Configuration Flatness of Lagrangian Systems Underactuated by One Control

Muruhan Rathinam and Richard M. Murray
SIAM J. Control and Optimization, 36(1):164-179, 1998
1996 IEEE Control and Decision Conference

Lagrangian control systems that are differentially flat with flat outputs that only depend on configuration variables are said to be configuration flat. We provide a complete characterisation of configuration flatness for systems with $n$ degrees of freedom and $n-1$ controls whose range of control forces only depends on configuration but not on velocity and whose Lagrangian has the form of kinetic energy minus potential. The method presented allows us to determine if such a system is configuration flat and, if so provides a constructive method for finding all possible configuration flat outputs. Our characterisation relates configuration flatness to Riemannian geometry. We illustrate the method by two examples.

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