Robust Control Design of Under-Actuated Nonlinear Systems: Quadcopter Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with Integral Backstepping Integral Terminal Fractional-Order Sliding Mode

In this paper, a novel robust finite-time control scheme is specifically designed for a class of under-actuated nonlinear systems. The proposed scheme integrates a reaching phase-free integral backstepping method with an integral terminal fractional-order sliding mode to ensure finite-time stability at the desired equilibria. The core of the algorithm is built around proportional-integral-based nonlinear virtual control laws that are systematically designed in a backstepping manner. A fractional-order integral terminal sliding mode is introduced in the final step of the design, enhancing the robustness of the overall system. The robust nonlinear control algorithm developed in this study guarantees zero steady-state errors at each step while also providing robustness against matched uncertain disturbances. The stability of the control scheme at each step is rigorously proven using the Lyapunov candidate function to ensure theoretical soundness. To demonstrate the practicality and benefits of the proposed control strategy, simulation results are provided for two systems: a cart-pendulum system and quadcopter UAV. These simulations illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme in real-world scenarios. Additionally, the results are compared with those from the standard literature to highlight the superior performance and appealing nature of the proposed approach for underactuated nonlinear systems. This comparison underscores the advantages of the proposed method in terms of achieving robust and stable control in complex systems.