Sliding mode control for uncertain neutral system with time‐delays

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to find an appropriate sliding mode control strategy for neutral systems with time‐delays in the presence of unmatched parameter uncertainties and external disturbance.Design/methodology/approachOwing to the complexity of uncertain neutral time‐delay systems, some conclusions for system stability and stabilization are complicated non‐linear matrix inequality (NLMI). Through virtual state feedback control, a sliding mode controller is designed to guarantee state trajectories from any initial condition are attracted to the sliding mode plane in a finite time and remain there for all subsequent time, which can avoid the complicated NLMI. Furthermore, a delay‐independent sufficient condition for the design of robust stable sliding mode plane is obtained in term of LMI.FindingsThe sliding mode controller for uncertain neutral time‐delay systems is designed and a delay‐independent sufficient condition for the design of robust stable sliding mode plane is obtained.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitations are that external disturbance must meet matched condition.Practical implicationsA useful control strategy for uncertain neutral systems with time‐delays.Originality/valueThe virtual state feedback control is designed so to avoid the complicated NLMI.