This article presents a simple and systematic approach to synthesize a robust adaptive fuzzy fractional-order nonsingular terminal sliding mode controller (AFFO-NTSMC) to improve the output voltage tracking control performance of the dc–dc buck converters. The hybrid control method of fractional-order (FO) calculus and NTSMC are combined to create a FO-NTSMC, in which a new FO nonsingular terminal sliding mode surface is established. The idea behind this strategy is the increased flexibility achieved by FO calculation, improving robustness to disturbances and parameters variations provided by the traditional sliding mode controllers as well as finite time convergence properties of the output voltage error to the equilibrium point during the output load changes, simultaneously. In addition, a fuzzy logic system with online adaptive learning algorithm is designed to provide smooth chattering in switching control signal. The stability of the closed-loop system is carefully demonstrated by Lyapunov's theorem. Experimental measurements from a laboratory prototype are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed AFFO-NSTSMC algorithm.

The utilization of solar photovoltaic (PV) generator as a power source for wire feeder systems (WFSs) of arc welding machines is one of the promising domains in solar PV applications. This article proposes a new type of welding WFS and investigates the PV penetrated energy systems. The proposed system comprises of a solar PV generator, a DC/DC buck converter, and a permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motor. The power of the proposed standalone solar photovoltaic-wire feeder system (PV-WFS) can be widely improved using an intelligent fractional-order fuzzy proportional integral derivative (FO-Fuzzy-PID) regulator based on perturbing and observe (P&O) MPPT method. In this article, a FO-Fuzzy-PID regulator is also designed for a PMDC motor driven welding WFS system. Which will then control the wire feed rate of the welding WFS system. Furthermore, the dynamic reaction of the proposed solar PV-WFS depends on the coefficients of these FO-Fuzzy-PID regulators, which are adjusted by a meta-heuristic tuning algorithm based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique. The proposed strategy is tested using MATLAB simulations and experimentally verified in real-time on a Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing platform using a dSPACE 1104 board-based laboratory setup. Simulation and experimental results are acceptable and demonstrate the effectiveness, precision, stability, and dynamic reaction of the suggested optimized wire feeder regulating system and the considered intelligent P&O MPPT technique.

In this article, we propose the design of a rectangular-shaped patch antenna suitable for ultra-wideband (UWB) applications and short and long–range Millimeter-Wave Communications. We begin with the design of a high-gain UWB rectangular patch antenna featuring a partial ground plane and operating within the 3.1–10.6 GHz bandwidth. Complementary Split Ring Resonators (CSRRs) are integrated on both sides of the structure to meet desired specifications. The resulting UWB antenna boasts an extended frequency bandwidth, covering 2.38–22.5 GHz (twice that of the original antenna), with a peak gain of 6.5 dBi and an 88% radiation efficiency. The grey wolf optimization technique (GWO) determines optimal structural dimensions. Validation of the antenna's performance is demonstrated through the strong agreement between measurement and simulation.