Control of compliant mechanisms with large deflections

Abstract

Very often elastic joints are used in high precision applications. In the case of rotational joints flexure hinges do have some advantages compared to conventional ones. However, the most important disadvantages are the complicated and complex kinematics and kinetics. As consequence, the control of mechanisms comprised of flexure hinges gets more difficult. The strategy pursued here is to reduce flexure hinges to pseudo rigid-body systems that fit into the elaborated framework of multi-body dynamics, in particular pre-control in combination with a feedback controller. The inherent deviations of these reduced models are described as uncertainties. Methods from robust control are used to synthesize controllers for such systems with uncertainty. The procedure is illustrated by examining an example of a single flexure hinge (leaf spring type).