Discrete adaptive sliding mode controller design for overhead cranes considering measurement noise and external disturbances

Abstract Research on the motion control of overhead cranes, constrained by underactuated characteristics, helps improve the efficiency of payload transportation. Most studies require all system state variables (trolley displacement, payload swing angle, and their velocities). In practice, sensors measure and transmit these variables, but noise affects their accuracy, reducing control performance. Additionally, uncertainties in crane parameters, unmodeled friction, and unknown disturbances threaten the system's stability. Traditional methods struggle to address these issues effectively. To address these challenges, this article proposes an adaptive discrete sliding mode control (DSMC) method with a Kalman filter. By extending the state system and considering disturbances as new variables, the Kalman filter effectively eliminates signal noise, accurately estimates disturbances, and estimates system states simultaneously. The proposed method incorporates disturbance compensators into the adaptive DSMC, utilizing exponential terms to suppress oscillations caused by excessively high or low control gains, thus increasing control speed. Experimental comparisons demonstrate the superiority and robustness of the proposed control method under various disturbance conditions.