Predictive Sliding Mode Control for High-Speed Trains via Adaptive Extended State Observer Under Input Constraints: A Model-Free Scheme

A novel MIMO data-driven integral predictive sliding mode control (DIPSMC) scheme is proposed based on the dynamic linearization (DL) and state observer method, intended for the automatic driving systems of multi-power unit high-speed trains (HSTs) influenced by system couplings, input constraints, and external disturbances. Initially, by introducing a nonlinear fast integral terminal sliding mode (NFITSM) surface instead of the traditional sliding mode function, facilitating rapid convergence of system errors and reducing sliding mode chattering. Additionally, a parameter update law and an adaptive extended state observer (AESO) are designed to estimate input gains and total uncertainties, respectively, addressing the issue in traditional discrete-time sliding mode control (DSMC) that requires large switching gains to handle disturbances. Subsequently, combining the rolling time domain optimization concepts in predictive control, it follows the reference trajectory of the predefined reaching law, allowing the system to explicitly handle control constraints and obtain higher tracking accuracy. This scheme concurrently accounts for and compensates the total uncertainties arising from system couplings, parameter estimation errors, and unknown disturbances. The principal advantage of this scheme is its design based entirely on a DL data model equivalent to the HST system, characterized by a low-order controller with robust chattering mitigation and disturbance rejection capabilities. Finally, comparative testing experiments of the proposed scheme are conducted on the CRH380A HST simulation platform. Experimental results indicate that under the proposed control scheme, the velocity and displacement error ranges for each power unit of the HST are within ±0.156 km/h and $\pm 1.~1$ m, respectively, with control force and acceleration ranges of [−53.2 kN, 46.5 kN] and [−0.568 m/s², 0.476 m/s²], respectively, and low chattering levels, fulfilling the efficiency and safety requirements of the trains.