Abstract
In this paper, a robust path tracker and depth controller of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle based on sliding mode control is presented. We have also designed augmented equivalent control inputs by analyzing the sliding mode with the reaching mode. This can enhance the reaching rate, and improve chattering problems, that is, noise caused by the control plane actuator of the vehicle, which is one of the problems that occur when sliding mode control is used. Also to resolve the steady state error generated in the path tracker under current effect, a modified sliding plane is constructed. Also a redesigned sliding plane and control input using transformation matrix is proposed to do easy design of MIMO depth controller. For state variables that cannot be measured directly, reduced order sliding mode control is used to design an observer. The performance of designed path tracker and depth controller is investigated by computer simulation. The results show that the proposed control system has robust performance to parameter variation, modelling error and disturbance.