This paper considers the problem of dynamic modeling and identification of robot manipulators with respect to their elasticities. The so-called flexible joint model, modeling only the torsional gearbox elasticity, is shown to be insufficient for modeling a modern industrial manipulator accurately. The extended flexible joint model, where non-actuated joints are added to model the elasticity of the links and bearings, is used to improve the model accuracy. The unknown elasticity parameters are estimated using a frequency domain gray-box identification method. The conclusion is that the obtained model describes the movements of the motors and the tool mounted on the robot with significantly higher accuracy. Similar elasticity model parameters are obtained when using two different output variables for the identification, the motor position and the tool acceleration.

In this paper, we study the problem of estimating unknown parameters in nonlinear gray-box models that may be multivariable, nonlinear, unstable, and resonant at the same time. A straightforward use of time-domain predication-error methods for this type of problem easily ends up in a large and numerically stiff optimization problem. We therefore propose an identification procedure that uses intermediate local models that allow for data compression and a less complex optimization problem. The procedure is based on the estimation of the nonparametric frequency response function (FRF) in a number of operating points. The nonlinear gray-box model is linearized in the same operating points, resulting in parametric FRFs. The optimal parameters are finally obtained by minimizing the discrepancy between the nonparametric and parametric FRFs. The procedure is illustrated by estimating elasticity parameters in a six-axes industrial robot. Different parameter estimators are compared and experimental results show the usefulness of the proposed identification procedure. The weighted logarithmic least squares estimator achieves the best result and the identified model gives a good global description of the dynamics in the frequency range of interest for robot control.

Friction is the result of complex interactions between contacting surfaces in a nanoscale perspective. Depending on the application, the different models available are more or less suitable. Available static friction models are typically considered to be dependent only on relative speed of interacting surfaces. However, it is known that friction can be affected by other factors than speed. In this paper, static friction in robot joints is studied with respect to changes in joint angle, load torque and temperature. The effects of these variables are analyzed by means of experiments on a standard industrial robot. Justified by their significance, load torque and temperature are included in an extended static friction model. The proposed model is validated in a wide operating range, reducing the average error a factor of 6 when compared to a standard static friction model.

Friction is the result of complex interactions between contacting surfaces in a nanoscale perspective. Depending on the application, the different models available are more or less suitable. Available static friction models are typically considered to be dependent only on relative speed of interacting surfaces. However, it is known that friction can be affected by other factors than speed. In this paper, static friction in robot joints is studied with respect to changes in joint angle, load torque and temperature. The effects of these variables are analyzed by means of experiments on a standard industrial robot. Justified by their significance, load torque and temperature are included in an extended static friction model. The proposed model is validated in a wide operating range, reducing the average error a factor of 6 when compared to a standard static friction model.

This paper summarizes previous work on tool position estimation on industrial manipulators, and emphasize the problems that must be taken care of in order to get a satisfied result. The acceleration of the robot tool, measured by an accelerometer, together with measurements of motor angles are used. The states are estimated with an extended Kalman filter. A method for tuning the covariance matrices for the noise, used in the observer, is suggested. The work has been focused on a robot with two degrees of freedom.

This paper investigates methods for tool position estimation of industrial robots. It is assumed that the motor angular position and the tool acceleration are measured. The considered observers are different versions of the extended Kalman filter as well as a deterministic observer. A method for tuning the observers is suggested and the robustness of the methods is investigated. The observers are evaluated experimentally on a commercial industrial robot.

This paper investigates methods for tool position estimation of industrial robots. It is assumed that the motor angular position and the tool acceleration are measured. The considered observers are different versions of the extended Kalman filter as well as a deterministic observer. A method for tuning the observers is suggested and the robustness of the methods is investigated. The observers are evaluated experimentally on a commercial industrial robot.

A method for the detection and estimation of nonlinear distortions when identifying multivariable frequency response functions (FRF) is considered. The method is successfully applied to experimental data, which were collected in closed loop, from an industrial robot. The results show that nonlinear distortions are indeed present and cause larger variability in the FRF than the measurement-noise contributions.

Nonparametric estimation methods for the multivariable frequency response function are experimentally evaluated using closed-loop data from an industrial robot. Three classical estimators (H1, joint input-output, arithmetic mean) and two estimators based on nonlinear averaging techniques (harmonic mean, geometric/logarithmic mean) are considered. The estimators based on nonlinear averaging give the best results, followed by the arithmetic mean estimator, which gives a slightly larger bias. The joint input-output estimator, which is asymptotically unbiased in theory, turns out to give large bias errors for low frequencies. Finally, the H1 estimator gives the largest bias for all frequencies.

This paper considers identification of unknown parameters in elastic dynamic models of industrial robots. Identifying such models is a challenging task since an industrial robot is a multivariable, nonlinear, resonant, and unstable system. Unknown parameters (mainly spring-damper pairs) in a physically parameterized nonlinear dynamic model are identified in the frequency domain, using estimates of the nonparametric frequency response function (FRF) in different robot configurations/positions. The nonlinear parametric robot model is linearized in the same positions and the optimal parameters are obtained by minimizing the discrepancy between the nonparametric FRFs and the parametric FRFs (the FRFs of the linearized parametric robot model). In order to accurately estimate the nonparametric FRFs, the experiments must be carefully designed. The selection of optimal robot configurations for the experiments is also part of the design. Different parameter estimators are compared and experimental results show the usefulness of the proposed identification procedure. The weighted logarithmic least squares estimator achieves the best result and the identified model gives a good global description of the dynamics in the frequency range of interest.