Most control algorithms for rigid-link electrically driven robots are given in joint coordinates. However, since the task to be accomplished is expressed in Cartesian coordinates, inverse kinematics has to be computed in order to implement the control law. Alternatively, one can develop the necessary theory directly in workspace coordinates. This has the disadvantage of a more complex robot model. In this paper, a robust control scheme is given to achieve exact Cartesian tracking without the knowledge of the manipulator kinematics and dynamics, actuator dynamics and nor computing inverse kinematics. The control design procedure is based on a new form of universal approximation theory and using Stone–Weierstrass theorem, to mitigate structured and unstructured uncertainties associated with external disturbances and actuated manipulator dynamics. It has been assumed that the lumped uncertainty can be modeled by linear differential equations. As the method is Model-Free, a broad range of manipulators can be controlled. Numerical case studies are developed for an industrial robot manipulator.
