Distributed Dynamic Surface Control for a Class of Quadrotor UAVs with Input Saturation and External Disturbance

Abstract

An adaptive dynamic surface trajectory tracking control method based on the Nussbaum function is proposed for a class of quadrotor UAVs encountering unknown external disturbances and unidentified nonlinearities. By transforming controller expressions into numerical solutions, the challenge of overly complex controller design expressions is addressed, simplifying the overall controller design process and enhancing the efficiency of simulation programs. Additionally, an adaptive controller based on Nussbaum gain is introduced to effectively resolve actuator saturation issues. This approach mitigates complexities associated with traditional control design and ensures smooth operation of the quadrotor UAVs. The proposed methodology offers promising prospects for enhancing the robustness and performance of quadrotor UAVs under uncertain operating conditions. Finally, to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme, a hardware-in-the-loop experimental setup is constructed. The dynamic model of the quadrotor UAVs and the proposed controller scheme are implemented on the Rapid Control Prototype (RCP) and Real-Time Simulator (RTS), respectively. This facilitates a semi-physical simulation experiment, providing a basis for the subsequent application of the control scheme to actual aerial vehicles. The concluding experimental results affirm the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme and highlight its potential for practical applications.