A comparison of model-based path control algorithms for direct-drive SCARA robots

Various advanced control strategies are applied to a direct-drive SCARA robot and studied in computer simulations. Besides computed torque control and direct adaptive control, heuristic optimal control, a new path control scheme for robotic manipulators, is included in the comparison study. PD control, the traditional robot control method, is used for generating a comparing baseline. While all schemes are applied for the same tracking task, the effect of modelling errors and measurement noise is considered in robot performance evaluation. Simulation results show that (1) without model errors, all advanced control schemes can achieve higher tracking accuracy than PD control; (2) with a random measurement error of 1%, computed torque and direct adaptive control methods are inferior to PD control; (3) heuristic control proves to be the most robust control scheme in case of mixed model and measurement errors.