Pascal Acco

Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Toulouse

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About

Pascal Acco is a researcher specializing in robust control systems, with a particular focus on variable structure systems (VSS) and sliding mode control applied to flexible and anthropomorphic robotic systems. His work addresses one of the most challenging problems in robotics: precisely controlling robot arms driven by pneumatic artificial rubber muscles (PARMs), which exhibit complex nonlinearities that render conventional control strategies ineffective. Acco's most significant contributions center on developing and refining higher-order sliding mode control strategies, particularly 2-sliding control algorithms such as the twisting and super-twisting approaches. His 2011 paper, "Improved Control Strategy of 2-Sliding Controls Applied to a Flexible Robot Arm," stands as his most impactful work with 19 citations, demonstrating practical solutions to the notorious chattering problem inherent in classical sliding control. By moving beyond inadequate PID controllers, his research has provided engineers and roboticists with more reliable, real-time implementable solutions under conditions of heavy uncertainty. Through his investigations into equivalent control methods and practical VSS design, Acco has helped bridge the gap between theoretical robust control frameworks and real-world robotic applications. His body of work serves as a valuable reference for researchers working at the intersection of nonlinear control theory and biomimetic robotics.