Synchronization and parameter estimations of an uncertain Rikitake system

In this Letter we address the synchronization and parameter estimation of the uncertain Rikitake system, under the assumption the state is partially known. To this end we use the master/slave scheme in conjunction with the adaptive control technique. Our control approach consists of proposing a slave system which has to follow asymptotically the uncertain Rikitake system, refereed as the master system. The gains of the slave system are adjusted continually according to a convenient adaptation control law, until the measurable output errors converge to zero. The convergence analysis is carried out by using the Barbalat's Lemma. Under this context, uncertainty means that although the system structure is known, only a partial knowledge of the corresponding parameter values is available.