Optimal control and design of flexible manipulators based on LQR output feedback

• Published in: International Technology and Innovation Conference 2006 (ITIC 2006) pp. 1994 - 1998
• Main Authors: Tu Li, Zhou Pixuan, Deng Jinlian
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Stevenage Inst. of Eng. and Technol 2006
• Subjects: Control applications in manufacturing processes; Distributed parameter control systems; Industrial applications of IT; Manipulators; Optimal control; Optimisation; Optimisation techniques; Robot and manipulator mechanics; Robotics; mechatronic design; lightweight manipulator; industrial robotic arms; optimal link geometric distribution; optimal control; linear programming; optimal controller structure; output feedback; quadratic programming; feedback; flexible manipulators; flexible manipulator design; linear quadratic regulator; distributed parameter systems; industrial manipulators; distributed parameter system; adaptive iterative algorithm
• ISBN: 0863416969; 9780863416965
• DOI: 10.1049/cp:20061095

The construction of lightweight manipulators with a larger speed range is one of the major goals in the design of well-behaving industrial robotic arms. Their use leads to higher productivity and less energy consumption than is common with heavier, rigid arms. However, due to the flexibility involved with link deformation and the complexity of distributed parameter systems, modeling and control of flexible manipulators still remain a major challenge to robotic research. Mechatronic design is a global optimization of the overall system. As a flexible manipulator, the overall system is the integration of link dynamics, DC motor equation, measuring sensors and the selected controller. The optimization process results in an optimal link geometric distribution, an optimal controller structure subject to the performance requirement. A rectangular beam is considered and divided into N segments equally along with the beam spatial coordinate. Case studies based on LQR formula are considered. The LQR feedback is as an inner loop followed by an adaptive iterative algorithm (IHR) as an outer loop searching for the beam width distribution. The mechatronic design procedure is addressed through detailing the integration of the inner loop with the outer loop. Also, the responses for step-type disturbance and step input are carried out to show the system robustness.