Finite-time trajectory tracking control of quadrotor UAVs based on neural network disturbance observer and command filter

The paper proposes a novel finite-time control strategy for quadrotor UAV trajectory tracking using a neural network disturbance observer and a command filter. This method is used to address input saturation and disturbances, ensuring that the UAV can accurately follow the desired trajectory in finite time. The neural network disturbance observer is crucial for approximating external disturbance signals within a finite time, while the finite-time backstepping scheme accelerates the convergence of tracking errors. The command filtering technique is employed to avoid the complex derivation of virtual control laws, simplifying the controller design. The importance of this method lies in its ability to achieve fast, disturbance-resistant trajectory tracking for UAVs, making the control system more robust in practical applications. Simulations were conducted, showing that the proposed control strategy enables the quadrotor UAV to track its desired trajectory effectively, with improved anti-jamming capability. Both filtering and observation errors converged to the equilibrium point, validating the effectiveness of the approach. However, internal factors like actuator failure were not considered, pointing to future work in refining the method and applying it in real-world UAV experiments.