Modeling and Rotation Control Strategy for Space Planar Flexible Robotic Arm Based on Fuzzy Adjustment and Disturbance Observer

In precise space operation tasks, the impact of disturbing torques on the space flexible robotic arm (SFRA) cannot be ignored. Besides, the slender structure of the SFRA is very likely to generate vibration of the robotic arm. These are all potential hidden dangers in space safety. To quantify the potential risk, an accurate dynamics model of the SFRA considering the disturbing torque is built by Lagrange principle and the assumed modal method (AMM). Moreover, the effects of the disturbing torque, modal order and nonlinear terms on the deformation accuracy of the SFRA are compared. It is observed that the simplified dynamics model with neglecting the nonlinear terms (NNTs) has a high model accuracy and be easily solved. Therefore, the NNTs simplified model is chosen for deriving the transfer function of the SFRA. The parameters of the PI controller are adjusted in real time based on fuzzy rules to reduce the tracking error in the SFRA. In addition, the disturbance observer is designed to observe and compensate of the disturbance torque in the SFRA. The control method of adjusting controller parameters with fuzzy rules based on the disturbance observer greatly improves the rotational control accuracy of the SFRA. Finally, the validity of aforementioned control strategy is confirmed by simulation analysis and experimental results.