Finite-time tracking control for a class of high-order nonlinear systems and its applications

This study investigates the problem of finite-time tracking control for a class of high-order nonlinear systems. Due to the existence of uncertain time-varying control coefficient and unknown nonlinear perturbations in the nonlinear dynamics, the existing finite-time control results cannot solve the finite-time tracking problem for this kind of nonlinear systems. Based on the technique of adding a power integrator a variable structure control method is proposed. Under the proposed control law, it is shown that the reference signal can be tracked in a finite time. As an application of the proposed theoretic results, the problem of finite-time attitude tracking control for the roll channel of bank-to-turn missile is solved. Simulation results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.