H∞-based robust torque control of harmonic drive systems

In this paper, the torque control of a harmonic drive system for constrained-motion and free-motion applications is examined in detail. A nominal model for the system is obtained in each case from experimental frequency responses of the system, and the deviation of the system from the model is encapsulated by a multiplicative uncertainty. Robust torque controllers are designed using this information in an H-proportional to-framework, and implemented on two different setups. From time and frequency domain experiments, it is shown that the closed-loop system retains robust stability, while improving the tracking performance exceptionally well. To further improve the performance of the system for free-motion case, a feedforward friction-compensation algorithm is implemented in addition to the robust torque control. It is shown that friction-compensation will shrink the model uncertainty at low frequencies and hence, the performance of the closed-loop system it-ill be improved at those frequencies.