Asymmetric Constrained Optimal Tracking Control With Critic Learning of Nonlinear Multiplayer Zero-Sum Games

By utilizing a neural-network-based adaptive critic mechanism, the optimal tracking control problem is investigated for nonlinear continuous-time (CT) multiplayer zero-sum games (ZSGs) with asymmetric constraints. Initially, we build an augmented system with the tracking error system and the reference system. Moreover, a novel nonquadratic function is introduced to address asymmetric constraints. Then, we derive the tracking Hamilton–Jacobi–Isaacs (HJI) equation of the constrained nonlinear multiplayer ZSG. However, it is extremely hard to get the analytical solution to the HJI equation. Hence, an adaptive critic mechanism based on neural networks is established to estimate the optimal cost function, so as to obtain the near-optimal control policy set and the near worst disturbance policy set. In the process of neural critic learning, we only utilize one critic neural network and develop a new weight updating rule. After that, by using the Lyapunov approach, the uniform ultimate boundedness stability of the tracking error in the augmented system and the weight estimation error of the critic network is verified. Finally, two simulation examples are provided to demonstrate the efficacy of the established mechanism.