Robust control of a hydraulically driven flexible arm

A new robust controller is proposed to regulate both flexural vibrations and rigid body motion of a hydraulically driven flexible arm. The controller combines backstepping control and sliding mode to arrive at a controller capable of dealing with a nonlinear system with uncertainties. The sliding mode technique is used to achieve an asymptotic joint angle and vibration regulation in the presence of payload uncertainty by providing a virtual torque input at the joint while the backstepping technique is used to regulate the spool position of a hydraulic valve to provide the required torque. It is shown that there is no chatter in the hydraulic valve, which results in smoother operation of the system.