Combined PD feedback and distributed piezoelectric-polymer vibration control of a single-link flexible manipulator

This paper describes a new approach to control a single-link flexible manipulator by using smart actuators. A combined PD feedback for rigid motion control and the distributed piezoelectric polymer (PVDF) actuator for vibration damping is investigated using a Lyapunov approach. The PVDF actuator is designed independently from joint velocity of the manipulator, which allows high speed motions. Most of the current PVDF actuators are A-type schemes depending on measurement of the tip angular velocity of the beam, a signal not readily available. This paper is the first to show that the available linear velocity (at the tip) feedback control, L-type scheme, can also guarantee the stability of the system. The L-type scheme does not lead to control problems caused by mode truncation, and is more efficient to suppress the dominant mode vibration of the beam. Simulation results confirm these theoretical predictions.