Robust Fault-Tolerant Attitude Control for Hypersonic Vehicles Based on Fast Terminal Sliding Mode

To address the attitude control problem of hypersonic vehicles under model uncertainties, external disturbances, and actuator faults, a novel fast terminal sliding mode fault-tolerant control method is proposed. Firstly, an attitude motion model incorporating actuator faults is established for hypersonic vehicles. Subsequently, a super-twisting sliding mode disturbance observer is developed to accurately estimate composite disturbances comprising model uncertainties, external disturbances, and actuator faults, which are then compensated for in the controller. Following this, a fast terminal sliding mode fault-tolerant controller is designed to achieve rapid tracking of desired attitude trajectories within finite time. Finally, simulation results demonstrate that the proposed controller guarantees finite-time stability of the closed-loop system while maintaining superior fault-tolerant capabilities.