In this paper, a novel approach for controlling complex networks is proposed; it applies sliding-mode pinning control for a complex network to achieve trajectory tracking. This control strategy does not require the network to have the same coupling strength on all edges; and for pinned nodes, the ones with the highest degree are selected. The illustrative example is composed of a network of 50 nodes; each node dynamics is a Chen chaotic attractor. Two cases are presented. For the first case the whole network tracks a reference for each one of the states; afterwards, the second case uses the backstepping technique to track a desired trajectory for only one state. Tracking performance and dynamical behavior of the controlled network are illustrated via simulations.
sliding mode, backstepping, pinning control, complex network, trajectory tracking
05C82, 93D05, 93C10