This paper introduces predefined-time stable dynamical systems which are a class of fixed-time stable dynamical systems with settling time as an explicit parameter that can be defined in advance. This concept allows for the design of observers and controllers for problems that require to fulfill hard time constraints. An example is encountered in the fault detection and isolation problem, where mode detection in a timely manner needs to be guaranteed in order to apply a recovery action. Furthermore, through the notion of strong predefined-time stability, the approach hereinafter presented permits to overcome the problem of overestimation of the convergence time bound encountered in previous methods for the analysis of finite-time stable systems, where the stabilization time is often an unbounded function of the initial conditions of the system. A Lyapunov analysis is provided together with a detailed discussion of the applications to consensus and first order sliding mode controller design. Finite-time stability, Sliding-mode control, Lyapunov stability, Robust control, Consensus.

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Summary In this paper, a finite‐time sliding mode observer for nonlinear systems with unknown inputs is proposed. The observer is based on a method for the solution of time‐varying algebraic equations. This algebraic solver is shown to converge in finite time by means of Lyapunov analysis; furthermore, a way to tune it so that it converges after a user‐defined amount of time is presented. Through the use of this technique and sliding mode differentiators, the state variables and unknown inputs of a class of nonlinear systems, which do not need to be affine in the inputs, can be estimated without the explicit use of state transformations. Both the algebraic solver and the proposed observer are illustrated through simulation examples. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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