In this paper, the problem of attitude tracking control for a class of vertical take-off landing (VTOL) aircraft in the presence of uncertain disturbances is addressed. The active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) method is utilized to address uncertain disturbances, while the radial basis function (RBF) neural network is considered for handling unknown nonlinear dynamics. By incorporating a modified tracking differentiator, a nonlinear state error feedback controller, and an extended state observer, the disturbance observation problem in the aircraft system is solved. These disturbances, seen as a combined disturbance in the aircraft system, are counteracted through the extended state observer. Furthermore, the unknown nonlinear dynamics within the aircraft system are approximated using the RBF neural network. Subsequently, the paper suggests adaptive ADRC strategies based on neural network and formulates adaptive control laws to estimate unknown parameters. The Lyapunov stability theory proves the effectiveness of the proposed control strategies. The simulation results show that the attitude tracking control problem of VTOL aircraft can be achieved under the proposed control strategies and adaptive control laws.

The predefined performance tracking control issue of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft system is discussed in this work. Employing the presented control performance function, the constrained error signal of the aircraft is switched into an equivalent unconstrained signal. Moreover, fuzzy logic systems are introduced to address unknown nonlinear dynamics problems in aircraft system. Furthermore, in order to address the approximation errors and the external disturbances of aircraft system, parameter-adaptive update laws are proposed in the analysis process. Subsequently, adaptive fuzzy sliding-mode control laws are designed by combining fuzzy control method with sliding-mode control technique. By applying the redesigned sliding-mode functions and the Lyapunov stability method, the output of the VTOL aircraft system can track the desired trajectory, and the tracking errors are constrained in a predefined range. Finally, the availability of the proposed control laws is testified through simulation examples.