Fixed-time prescribed-performance path tracking control for intelligent vehicles based on adaptive neural network disturbance estimation

Pingshu Ge, Chenyang Xu, Longxin Guan, Yue Wang, X Zhao, Tao Zhang

Abstract Intelligent vehicle path tracking is challenged by uncertain disturbances, such as modeling inaccuracies and external environmental influences, which will significantly compromise both the path tracking accuracy and stability. To address this, this paper proposes a fixed-time prescribed-performance (FTPP) path tracking control method based on adaptive neural network disturbance estimation. Firstly, a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) with an online-updated adaptive law is developed for real-time estimation of uncertain disturbances, effectively compensating for their impact within the control model. Subsequently, a backstepping controller with FTPP is designed by integrating a composite dynamic surface control (CDSC) method with finite-time control techniques. This approach not only enhances the system convergence rate but also mitigates the derivative explosion problem inherent in traditional backstepping, yielding a control law with adaptive disturbances compensation for precise steering control. Finally, based on Lyapunov stability analysis, the boundedness of the closed-loop signals is established under the given assumptions, and the lateral path tracking error is shown to remain within the prescribed-performance bounds under feasible initial conditions. CarSim-Simulink-based co-simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed control method in improving both path tracking accuracy and stability.