This paper describes a method using coupled state estimators for collision detection and control of a single-link flexible arm. To improve the control performance of the flexible arm with an innovationbased collision detection system when unobserved obstacles collide with the arm's side, we introduce an Optimal Disturbance Decoupling Filter that decouples undesired collision force effects from the estimation error. The controller generates a control torque based on the state estimate by using the Optimal Disturbance Decoupling Filter. Collision detection is then realized through the innovation of a Kalman filter. The proposed system prevents deterioration of the control performance when collision occurs.

This paper describes a method of collision detection and control of a single-link flexible arm using a couple of state estimators. In order to improve the control performance of the flexible arm with the innovation based collision detection system when unlooked-for obstacles collide with the side of the arm, we introduce a robust optimal filter, which decouples undesirable effect of the collision force from the estimation error. The controller generates a control torque based on the state estimate using the robust optimal filter. Collision detection is then realized by using the innovation of a Kalman filter. The proposed system enables to avoid that the control performance is deteriorated when collisions occur.