Adaptive neural prescribed performance output feedback control of pure feedback nonlinear systems using disturbance observer

Abstract

SummaryIn this study, an adaptive output feedback control with prescribed performance is proposed for unknown pure feedback nonlinear systems with external disturbances and unmeasured states. A novel prescribed performance function is developed and incorporated into an output error transformation to achieve tracking control with prescribed performance. To handle the unknown non‐affine nonlinearities and avoid the algebraic loop problem, the radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is adopted to approximate the unknown non‐affine nonlinearities with the help of Butterworth low‐pass filter. Based on the output of the RBFNN, the coupled design between sate observer and disturbance observer is presented to estimate the unmeasured states and compounded disturbances. Then, the adaptive output feedback control scheme is proposed for unknown pure feedback nonlinear systems, where a first‐order filter is introduced to tackle with the issue of “explosion of complexity” in the traditional back‐stepping approach. The boundedness and convergence of the closed‐loop system are proved rigorously by utilizing the Lyapunov stability theorem. Finally, simulation studies are worked out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.