Global finite-time output feedback stabilisation for a class of uncertain nontriangular nonlinear systems

This article addresses the problem of global finite-time output feedback stabilisation for a class of nonlinear systems in nontriangular form with an unknown output function. Since the output function is not precisely known, traditional observers based on the output is not implementable. We first design a state observer and use the observer states to construct a controller to globally stabilise the nominal system without the perturbing nonlinearities. Then, we apply the homogeneous domination approach to design a scaled homogeneous observer and controller with an appropriate choice of gain to render the nonlinear system globally finite-time stable.