Adaptive super-twisting sliding mode control of 6-DOF nonlinear and uncertain air vehicle

In this paper, to control the six degree-of-freedom non-linear unmanned aerial vehicle, two strategies are implemented using adaptive super-twisting sliding mode control approach. The first one is a single-channel controller that is designed on the basis of decoupled equations of motion. The other one is a three-channel controller that is designed based on the coupling equations of motion along with an adaptive super-twisting observer. The stability of the closed loop system of the controller-observer is proven. The comparison between the single-channel controller and the three-channel could lead us to select between a little lower efficiency and less complexity versus efficiency and more complexity. To examine the performance and robustness of these two control loops, their performances are analyzed in the presence of combined uncertainties, including aerodynamics, mass, inertial moment, sensor, and actuator disturbances and parametric uncertainties in the stage separation phase. The explosive bolt separation mechanism is assumed to perform the stage separation, and its forces, moments and disturbances are modeled as needed. Finally, the responses are compared with the classic PID controller. (C) 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.