This paper addressed the adaptive control problem for non-strict-feedback nonlinear systems with dead-zone and external disturbances. The design methodology integrated the backstepping technique with the approximation of unknown functions using an echo state network (ESN), enabling real-time adjustments. A comprehensive Lyapunov stability study was conducted to confirm the semi-globally uniformly ultimately boundedness (SGUUB) of all signals in the closed-loop system, ensuring that the tracking error converged to a small neighborhood of the origin. The effectiveness of the proposed method was further demonstrated through two examples, and error assessment criteria were utilized for comparisons with existing controllers.

In this paper, an adaptive neural network control problem for nonstrict-feedback nonlinear systems with an unknown backlash-like hysteresis and bounded disturbance was presented. Radial basis function neural networks (RBFNN) were used to approximate the unknown functions and the problem of the explosion of complexity problem was handled by utilizing the command filter method. Furthermore, the influence of an unknown backlash-like hysteresis input was addressed by approximating an intermediate variable. Based on the backstepping method and the command filter technique, an adaptive neural network controller was designed via the approximation abilities of RBFNN. With the help of the Lyapunov stability theory, the proposed controller ensures that all of the signals in closed-loop systems are bounded and that the tracking error fluctuates close to the origin within a bounded area. Finally, a real-world example based on the single-link manipulator was shown to demonstrate the viability of the presented approach.