In this paper the sliding mode control theory is applied to a particular underwater gripper actuated by linear motors which, acting on a hydraulic circuit, generate mono-directional forces. In practical realizations actuators often show imprecise relationships between electrical input signals and mechanical output; such a situation constitutes a source of uncertainties. A sliding mode control methodology based on the use of a simplex of constant control vectors is presented. The proposed approach is general enough to also work with different applications. [S0022-0434(00)01204-1]

1.
Utkin, V. I., 1992, Sliding Modes In Control And Optimization, Springer Verlag, Berlin.
2.
Davies
,
B. J.
,
1991
, “
Elephant Trunks, an Unforgettable Alternative to Rigid Mechanism
,”
Ind. Robot
,
18
, No.
4
, pp.
29
30
.
3.
Goldstein, H., 1950, Classical Mechanics, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Reading, MA.
4.
Murray, R. N., Li, Z., and Sastry, S. S., 1993, A Mathematical Introduction to Robotic Manipulation, CRC Press, NY.
5.
Bartolini
,
G.
,
Ferrara
,
A.
, and
Usai
,
E.
,
1997
, “
Applications of a Sub-optimal Discontinuous Control Algorithm for Uncertain Second Order Systems
,”
Int. J. Robust Nonlinear Control
,
7
, No.
4
, pp.
299
319
.
6.
Bartolini
,
G.
,
Ferrara
,
A.
, and
Usai
,
E.
,
1997
, “
Output Tracking Control of Uncertain Nonlinear Second-Order Systems
,”
Automatica
,
33
, No.
12
, pp.
2203
2212
.
7.
Bartolini
,
G.
, and
Ferrara
,
A.
,
1996
, “
Multi-Input Sliding Mode Control of a Class of Uncertain Nonlinear Systems
,”
IEEE Trans. Autom. Control
,
41
, pp.
1662
1666
.
8.
Bartolini, G., Ferrara, A., Utkin, V. I., and Zolezzi, T., 1997, “A Control Vector Simplex Approach to Variable Structure Control of Nonlinear Systems,” Int. J. Robust Nonlinear Control.
9.
Baida
,
S. V.
, and
Izosimov
,
D. B.
,
1985
, “
Vector Method of Design of Sliding Motion and Simplex Algorithms
,”
Autom. Remote Control
,
7
, No.
46
, pp.
830
837
.
You do not currently have access to this content.