Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 March 2009
Based on the Lyapunov theory, a new principle was developed for synthesizing robot tracking control in the presence of model uncertainties. First, a general Lyapunov-like robust tracking concept is presented. It is then used as a basis for the control algorithm derived via a quadratic Lyapunov function constructed using a sliding mode function (based on the output error). Control synthesis is made in task-space, without any need for solving the inverse kinematics problem, i.e. one does not need to inver the Jacobian matrix. It is also shown that the tracking error becomes close to zero in a settling time which is less than a prescribed finite time. Simulation results are incorporated.