IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation, 17(2):113-124, April 2001

Recurrence, Controllability, and Stabilization of Juggling

Kevin M. Lynch and Craig K. Black

Abstract

This paper applies the idea of forced recurrence to demonstrate controllability and stabilizability of a single-input juggling system. Nonlinear optimization is used to find controls in a neighborhood of the recurrent controls that drive the system toward the goal trajectory. The approach is demonstrated on an experimental juggling system.
Available as pdf (452 K)

Figure 1: The juggling arm bats the puck into a stable vertical limit cycle.


Figure 2: A line drawing of the experimental setup Flatland.


Figure 3: Experimental data showing the convergence of the puck to the vertical juggling cycle from a distant state.


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