Experimental results on discrete-time nonlinear adaptive tracking control of a flexible-link manipulator

The aim of this paper is to develop and implement a nonlinear adaptive control scheme for a single-link flexible manipulator. The controller is designed based on a discrete-time nonlinear model of the arm. The model is derived by using the forward difference method (Euler approximation). The output redefinition concept is then used so that the associated zero dynamics corresponding to the new output is guaranteed to be exponentially stable. An indirect adaptive linearizing controller is developed for the resulting minimum phase system where the "payload mass" is assumed to be unknown but its upper bound is assumed to be known a priori. The performance of the adaptively controlled closed-loop system is investigated by both numerical simulations and experimental results. The proposed controller is also compared experimentally with those of nonadaptive feedback linearization and conventional proportional derivative (PD) control strategies.