Transfer Function Identification of an Electro-Rheological Actuator

Abstract

A fluid clutch utilising an Electro-Rheological (ER) suspension provides a controlled torque coupling between input and output through the control of the applied electric field. If the input is driven at constant speed the device can be considered as an ER torque actuator and thus be used to drive robot links or other mechanisms requiring precise positioning. Such an ER torque actuator can replace a DC servo-motor in robotic applications with the benefits of low time constant and smooth output torque unaffected by cogging (i.e. variation in torque of a DC motor as the magnetic reluctance of the armature-stator path changes with rotation). Although the ER actuator has many benefits, it suffers from a non-linear and time varying relationship between input voltage and output torque. These undesirable characteristics can be mitigated by providing a local closed loop controller around the system. The design of such a controller requires a knowledge of the relationship between the applied voltage and output torque; i.e. the transfer function of the actuator. This transfer function has been determined by observing the response of an ER torque actuator in the frequency domain. It is shown that a linear transfer function model reasonable represents the actuator behaviour, that the actuator is a stable second order system and that the time constant of the clutch studied is sufficiently short to hold considerable promise for robotic applications. Furthermore, the maximum torque capability is shown to be sufficient for many medium scale industrial robots.