A method includes providing a kinematic correction, outputting a first drive control signal specifying a motor speed having a first kinematic correction output based on a first parameter vector; extracting a frequency component and determining a first feedback vector; outputting to the motor a second drive control signal specifying a motor speed as a sum of the standard speed and a second kinematic correction output based on a second parameter vector; extracting a frequency component and determining a second feedback vector defining a second feedback amplitude and a second feedback phase; subtracting the first feedback vector from the second feedback vector to obtain a feedback difference vector; transforming the feedback difference vector into a difference; applying the transformation to the second feedback vector to obtain a third parameter vector; and programming the kinematic correction generator using the third parameter vector.

A method includes determining a movement of a robot arm in which a joint while being rotated from a start angle to an end angle, is subject to a constant gravity-induced torque; controlling execution of the movement, and, in the movement, controlling the joint to rotate from the start angle to the end angle at a constant speed; detecting speed fluctuations of the joint while it is being rotated from the start angle to the end angle; and estimating the kinematic error based on the speed fluctuations.

A drive unit for a robot, having an input shaft, an input shaft drive motor and a strain wave gear mechanism for transmission to an output shaft. The strain wave gear mechanism has a wave generator which is operatively connected to the input shaft, a flexible ring and a toothed ring are connectable to the output shaft, a first sensor for detecting an angular position of the input shaft and a second sensor for detecting the angular position of the output shaft. In order to allow the drive unit to precisely adjust the angular position of the output shaft to each setpoint angular position, the drive unit has a third sensor for detecting an expansion of the flexible ring. A robot having such a drive unit and a method for precisely adjusting the angular position of the output shaft are also provided.