  This study presents a synchronisation-oriented perspective towards adaptive
control which views model-referenced adaptation as synchronisation between
actual and virtual dynamic systems. In the context of adaptation, model
reference adaptive control methods make the state response of the actual plant
follow a reference model. In the context of synchronisation, consensus methods
involving diffusive coupling induce a collective behaviour across multiple
agents. We draw from the understanding about the two time-scale nature of
synchronisation motivated by the study of blended dynamics. The
synchronisation-oriented approach consists in the design of a coupling input to
achieve desired closed-loop error dynamics followed by the input allocation
process to shape the collective behaviour. We suggest that synchronisation can
be a reasonable design principle allowing a more holistic and systematic
approach to the design of adaptive control systems for improved transient
characteristics. Most notably, the proposed approach enables not only
constructive derivation but also substantial generalisation of the previously
developed closed-loop reference model adaptive control method. Practical
significance of the proposed generalisation lies at the capability to improve
the transient response characteristics and mitigate the unwanted peaking
phenomenon at the same time.
