Comparative study of variable structure control systems

This thesis presents the results of a study on variable structure control system (VSCS) design. A simple type of VSCS using state trajectories is described and implemented. The characteristics of this simple VSCS and a linear control system design are compared. The characteristics examined are transient response and robustness of these basic design concepts. A basic analytical VSCS design method is implemented. This analytically designed VSCS is examined and seen to have some desirable characteristics. Despite the encouraging results of the basic analytically designed VSCS an undesirable characteristic exist.