Robust smooth sliding-mode-based controller with fixed-time convergence for missiles considering aerodynamic uncertainty

This paper designed a smooth fixed-time-convergent sliding mode controller for a missile flight system considering aerodynamic uncertainties. Fixed-time convergence theory is incorporated with the sliding mode control technique to ensure that the system tracks desired commands within uniform bounded time under different initial conditions. Unlike previous terminal sliding mode approaches, not only is the bound of settling time independent of initial state, indicating that performance metrics like convergence rate can be predicted beforehand, but the control input is designed to be smooth based on adaptive estimations and some mathematical results without introducing any discontinuous items like the signum function, which avoids the problem of chattering consequently. A cascade control structure is employed with the derived control algorithm, and therein, the control input signal is obtained. Finally, a number of simulations are carried out and demonstrate the effectiveness of the designed controller.