Fixed-time event-triggered sliding mode cooperative path-following control with prescribed performance for USVs based on lumped disturbance observer

In order to solve the problem of Unmanned Surface Vehicles being unable to accurately cooperative path-following under the parameter uncertainties, actuator faults, and external disturbances, this paper mainly combines the fixed-time and sliding mode theory to design the control strategy. Firstly, a fixed-time disturbance observer is adopted to estimate composite disturbances. Then, a fixed-time heading-surge guidance law that satisfies the fixed-time stability of the position error system is designed, and the synchronization of the formation on the full paths is realized by the fixed-time path parameter consensus. On this basis, a fixed-time dynamic event-triggered sliding mode controller with prescribed performance is proposed to ensure that the velocity error system is stable in fixed time and the tracking error is strictly within the specified range. Due to the application of fixed-time theory in cooperative path-following, the whole closed-loop system is proved to be fixed-time stable. Moreover, the dynamic event-triggered mechanism is introduced to reduce the energy consumption. Finally, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed control method are verified by simulations.