Input-state feedback linearization control of a single-link flexible robot arm moving under gravity and joint friction

The design of the controller presented relies on a non-linear single-lumped mass dynamic model that describes the dynamics of a single link arm with only one significant vibrational mode. The hypothesis of a single lumped mass model could be considered inaccurate given the distributed nature of the link mass, especially in situations in which the link mass is comparable to the payload mass held by the robot. However, for the parameters of our physical platform two studies are presented to demonstrate that the single lumped mass model is a proper description of the system even in situations in which the link mass is up twice bigger than the payload mass. The results of the paper are demonstrated with co-simulations with Matlab/Simulink and MSC ADAMS, and experimental validation.