plays a crucial role in maintaining and regulating grid stability through its control methods. However, the existing control methods for DAB are inadequate: linear control fails to meet dynamic response requirements, while nonlinear control relies on detailed model structures and parameters, making the control design complex and less accurate. To address this issue, this paper proposes a feedforward control strategy for a DC-DC converter in an off-grid hydrogen production system based on a linear extended state observer (LESO) and super-twisting sliding mode control (STSMC). Firstly, a reduced-order simplified model of the DAB was constructed through the structure of DAB. Then, based on the reduced-order simplified model, a feedforward control based on LESO and STSMC was designed, and its stability was analyzed. Finally, a simulation comparison of PI, LESO + terminal sliding mode control (TSMC), and LESO + STSMC control methods was conducted in a DC off-grid hydrogen production system. The results verified the proposed control method’s enhancement of the DAB’s rapid dynamic response capability and the system’s transient stability. Full article

This paper presents novel chattering-free robust control strategies for addressing disturbances and uncertainties in a two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dynamic model, with a focus on the highly nonlinear and strongly coupled nature of the system. The novelty lies in the development of sliding mode control (SMC), integral sliding mode control (ISMC), and terminal sliding mode control (TSMC) laws specifically tailored for the twin-rotor MIMO system (TRMS). These strategies are validated through both simulation and real-time experiments. A key contribution is the introduction of a uniform robust exact differentiator (URED) to recover rotor speed and missing derivatives, combined with a nonlinear state feedback observer to improve system observability. A feedback linearization approach, using lie derivatives and diffeomorphism principles, is employed to decouple the system into horizontal and vertical subsystems. Comparative analysis of the transient performance of the proposed controllers, with respect to metrics such as settling time, overshoot, rise time, and steady-state errors, is provided. The ISMC method, in particular, effectively mitigates the chattering issue prevalent in traditional SMC, improving both system performance and actuator longevity. Experimental results on the TRMS demonstrate the superior tracking performance and robustness of the proposed control laws in the presence of nonlinearities, uncertainties, and external disturbances. This research contributes a comprehensive control design framework with proven real-time implementation, offering significant advancements over existing methodologies. Full article

This paper proposes a parameter optimization method for a terminal sliding mode controller (TSMC) based on a multi-strategy improved crayfish algorithm (JLSCOA) to enhance the performance of ship dynamic positioning systems. The TSMC is designed for the “Xinhongzhuan” vessel of Dalian Maritime University. JLSCOA integrates subtractive averaging, Levy Flight, and sparrow search strategies to overcome the limitations of traditional crayfish algorithms. Compared to COA, WOA, and SSA algorithms, JLSCOA demonstrates superior optimization accuracy, convergence performance, and stability across 12 benchmark test functions. It achieves the optimal value in 83% of cases, outperforms the average in 83% of cases, and exhibits stronger robustness in 75% of cases. Simulations show that applying JLSCOA to TSMC parameter optimization significantly outperforms traditional non-optimized controllers, reducing the average time for three degrees of freedom position changes by over 300 s and nearly eliminating control force and velocity oscillations. Full article

In this study, we investigate a terminal sliding mode control (TSMC) system combined with predefined-time and prescribed-performance control methods for an unmanned planing hull (UPH) system in the presence of a control input delay at the heading axis and a porpoising motion due to pitching-moment disturbance. A second-order TSMC system is adopted to bypass the unstable heading-angle response of the conventional first-order TSMC system caused by the control input delay of the hydraulic rudder actuator system. Next, predefined-time and prescribed-performance control methods are proposed to enhance the disturbance rejection performance of an uncertain UPH. The results of sequential comparative simulations show that the disturbance rejection performance of the proposed hybrid disturbance rejector using both the predefined-time and prescribed-performance control methods for a porpoising motion is superior to those of conventional controller systems without introducing disturbance observers. Full article

In this paper, an adaptive backstepping terminal sliding mode control (ABTSMC) method based on a double hidden layer recurrent neural network (DHLRNN) is proposed for a DC-DC buck converter. The DHLRNN is utilized to approximate and compensate for the system uncertainty. On the basis of backstepping control, a terminal sliding mode control (TSMC) is introduced to ensure the finite-time convergence of the tracking error. The effectiveness of the composite control method is verified on a converter prototype in different test conditions. The experimental comparison results demonstrate the proposed control method has better steady-state performance and faster transient response. Full article

This paper addresses three significant challenges in controlling robot manipulators: improving response time, minimizing steady-state errors and chattering, and enhancing controller robustness. It also focuses on eliminating the need for computing the robot’s dynamic model and unknown functions, as well as achieving global fixed-time convergence and the prescribed performance for the control system. To achieve these objectives, a fixed-time sliding mode function is designed, which uses transformation errors to achieve prescribed control performance, with adjustments made to the maximum overshoot, convergence time, and tracking errors to keep them within predefined bounds. Additionally, a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is used to eliminate the need for knowledge of the robot’s dynamical properties and uncertain terms, which also reduces negative chattering. Finally, a novel fixed-time terminal sliding mode control (TSMC) algorithm is developed for robot manipulators without using their dynamical model. The fixed-time stability of the control system is thoroughly demonstrated by applying Lyapunov criteria and conducting simulations on a robot manipulator to showcase its effectiveness. Full article

To improve the chattering problem caused by the terminal sliding mode control (TSMC) and sliding mode observer (SMO) in permanent magnet synchronous linear motor (PMLSM) control systems, this study presents the design of a continuous terminal sliding mode control (CTSMC) controller and an improved SMO. By enhancing the sliding mode surface, CTSMC enhances the dynamic response and robustness of the system. The observer replaces the traditional sliding mode switching law with a super-twisting (ST) algorithm, a twisting algorithm that makes use of the structural characteristics of the second-order sliding mode to ensure output continuity and reduce the observed buffeting. The sliding mode gain of the ST algorithm is optimized using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to acquire the optimal parameters and fully exploit the observer’s performance potential. Finally, the proposed method is simulated and tested. The comparison results show that the proposed method boosts the system’s dynamic response and robustness and reduces chattering. Full article

The article proposes a new approach to maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for photovoltaic (PV) systems operating under partial shading conditions (PSCs) that improves upon the limitations of traditional methods in identifying the global maximum power (GMP), resulting in reduced system efficiency. The proposed approach uses a two-stage MPPT method that employs machine learning (ML) and terminal sliding mode control (TSMC). In the first stage, a neuro fuzzy network (NFN) is used to improve the accuracy of the reference voltage generation for MPPT, while in the second stage, a TSMC is used to track the MPP voltage using a non-inverting DC—DC buck-boost converter. The proposed method has been validated through numerical simulations and experiments, demonstrating significant enhancements in MPPT performance even under challenging scenarios. A comprehensive comparison study was conducted with two traditional MPPT algorithms, PID and P&O, which demonstrated the superiority of the proposed method in generating higher power and less control time. The proposed method generates the least power loss in both steady and dynamic states and exhibits an 8.2% higher average power and 60% less control time compared to traditional methods, indicating its superior performance. The proposed method was also found to perform well under real-world conditions and load variations, resulting in 56.1% less variability and only 2–3 W standard deviation at the GMPP. Full article

An adaptive backstepping terminal sliding mode control (ABTSMC) method based on a multiple−layer fuzzy neural network is proposed for a class of nonlinear systems with parameter variations and external disturbances in this study. The proposed neural network is utilized to estimate the nonlinear function to handle the unknown uncertainties of the system and reduce the switching term gain. It has a strong learning ability and high approximation accuracy due to the combination of a fuzzy neural network and recurrent neural network. The neural network parameters can be adaptively adjusted to optimal values through the adaptive laws derived from the Lyapunov theorem. To stabilize the control signal, the additional parameter adaptive law derived by the adaptive projection algorithm is used to estimate the control coefficient. The terminal sliding mode control (TSMC) is introduced on the basis of backstepping control, which can ensure that the tracking error converges in finite time. The simulation example is carried out on the DC–DC buck converter model to verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed control method. The contrasting results show that the ABTSMC−DHLRNN possesses higher steady−state accuracy and faster transient response. Full article

Aiming at the problems of model uncertainties and other external interference in trajectory tracking control of n-degree of freedom manipulators, a non-singular terminal sliding mode controller with nonlinear disturbance observer (NDO–NTSMC) trajectory tracking method is proposed. A nonlinear disturbance observer (NDO) is designed to forecast and compensate the system external interference, and a nonlinear gain is designed to make the observer error achieve the expected exponential convergence rate so that the feedforward compensation control is realized. Then, a non-singular terminal sliding mode controller (NTSMC) built on nonlinear sliding surface is designed to surmount the singularity fault of classic terminal sliding mode controller (TSMC). Therefore, the time required from any initial state to reach the equilibrium point is finite. In addition, the redesign of the sliding surface ensures the tracking accuracy rate of uncertain systems. Then, based on Lyapunov principle, we complete the stability analysis. Finally, the method is applied to a 2-DOF robotic manipulator model compared with other methods. In the simulation, the manipulator needs to track a continuous trajectory under the condition of joint friction disturbance. The simulation result shows that the torque output of the designed method is chattering-free and smooth, and the tracking effect is precise. Simulation results indicate that the proposed controller has the advantages of excellent tracking performance, strong robustness, and a fast response. Full article

Safe and efficient autonomous lane changing is a key step of connected automated vehicles (CAVs), which can greatly reduce the traffic accident rate and relieve the traffic pressure. Aiming at the requirements of the smoothness and efficiency of the lane-changing trajectory of CAVs, it is necessary to design the lane changing controller to integrate the sensing, decision-making, and control tasks in the driving process. Firstly, based on the vehicle dynamics model, this paper proposes a vehicle lane-changing control strategy based on NNTSMC method (neural network enhanced non-singular fast terminal sliding mode control). The designed lane-changing controller can well realize the designed path tracking, and both lateral position and yaw angle can well track the expected value. This method enables the vehicle to control the front wheel steering angle intelligently, and the lateral acceleration during steering changes in the small scope, which ensures the steering stability of the vehicle. In this study, an improved adaptive RBF neural network with bounded mapping is designed to estimate the upper bound of the total disturbance of the system, which effectively reduces the chattering phenomenon of the control force. The Lyapunov function constructed in this study proves that the designed controller can ensure the stability of the controlled system. Finally, a comparative experiment is performed by the MATLAB/Simulink-CarSim co-simulation. Compared with SMC and TSMC (non-singular fast terminal sliding mode control), the proposed method has a performance improvement of at least 58.0% and 34.1%, respectively. The effectiveness and superiority of the proposed control method were confirmed by the experiments on the co-simulation platform. Full article

Many terminal sliding mode controllers (TSMCs) have been suggested to obtain exact tracking control of robotic manipulators in finite time. The ordinary method is based on TSMCs that secure trajectory tracking under the assumptions such as the known robot dynamic model and the determined upper boundary of uncertain components. Despite tracking errors that tend to zero in finite time, the weakness of TSMCs is chattering, slow convergence speed, and the need for the exact robot dynamic model. Few studies are handling the weakness of TSMCs by using the combination between TSMCs and finite-time observers. In this paper, we present a novel finite-time fault tolerance control (FTC) method for robotic manipulators. A finite-time fault detection observer (FTFDO) is proposed to estimate all uncertainties, external disturbances, and faults accurately and on time. From the estimated information of FTFDO, a novel finite-time FTC method is developed based on a new finite-time terminal sliding surface and a new finite-time reaching control law. Thanks to this approach, the proposed FTC method provides a fast convergence speed for both observation error and control error in finite time. The operation of the robot system is guaranteed with expected performance even in case of faults, including high tracking accuracy, small chattering behavior in control input signals, and fast transient response with the variation of disturbances, uncertainties, or faults. The stability and finite-time convergence of the proposed control system are verified that they are strictly guaranteed by Lyapunov theory and finite-time control theory. The simulation performance for a FARA robotic manipulator proves the proposed control theory’s correctness and effectiveness. Full article