Journal of Technology in Aerospace Engineering

Journal of Technology in Aerospace Engineering

Integrated guidance and control of suicide UCAV using adaptive higher-order continuous sliding mode control

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
1 Faculty of Mechanics, Khajeh Nasiruddin Toosi University of Technology
2 Mechanical Engineering Department, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran
10.22034/jtae.2026.530560.1393
Abstract
This article presents an Integrated Guidance and Control (IGC) framework for suicide UAVs operating in three-dimensional environments. By unifying the guidance and control subsystems, the IGC architecture effectively addresses the system’s coupled, nonlinear dynamics to improve overall mission performance. The main challenge is to develop a control strategy that is robust against aerodynamic uncertainties and external disturbances while ensuring fast terminal engagement and a smooth, chatter-free control action. To meet these requirements, we propose an Adaptive Continuous Higher-Order Sliding Mode Controller (ACHOSMC). The controller’s higher-order design intrinsically eliminates the detrimental chattering effect, protecting the actuators by delivering a continuous command signal. The core contribution of this work lies in a novel adaptive law that dynamically adjusts the primary controller gain online. This mechanism removes the need for pre-defined uncertainty bounds, empowering the system with self-tuning capabilities to adapt to varying operational conditions. The proposed ACHOSMC is rigorously evaluated against a conventional PID controller and a non-adaptive Continuous Higher-Order Sliding Mode Controller (CHOSMC). Simulation results confirm the outstanding performance of the ACHOSMC, which achieves mission completion in just 10.8 seconds at a range of 750 meters, representing a 70% reduction in engagement time compared to its non-adaptive counterpart. This rapid interception capability drastically reduces the target’s window for evasive maneuvers. Moreover, the controller demonstrates exceptional precision, attaining a final miss distance of only 5 centimeters. These results underscore the proposed controller’s potential as a highly effective and resilient solution for critical defense applications demanding superior speed and accuracy.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 17 June 2026

  • Receive Date 16 June 2025
  • Revise Date 01 January 2026
  • Accept Date 18 February 2026
  • First Publish Date 17 June 2026