Input-Output Extension of Underactuated Nonlinear Systems

This letter proposes a method to integrate auxiliary actuators that enhance the task-space capabilities of commercial underactuated systems leaving internal certified low-level controller untouched. The additional actuators are combined with a feedback-linearizing outer loop controller, enabling full-pose tracking. We provide the conditions under which legacy high-level commands and new actuator inputs can be cohesively coordinated to achieve decoupled control of all degrees of freedom. A comparative study with a standard quadrotor–originally not designed for physical interaction–demonstrates that the proposed modified platform remains stable under contact, while the baseline system diverges. Additionally, simulation results under parameter uncertainty illustrate the approach’s robustness.