Robust sliding-mode observer for unbounded state nonlinear systems

Designing a full-state observer for nonlinear systems has always been accompanied by challenges and restrictive constraints. Mainly, applying a state observer in nonlinear systems with non-minimum phase characteristics is more challenging when the limiting constraints are not satisfied due to diverging internal dynamics. In this paper, a robust sliding-mode observer approach has been successfully employed to estimate the states of nonlinear systems with unbounded and diverging dynamics. The design principles of this observer are based on applying a classifying algorithm in single-input single-output and multiple-input multiple-output nonlinear systems. It is noteworthy that this observer is highly robust against disturbance, uncertainty and measurement noise, and its conditions are less conservative compared to previous nonlinear sliding-mode observers. One novel feature of the proposed observer is that while the system's state gets unbounded and diverged in fault-occurring scenarios or critical circumstances, this observer retains accuracy. The efficiency of the proposed observer is verified in the simulation results for two nonlinear industrial systems, including a hydro-turbine power generation plant and a continuous stirred tank reactor.