Finite-time convergent guidance law based on second-order sliding mode control theory

The complex battlefield environment makes it difficult to intercept maneuvering targets for guided missiles. In this paper, a finite-time convergent (FTC) guidance law based on the second-order sliding mode (SOSM) control theory is proposed to achieve the requirements of stability, accuracy and robustness. More specifically, a second-order sliding mode observer (SMOB) is used to estimate and compensate for the total disturbance of the controlled system, while the target acceleration is extracted from the line-of-sight (LOS) angle measurement. The proposed guidance law can drive the LOS angular rate converge to zero in a finite time, which means that the missile will accurately intercept the target. Numerical simulations with some comparisons are performed to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed guidance law.