A novel tracking control approach for unmanned underwater vehicles based on bio-inspired neurodynamics

A novel hybrid control approach is presented for trajectory tracking control of unmanned underwater vehicles in this paper. The kinematic and dynamic controllers are integrated by the proposed control strategy. The paper has two objectives. Firstly, an improved backstep method is proposed to generate the virtual velocity using a bio-inspired neurodynamics model in the kinematic controller. The bio-inspired neurodynamics model is intended to smooth the virtual velocity output to avoid speed jumps of the unmanned underwater vehicle caused by tracking errors and to meet the thruster control constraints. Secondly, a new sliding-mode method is added to the dynamic controller, which is robust against parameter inaccuracy and disturbances. The combined kinematic–dynamic control law is applied to the trajectory tracking problem of two different types of unmanned underwater vehicle. Finally, simulation results illustrate the performance of the proposed controller.