Neural network-based sensor fault estimation and active fault-tolerant control for uncertain nonlinear systems

In this work, we developed a novel active fault-tolerant control (FTC) design scheme for a class of nonlinear dynamic systems subjected simultaneously to modelling imperfections, parametric uncertainties and sensor faults. Modelling imperfections and parametric uncertainties are dealt with using an adaptive radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) that estimates the uncertain part of the system dynamics. For sensor fault estimation (FE), a nonlinear observer based on the estimated dynamics is designed. A scheme to estimate sensor faults in real-time using the nonlinear observer and an additional RBFNN is developed. The convergence properties of the RBFNN, used in the fault FE part, are improved by using a sliding surface function. For FTC design, a sliding surface is designed that incorporates the real-time sensor FE. The resulting sliding mode control (SMC) technique-based FTC law uses the estimated dynamics and real-time sensor FE. A double power-reaching law is adopted to design the switching part of the control law to improve the convergence and mitigate the chattering associated with the SMC. The FTC works well in the presence and absence of sensor faults without the requirement for controller reconfiguration. The stability of the proposed active FTC law is proved using the Lyapunov method. The developed scheme is implemented on a nonlinear simulation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The results show good performance of the proposed unified FE and the FTC framework.