Adaptive fuzzy neural network control for a space manipulator in the presence of output constraints and input nonlinearities

Space manipulator is considered as one of the most promising technologies for future space activities owing to its important role in various on-orbit serving missions. In this paper, a novel adaptive fuzzy neural network (FNN) control scheme is proposed for the trajectory tracking control of an attitude-controlled free-flying space manipulator in the presence of output constraints and input nonlinearities. The parametric uncertainties and external disturbances are also taken into the consideration. First, a model-based controller is designed by using the barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) to prevent the position tracking errors from violating the predefined output constraints. Then, an adaptive FNN controller is designed by using two FNNs to compensate for the lumped uncertainties and input nonlinearities, respectively. Rigorous theoretical analysis for the semiglobal uniform ultimate boundedness of the whole closed-loop system is provided. The proposed adaptive FNN controller can guarantee the position and velocity tracking errors converge to the small neighborhoods about zero, while ensuring the position tracking errors within the output constraints even in the presence of input nonlinearities. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are relatively few existing controllers can achieve such excellent control performance in the same conditions. Numerical simulations illustrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed control scheme.