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Parameter-Learning Active Disturbance Rejection Controller for a Novel Variable Stiffness Gripper
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Parameter-Learning Active Disturbance Rejection Controller for a Novel Variable Stiffness Gripper

Ziqing Yu, Jiaming Fu, Fan Zhang, Jinfeng Chen and Dongming Gan
Journal of mechanisms and robotics, Vol.online ahead of print, JMR-26-1019
04/06/2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4071600

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Abstract

The growing demand for flexible robotic grasping in industry calls for adaptable solutions capable of handling diverse objects across stiffness regimes. We present a novel variable stiffness gripper with a parallel-guided beam and sliding-block mechanism, enabling continuous stiffness modulation (0.10–2.00 N/mm) without component replacement. However, transmission nonlinearities, friction, stiffness-dependent effects, and, in particular, frequency drift arising from stiffness variations significantly hinder precise force control. To overcome these challenges, we propose a Parameter-Learning Active Disturbance Rejection Control (PL-ADRC) framework, integrating online adaptive parameter identification with a model-based extended state observer for real-time estimation and rejection of disturbances arising from unmodeled dynamics and parametric uncertainties. Experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of PL-ADRC: PL-ADRC reduces the band settling time by 0.13 s compared to Model-Free Active Disturbance Rejection Control (MF-ADRC), limits the steady-state force error to 0.01 N, and exhibits robust adaptability in stiffness modes. It outperforms model-based and model-free methods in fragile-object manipulation (egg grasping without fracture) and high-noise scenarios, achieving faster stabilization and reduced overshoot. This framework bridges precision and adaptability, advancing safe human-robot collaboration in dynamic industrial tasks.

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