Comparison of two feedforward design methods aiming at accurate trajectory tracking of the end point of a flexible robot arm

Abstract

This paper discusses the design and properties of two trajectory tracking controllers for linear time-invariant systems, and compares their implementation and experimental results on a flexible one-link robot equipped with a velocity-controlled actuator. High positioning accuracy and low tracking errors within a specified bandwidth are their performance specifications. Both controllers use the same state feedback controller, but have a different feedforward design approach. Both feedforward methods design stable prefilters which approximate the unstable inverse system model. The first method designs a stable prefilter using the extended bandwidth zero phase error tracking control (EBZPETC) method. The second feedforward method adds delay to the inverse model and then uses common filter design techniques to approximate this delayed frequency response.