Trajectory Tracking Control for a Differential Drive Wheeled Mobile Robot Considering the Dynamics Related to the Actuators and Power Stage

Abstract

In this work a three-level controller that carries out the trajectory tracking task for a differential drive wheeled mobile robot (WMR) is presented. Such a controller considers, for the first time in literature, the dynamics associated with the three subsystems that compose a WMR, i.e., mechanical structure, actuators, and power stage. The high level corresponds to an input-output linearization control for the mechanical structure; the medium level is based on two sensorless controls designed via differential flatness for the actuators; and the low level is related to two cascade controls based on sliding modes and PI control for the power stage. The performance and robustness of the controller is verified and shown via realistic simulations when parametric uncertainties associated with the subsystems that compose the WMR are considered.