Global adaptive practical tracking control for high‐order uncertain nonstrict feedback nonlinear systems with unknown control coefficients

Summary In this article, the problem of global adaptive practical tracking for high‐order uncertain nonstrict feedback nonlinear systems with unknown control coefficients is studied. To avoid the algebraic loop problem associated with the nonstrict feedback condition and guarantee the controllability of the tracking error, a novel dual dynamic gain scaling method is introduced to compensate nonlinearities and the tracking error simultaneously. Besides, by incorporating the sign functions into the design of adding a power integrator, a general approach for the handing of unknown control coefficients and the direction design of the controller is developed. The presented control scheme can ensure that all system states are globally bounded without constraints on state variables while the reference signal is tracked with expected precision. Three simulation examples, including a practical application, are provided to illustrate the validity of the control scheme.