The paper addresses the problem of controlling the joints of an flexible joint robot with a state feedback controller and proposes a gradual way of extending such a controller towards feedback linearization. The global asymptotic stability for the state feedback controller with gravity compensation is proven. Experimental results on the DLR light-weight robots validate the method.

The fast growing interest in flexible, versatile and mobile robotic manipulators demands for robots with inherent high passive safety suited for direct human-robot interaction. To gain access to these new applications in the field of automation engineering where close vicinity and direct cooperating with humans are required, the “BioRob” project demonstrates the applicability of a new biologica...

In this article, we address the problem of controlling unknown flexible-joint robots with unknown time-varying stiffness and damping parameters. We propose a Robust Direct Adaptive Fuzzy Control (RDAFC) strategy that accommodates the dynamics anonymity and joints stiffness/damping variations. The RDAFC strategy relies on the synergy of the concepts of fuzzy logic approximation and the Sliding M...

This paper presents a novel robust fractional PIλ controller design for flexible joint electrically driven robots. Because of using voltage control strategy, the proposed approach is free of problems arising from torque control strategy in the design and implementation. In fact, the motor's current includes the effects of nonlinearities and coupling in the robot manipulator. Therefore, cancella...

This paper presents a robust fractional order controller for flexible-joint electrically driven robots under imperfect transformation of control space. The proposed approach is free from manipulator dynamics, thus free from problems associated with torque control strategy in the design and implementation. As a result, the proposed controller is simple, fast response and superior to the torque c...

This paper presents a robust fractional order controller for flexible-joint electrically driven robots under imperfect transformation of control space. The proposed approach is free from manipulator dynamics, thus free from problems associated with torque control strategy in the design and implementation. As a result, the proposed controller is simple, fast response and superior to the torque c...

Gait rehabilitation using body weight support on a treadmill is a recommended rehabilitation technique for neurological injuries, such as spinal cord injury. In this paper, a new robotic orthosis is presented for treadmill training. In the presented design the criteria such as low inertia of robot components, backdrivability, high safety and degrees of freedom based on human walking are conside...

This paper presents a novel robust fractional PIλ controller design for flexible joint electrically driven robots. Because of using voltage control strategy, the proposed approach is free of problems arising from torque control strategy in the design and implementation. In fact, the motor's current includes the effects of nonlinearities and coupling in the robot manipulator. Therefore, cancella...

The paper presents a new torque-controlled lightweight robot for medical procedures developed at the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics of the German Aerospace Center. Based on the experiences in lightweight robotics and anthropomorphic robotic hands, a small robot arm with 7 axis and torque-controlled joints tailored to surgical procedures has been designed. With an optimized anthropomorph...