Load carrying capacity of flexible joint manipulators with feedback linearization

A computational technique for obtaining the maximum load carrying capacity of robotic manipulators with joint elasticity, subject to accuracy and actuators constraints, is described herein. A feedback linearization technique is used to minimize end-effector deflection. An inversion algorithm is employed for the synthesis of a dynamic feedback control law that provides input-output decoupling and full state linearization. The linearizing input transformations and the corresponding state diffeomorphisms are presented. The proposed technique is then applied to a flexible joint robot. Linearizing control law is been expressed in terms of different sets of model variables and their derivatives. As a result, different tracking errors and torques are introduced in the robot-given trajectory and different load carrying capacities are obtained.