Robust Tracking Control of Smart Flexible Structures Featuring Piezofilm Actuators

Abstract

This paper presents a robust control of a smart flexible structure featured by a piezofilm actuator characterizing its light weght and quick response time. A mathematical governing equation for the proposed structure is derived by employing Hamilton's principle and a state space control model is subsequentrly obtained through modal analysis. Uncertain system parameters such as frequency variation are included in the control model. A sliding mode control theroy thich has inherent robustness to systme uncertainties is adopted to design a tracking controller for the peizofilm actuator. Using the output informaiton from the tip deflection sensor, a full-order observer is constructed ot estimate state variables for the system. Tracking performances for desired trajectories of sinusoidal amd step functions are evaluated by undertaking both simulation and experimental works.