Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 October 2001
In this work another perturbation estimation sliding mode based control algorithm is introduced for a class of robotic systems in the presence of structured and unstructured uncertainties and external disturbances. The effects of these uncertainties are combined into a single quantity. A full order device with the actuator voltages as control inputs is assumed in control design. The decentralized control scheme with only a partial state feedback is applied. A modification of the switching functions with perturbation estimation is introduced. The salient features of this approach is that the perturbations are effectively treated by a computationally straightforward procedure. The proposed controller is applied to a minimal configuration direct drive robot mechanism.