Purpose This paper aims to introduce a novel four-dimensional hyper-chaotic system with different hyper-chaotic attractors as certain parameters vary. The typical dynamical behaviors of the new hyper-chaotic system are discussed in detail. The control problem of these hyper-chaotic attractors is also investigated analytically and numerically. Then, two novel electronic circuits of the proposed hyper-chaotic system with different parameters are presented and realized using physical components. Design/methodology/approach The adaptive control method is derived to achieve chaotic synchronization and anti-synchronization of the novel hyper-chaotic system with unknown parameters by making the synchronization and anti-synchronization error systems asymptotically stable at the origin based on Lyapunov stability theory. Then, two novel electronic circuits of the proposed hyper-chaotic system with different parameters are presented and realized using physical components. Multisim simulations and electronic circuit experiments are consistent with MATLAB simulation results and they verify the existence of these hyper-chaotic attractors. Findings Comparisons among MATLAB simulations, Multisim simulation results and physical experimental results show that they are consistent with each other and demonstrate that changing attractors of the hyper-chaotic system exist. Originality/value The goal of this paper is to construct a new four-dimensional hyper-chaotic system with different attractors as certain parameters vary. The adaptive synchronization and anti-synchronization laws of the novel hyper-chaotic system are established based on Lyapunov stability theory. The corresponding electronic circuits for the novel hyper-chaotic system with different attractors are also implemented to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of chaotic circuit design.
