Abstract: An adaptive control system for mechanical and dynamic systems being transferred from an initial to a desired final state by control devices. The control system comprises an adaptive controller (e.g. in the form of an artificial neural network) for providing scaling parameters p, from inputs to the controller of coordinates for desired final and initial states, to a function generator which provides prototypical time functions scaled by the above parameters, those signals being provided directly via connections to the control devices which generate the required control signals. The adaptive control system may be used for a robotic manipulator having a number of rigid links interconnected by joints, the links being moveable by actuators.