• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.174-184
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• 1997

This paper presents a robust force tracking control of a smart flexible gripper featured by a piezoceramic actuator characterizing its durability and quick response time. A mathematical governing equation for the proposed gripper structure is derived by employing Hamilton's principle and a state space control model is subsequently obtained through model analysis. Uncertain system parameters such as frequency variation are included in the control model. A sliding mode control theory which has inherent robustness to the sys- tem uncertainties is adopted to design a force tracking controller for the piezoceramic actuator. Using out- put information from the tip force sensor, a full-order observer is constructed to estimate state variables of the system. Force tracking performances for desired trajectories represented by sinusoidal and step func- tions are evaluated by undertaking both simulation and experimental works. In addition, in order to illustrate practical feasibility of the proposed method, a two-fingered gripper is constructed and its performance is demonstrated by showing a capability of holding an object.