This study introduces a novel model reference adaptive control (MRAC) framework that incorporates fractional-order gradients (FGs) to regulate the displacement of an inverted pendulum-cart system. Fractional-order gradients have been shown to significantly improve convergence rates in domains such as machine learning and neural network optimization. Nevertheless, their integration with fractional-order error models within adaptive control paradigms remains unexplored and represents a promising avenue for research. The proposed control scheme extends the classical MRAC architecture by embedding Caputo fractional derivatives into the adaptive law governing parameter updates, thereby improving both convergence dynamics and control flexibility. To ensure optimal performance across multiple criteria, the controller parameters are systematically tuned using a multi-objective Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. Two fractional-order error models (FOEMs) incorporating fractional gradients (FOEM2-FG, FOEM3-FG) are investigated, with their stability formally analyzed via Lyapunov-based methods under conditions of sufficient excitation. Validation is conducted through both simulation and real-time experimentation on a physical pendulum-cart setup. The results demonstrate that the proposed fractional-order MRAC (FOMRAC) outperforms conventional MRAC, proportional-integral-derivative (PID), and fractional-order PID (FOPID) controllers. Specifically, FOMRAC-FG achieved superior tracking performance, attaining the lowest Integral of Squared Error (ISE) of $2.32\times {10}^{-5}$ and the lowest Integral of Squared Input (ISI) of 6.40 in simulation studies. In real-time experiments, FOMRAC-FG maintained the lowest ISE ($5.11\times {10}^{-6}$). Under real-time experiments with disturbances, it still achieved the lowest ISE ($1.06\times {10}^{-5}$), highlighting its practical effectiveness.

In adaptive control, error models use system output error and adaptive laws to update controller parameters for control or identification tasks. Fractional-order calculus, involving non-integer-order derivatives and integrals, is increasingly important for modeling, estimation, and control due to its ability to generalize classical methods and offer improved robustness to disturbances. This paper addresses the gap in the literature where fractional-order gradient methods have not yet been extensively applied in identification and adaptive control schemes. We introduce a fractional-order error model with fractional-order gradient (FOEM1-FG), which integrates fractional gradient operators based on the Caputo fractional derivative. By using theoretical analysis and simulations, we confirm that FOEM1-FG maintains stability and ensures bounded output errors across a variety of input signals. Notably, the fractional gradient’s performance improves as the order, $\beta$, increases with $\beta >1$, leading to faster convergence. Compared to existing integer-order methods, the proposed approach provides a more flexible and efficient solution in adaptive identification and control schemes. Our results show that FOEM1-FG offers superior stability and convergence characteristics, contributing new insights to the field of fractional calculus in adaptive systems.