Inversion of nonlinear time-varying systems

A procedure for inverting nonlinear systems that presents some computational advantages when applied to flexible robot arms or, more generally, to mechanical structures, is given. The procedure is presented in a general setting, for nonlinear time-varying systems. An iterative algorithm that computes a smooth controlled invariant time-varying manifold, the mathematical properties of which are illustrated and exploited, is also proposed. An application to a flexible two-link manipulator illustrates the algorithm and its computational advantages