Cooperative adaptive neural partial tracking errors constrained control for nonlinear multi-agent systems

Summary This paper considers the problem of partial tracking errors constrained for high‐order nonlinear multi‐agent systems in strict‐feedback form. In the control design, radial‐based function neural networks are utilized to identify uncertain nonlinear functions, and a cooperative adaptive dynamic surface control is proposed to avoid the explosion of complexity in the backstepping technique. Based on the minimal learning parameter technique and the predefined performance approach, a novel cooperative adaptive neural network control method is developed. The proposed controller is able to guarantee that all the closed‐loop network signals are cooperative semi‐globally uniformly ultimately bounded, and partial tracking errors confine all times within the predefined bounds. Finally, simulation example and comparative example with previous methods are given to verify and clarify the effectiveness of the new design procedure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.