Research ArticleDSP-based adaptive backstepping using the tracking errors for high-performance sensorless speed control of induction motor drive

•A modified structure of the backstepping control of the IM is presented.•An adaptive backstepping observer based on the tracking errors is also presented.•The control law is validated by stimulation and experimentation.•A comparative study with the classical PI control is also made.

This paper presents a modified structure of the backstepping nonlinear control of the induction motor (IM) fitted with an adaptive backstepping speed observer. The control design is based on the backstepping technique complemented by the introduction of integral tracking errors action to improve its robustness. Unlike other research performed on backstepping control with integral action, the control law developed in this paper does not propose the increase of the number of system state so as not increase the complexity of differential equations resolution. The digital simulation and experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed control compared to the conventional PI control. The results analysis shows the characteristic robustness of the adaptive control to disturbances of the load, the speed variation and low speed.