Optimal control design for uncertain aerial manipulator system based on an adaptive approach

In this paper, an optimal controller has been proposed for an aerial manipulator (AM) consisting of a quadrotor uncertain system with a two-degrees-of-freedom robotic arm. Wherein, the dynamics of this system have been derived based on Gauss's principle. The employment of this principal has permitted the pinpoint of the inner structure of the uncertain system and its possible moves. It has kept the AM in a very precise formation to analyse its dynamics and propose the suitable control. The proposed controller is designed using an adaptive approach of the non-singular terminal sliding mode technique. The main contribution is that the proposed approach guarantees both the good tracking of the desired trajectories in finite time and the chattering effect attenuation without overestimating the switching control gains. The design does not necessitate a priori knowledge of the upper limits of disturbances; the stability of the system has been established through the utilisation of Lyapunov theory. The simulation results have proved the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed optimal nonlinear terminal sliding mode technique for such an uncertain system in comparison to the sliding mode controller.