Composite Learning Finite-Time Control of Robotic Systems With Output Constraints

In this article, for robotic systems with uncertain dynamics and time-varying asymmetric output constraints, we present a composite learning finite-time control scheme with salient features benefited from two design steps. In the first step, unlike existing composite adaptive/learning control algorithms, which result in either exponential convergence or finite-time convergence but exhibit a potential singularity issue, a modified nonsingular terminal sliding mode-based composite learning controller is adopted such that both tracking error and parameter estimation error converge to zero in finite time without singularity. The unknown parameter learning law is constructed by using online historical data and regressor extension, which gives a benefit of relaxing the typically required stringent persistent excitation with a much weaker excitation condition termed interval excitation. In the second step, a universal time-varying asymmetric barrier function (UTABF) is adopted to directly constrain the system output rather than the most commonly used barrier Lyapunov function, which indirectly converts the output constraints into the conservative tracking error constraints. Moreover, the UTABF can handle both constrained and unconstrained cases uniformly without the need for changing the control structure. Both theoretical analysis and experiments results on an industrial manipulator confirm the benefits and effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.