Global Predefined-Time Adaptive Neural Network Control for Disturbed Pure-Feedback Nonlinear Systems With Zero Tracking Error

This article presents a global adaptive neural-network-based control algorithm for disturbed pure-feedback nonlinear systems to achieve zero tracking error in a predefined time. Different from the traditional works that only solve the semiglobal bounded tracking problem for pure-feedback systems, this work not only achieves that the tracking error globally converges to zero but also guarantees that the convergence time can be predefined according to the user specification. In order to get the desired predefined-time controller, first, a mild semibound assumption for nonaffine functions is skillfully proposed so that the design difficulty caused by the structure of pure feedback can be easily solved. Then, we apply the property of radial basis function (RBF) neural networks (NNs) and Young’s inequality to derive the upper bound of the term that contains the unknown nonlinear function and external disturbances, and the designed adaptive parameters decide the derived upper and robust control gain. Finally, the predefined-time virtual control inputs are presented whose derivatives are further estimated by utilizing finite-time differentiators. It is strictly proved that the proposed novel predefined-time controller can guarantee that the tracking error globally converges to zero within predefined time and a practical example is shown to verify the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed predefined-time control method.