This book is the result of over ten (10) years of research and development in flexible robots and structures at Sandia National Laboratories. The authors de cided to collect this wealth of knowledge into a set of viewgraphs in order to teach a graduate class in Flexible Robot Dynamics and Controls within the Mechanical En gineering Department at the University of New Mexico (UNM). These viewgraphs, encouragement from several students, and many late nights have produced a book that should provide an upper-level undergraduate and graduate textbook and a reference for experienced professionals. The content of this book spans several disciplines including structural dynam ics, system identification, optimization, and linear, digital, and nonlinear control theory which are developed from several points of view including electrical, me chanical, and aerospace engineering as well as engineering mechanics. As a result, the authors believe that this book demonstrates the value of solid applied theory when developing hardware solutions to real world problems. The reader will find many real world applications in this book and will be shown the applicability of these techniques beyond flexible structures which, in turn, shows the value of mul tidisciplinary education and teaming.

From the reviews:

"'Flexible Robot Dynamics and Controls' is the result of more than 10 years of research and development in flexible robots and structures at Sandia National Laboratories. the aim of the author to provide an upper-level undergraduate and graduate textbook and a reference for experienced professionals in the fields of flexible robot dynamics and controls has been achieved. The manner of presentation seems to be comprehensive and a valuable addition to the literature for practitioners and researchers working in control of elastic structures." (Amit Ailon, Automatica, Vol. 41, 2005)

Inhalt
1 Introduction.- 1.1. Sandia National Laboratories.- 1.2. Flexible Robotics Research Historical Background.- 1.3. Outline of the Book.- 1.4. Chapter 1 Summary.- 1.5. Chapter 1 References.- 1.6. Chapter 1 Problems.- 2 Mathematical Preliminaries.- 2.1. Introduction.- 2.2. Linear Algebra.- 2.3. Linear Control Systems.- 2.4. Digital Systems.- 2.5. Calculus of Variations.- 2.6. Hamilton's Principle & Lagrange's Equations.- 2.7. Analytical Optimization.- 2.8. Numerical Optimization.- 2.9. Chapter 2 Summary.- 2.10. Chapter 2 References.- 2.11. Chapter 2 Problems.- 3 Flexible Robot Dynamic Modeling.- 3.1. Introduction.- 3.2. Flexible Link Modeling Preliminaries.- 3.3. The Method of Quadratic Modes.- 3.4. Planar Flexible Robot Dynamics.- 3.5. Actuator Dynamics.- 3.6. Chapter 3 Summary.- 3.7. Chapter 3 References.- 3.8. Chapter 3 Problems.- 4 System Identification.- 4.1. Introduction.- 4.2. Linear Least Squares (LSS).- 4.3. Nonlinear Least Squares.- 4.4. Homotopy Methods.- 4.5. Robot and Actuator System ID.- 4.6. Chapter 4 Summary.- 4.7. Chapter 4 References.- 4.8. Chapter 4 Problems.- 5 Input Shaping for Path Planning.- 5.1. Introduction.- 5.2. Analytic Solutions for Input Shaping.- 5.3. Input Shaping Filters.- 5.4. Constrained Optimization with RQP.- 5.5. Dynamic Programming.- 5.6. Chapter 5 Summary.- 5.7. Chapter 5 References.- 5.8. Chapter 5 Problems.- 6 Linear Feedback Control.- 6.1. Introduction.- 6.2. PD Control of a Gantry Robot.- 6.3. Lag-Stabilized Feedback Control.- 6.4. Non-collocated Controls.- 6.5. Feedforward Control.- 6.6. Linear Quadratic Regulator.- 6.7. Linear Optimal Estimation.- 6.8. Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) Control.- 6.9. Chapter 6 Summary.- 6.10. Chapter 6 References.- 6.11. Chapter 6 Problems.- 7 Nonlinear Systems and Sliding Mode Control.- 7.1.Introduction.- 7.2. State-Space Representation of a Dynamic System.- 7.3. Stability.- 7.4. Sliding Mode Control.- 7.5. Chapter 7 Summary.- 7.6. Chapter 7 References.- 7.7. Chapter 7 Problems.- 8 Adaptive Sliding Mode Control.- 8.1. Introduction.- 8.2. Adaptive Sliding Mode Control.- 8.3. Examples.- 8.4. Chapter 8 Summary.- 8.5. Chapter 8 References.- 8.6. Chapter 8 Problems.- Appendix A: VFO2AD Optimization.- Appendix C: Hardware &: Software Support.