On discrete-time variable structure sliding mode control

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to show the limitations of discrete-time variable structure sliding mode control and that the equivalent control must be used in order to have sliding in a neighborhood of the switching surface. Conflicting requirements for the sliding mode controller behavior in the continuous and discrete-time domains are revealed and analyzed. A linear control law for an uncertain discrete-time linear plant, with bounded uncertainties, is analyzed and its superiority over nonlinear controllers is demonstrated. The conclusion of the obtained results is that in the discrete-time variable structure sliding mode controller design, unlike in the continuous-time, the designer may have limited flexibility in selecting controller architectures.