Adaptive hybrid control of manipulators on uncertain flexible objects

This paper presents an adaptive hybrid control approach for a robot manipulator to interact with its flexible object. Because of its flexibility, the object dynamics influence the robot's control system, and since it is usually a distributed parameter system, the object dynamics as seen from the robot change when the robot moves. The problem becomes further complicated such that it is difficult to decompose the robot's position and contact force control loops. In this paper, we approximate the object's distributed parameter model into a lumped 'position state-varying' model. Then, by using the well-known nonlinear feedback compensation, we decompose the robot's control space into a position control subspace and object torque control subspace. We design the optimal state feedback for the position control loop and control the robot's contact force through controlling the resultant torque of the object. We use the model-reference simple adaptive control strategy to control the torque control loop. We also study the problem on how to select a reasonable reference model for this control loop. Experiments of a PUMA robot interacting with an aluminum beam show the effectiveness of our approach.     

Sensor-based motion planning in three dimensions for a highly redundant snake robot

A strategy is described for real-time motion planning for a highly redundant snake-like robot manipulator operating in a three-dimensional (3D) environment filled with unknown obstacles of arbitrary shape. The robot consists of many (say 30 or 50) links serially connected by universal joints (such a joint allows a 3D rotation of one link relative to the other). The robot's sensors allow it to sense objects in the vicinity of any points of its body. The task is to move the robot's tip point (its head) from its starting position to a specified target position, collision-free for the whole robot's body. To achieve the efficiency necessary for real-time computation, an iterative procedure is proposed which makes use of a unit motion for a single link based on the tractrix curve. This choice also results in automatically achieving a motion that is 'natural' (in that the joint displacements tend to 'die out' in the direction from head to tail) as well as locally optimal.     

Collision avoidance for Robot manipulators: Application to Catia/IBM 7565 interface

A collision avoidance algorithm has been developed to augment the capability of an automatic (off-line) robot path planning (programming) tool. The use of off-line programming tools for robot task programming is becoming increasingly important, but the advantages to be gained by off-line programming may be lost if collision-free path planning capabilities are not included. This article addressed the problem of collision-free path planning in the context of a gantry type robot. The collision avoidance algorithm described here uses the <heuristic approach> to collision-free path planning. The manipulator and obstacles are modeled as spheres to simplify tests for collision. An important feature of this algorithm is that it permits the manipulation of objects in the robot's environment. When compared against an algorithm from the literature, given a lightly cluttered environment modelled by spheres, the new algorithm finds a collision-free path much faster. This new algorithm has been implemented as part of the CATIA/IBM 7565 interface which forms an automatic off-line programming system for the IBM 7565 robot. It has also been implemented as a supervisory collision filter to allow collision-free control of the robot from the operator's console. In both cases the algorithm has been demonstrated to provide efficient and effective collision avoidance for the IBM 7565 robot.     

基于深度图像与三维栅格离线映射的机械臂环境建模方法

为确保动态非结构化环境中人、机器人、环境3者的安全,提出一种基于深度图像与三维栅格离线映射的机械臂环境建模方法,该方法分为离线映射与在线更新两个步骤.离线映射首先将机器人工作空间划分成三维栅格,然后利用标定得到的RGB-D相机内外参数矩阵离线计算深度图像与三维栅格之间的映射关系并保存;在线更新是利用帧差法和查询离线映射表的方式更新三维栅格中的环境信息.为全面描述机器人的工作空间,进一步扩展此方法,提出多传感器信息融合以及从环境模型中滤除机械臂本体的方法.整套环境建模方法具有描述能力强、模型精度一致、可实现多传感器信息融合以及可在线更新的优点.最后,分别通过仿真实验、基于两个Kinect相机和7自由度KUKA IIWA机械臂的实际建模与末端避障实验,验证所提出方法的有效性.     

Control of an articulated wheeled mobile robot in pipes

We propose a control method in which an articulated wheeled mobile robot moves inside straight, curved and branched pipes. This control method allows the articulated wheeled mobile robot to inspect a larger area. The articulated wheeled mobile robot comprises pitch and yaw joints is and propelled by active wheels attached to the robot. Via the proposed control method, the robot takes on two different shapes; one prevents the robot from slipping inside straight pipes and the other allows movement in a pipe that curves in any direction. The robot is controlled by a simplified model for the robot's joint angles. The joint angles of the robot are obtained by fitting to a continuous curve along the pipe path. In addition, the angular velocity of the robot's active wheels is determined by a simplified model. The effectiveness of the proposed the control method was demonstrated with a physical implementation of the robot, and the robot was able to move inside straight, curved and branched pipes.     

Adaptation of the IBM 7535 robot for use as a slave in a hierarchical master/slave relationship

A new programming environment for the IBM 7535 robot is introduced. AML/E is replaced by a hierarchical control scheme involving a host and a subservient robot. Application programs are developed on the host, an IBM-PC XT, in an extended version of the “C” programming language. These extensions allow an application program to be composed of several concurrent processes, one of which is responsible for commanding the robot. To configure the robot as a slave in this relationship, a new operating system was developed for its controller. Written in the same language employed at the host level, it is structured as four concurrent processes managing the robot's resources. An interprocess message-passing scheme provides a path for master/slave communication. The resultant environment is believed to be superior to the original language AML/E for the following reasons: Concurrency, along with the data and control structures of “C,” is made available to the application programmer. Communication is well structured. The robot's operating system is documented, written in a high-level language, and open to the user for modification. Due to the significance of integrating the robot into more complex applications involving sensors, these characteristics are felt to be essential in future robots.     

ON THE PATH PLANNING PROBLEM IN THE VICINITY OF OBSTACLES

This paper presents a new approach to motion planning in the neighborhood of obstacles. The technique presented here, the configuration space vector path planner CSVPP , generates a collision-free path for a robot amongst unknown arbitrarily shaped obstacles. The CSVPP algorithm utilizes discrete vectors in the configuration space of the robot to generate a path between any two points in the robot's dynamic time-varying workspace. The calculation of the robot's path assumes interpolated joint control, and provides a computational speed that enables the algorithm to be implemented in real time. A number of simulations are provided for several varying environments.     

一种基于三维建图和虚拟现实的人机交互系统

以提高人机共融水平为目的,以救援机器人为背景,提出并实现基于三维建图和虚拟现实(VR)技术的人机交互系统.在该系统中,救援机器人基于多线激光雷达和惯性测量单元(IMU)实时构建环境的三维点云地图,并将建图结果增量式地表示为3D-NDT地图,实时传输至操作台的虚拟现实系统中可视化;同时,操作人员利用虚拟现实系统的交互设备生成机器人的控制指令,控制机器人运动,构成一个完整的人在回路的人机交互系统.该系统在将机器人环境实时在虚拟现实中可视化的基础上,可以给操作人员以极强的沉浸感,有利于操作人员更直接地理解机器人所处环境.此外,该系统作为一种新的人机交互方式,为提高人与机器人的自然交互水平提供了新思路,对促进人机交互技术的发展具有重要意义.     

Development of a separable search-and-rescue robot composed of a mobile robot and a snake robot

Abstract

In this study, we propose a new robot system consisting of a mobile robot and a snake robot. The system works not only as a mobile manipulator but also as a multi-agent system by using the snake robot's ability to separate from the mobile robot. Initially, the snake robot is mounted on the mobile robot in the carrying mode. When an operator uses the snake robot as a manipulator, the robot changes to the manipulator mode. The operator can detach the snake robot from the mobile robot and command the snake robot to conduct lateral rolling motions. In this paper, we present the details of our robot and its performance in the World Robot Summit.     

Robot arm-wrist coordination. Part 1. Quantitative rating

The robotic capability for controlled motion depends upon the robot's ability to coordinate its arm and wrist in order to accomplish the desired task. The objective of this article is to define formally the arm-wrist coordination and to introduce a quantitative measure for it. We develop a mathematical framework that provides for the analysis of the impact of both the fixed manipulator geometry and the changing robot configuration upon the efficiency of arm-wrist coordination. In the companion paper (Part 2). manipulator design guidelines are then formulated to guarantee task decomposition for any desired robot task. Numerical simulations demonstrate the efficacy of these design guidelines.     

Simulation of football based on PID controller and BP neural network

Wheel robot soccer speed control system using a ball object detection method and PID controller. A control system is based on the object detection system's behavior based on the robot position's orientation to the target position. PIDs are instruments, pressure, speed, and other operational factors used in control, temperature adjustment flow, and industrial control applications. The PID controller uses control loop feedback dynamics to control functional variables and is the most accurate and stable controller. The robot position is held by placing the ball vertically. When the robot's work is perpendicular to the ball, the robot moves with a certain speed controlled by the PIT controller based on the robot's distance and the ball. Standard conditions (standard ball) test results show that the robot can detect the ball material while in the vertical position, whether on the robot's right or left. In the random test that changes direction, the robot can move more dynamically as the ball's change in place.     

Degradation curves integration in physics-based models: Towards the predictive maintenance of industrial robots

Predictive maintenance has been proposed to maximize the overall plant availability of modern manufacturing systems. To this end, research has been conducted mainly on data-driven prognostic techniques for machinery equipment individual components. However, the lack of historical data together with the intricate design of industrial machines, e.g. robots, stimulate the use of advanced methods exploiting simulation capabilities. This paper aims to address this challenge by introducing a generic framework for the enhancement of advanced physics-based models with degradation curves. The creation of a robot's simulation model and its enrichment with data from the degradation curves of the robot's components is presented. Following, the extraction of information from degradation curves during the simulation of the robot's dynamic behaviour is addressed. The Digital Twin concept is employed to monitor the health status of the robot and ensure the convergence of the simulated to the actual robot behaviour. The output of the simulation can enable to estimate the future behaviour of the robot and make predictions for the quality of the products to be produced, as well as to estimate the robot's Remaining Useful Life. The proposed approach is applied in a case study coming from the white goods industry, where it is investigated whether the robot will experience some failure within the next 18 months.     

Projection operator-based robust adaptive control of an aerial robot with a manipulator

This paper describes a quadcopter manipulator system, an aerial robot with an extended workspace, its controller design, and experimental validation. The aerial robot is based on a quadcopter with a three degree of freedom robotic arm connected to the base of the vehicle. The work aims to create a stable airborne robot with a robotic arm that can work above and below the airframe, regardless of where the arm is attached. Integrating a robotic arm into an underactuated, unstable system like a quadcopter can enhance the vehicle's functionality while increasing instability. To execute a mission with accuracy and reliability during a real-time task, the system must overcome the inter-coupling effects and external disturbances. This work presents a novel design for a robust adaptive feedback linearization controller with a model reference adaptive controller and hardware implementation of the quadcopter manipulator system with plant uncertainties. The closed-loop stability of the aerial robot and the tracking error convergence with the robust controller is analyzed using Lyapunov stability analysis. The quadcopter manipulator system is custom developed in the lab with an off-the-shelf quadcopter and a 3D-printed robotic arm. The robotic system architecture is implemented using a Jetson Nano companion computer for autonomous onboard flight. Experiments were conducted on quadcopter manipulator system to evaluate the autonomous aerial robot's stability and trajectory tracking with the proposed controller.     

Sensor-based obstruction avoidance technique for a mobile robot

This article describes a sensor-based obstruction avoidance technique. This technique, if implemented on the on-board computer of a mobile robot, would enable the robot to move through an unknown environment. The proposed approach is driven by sensory data. The robot thus senses and adapts to the changes in the environment. The software also does path planning. As more information about the environment is obtained the robot's path planning capabilities improve. Illustrative examples are used to describe the algorithms.     

Navigation control for a mobile robot

This article describes a navigation method of a mobile robot which uses a single camera and a guide mark. A travel path is instructed to the robot by means of path drawn on a monitor screen. The image of the guide mark provides information regarding the robot's position and heading direction. The heading direction is adjusted while moving if any deviation from the specified path is detected. The proposed method has been implemented in a mobile robot which runs at the average speed of 2.5 ft/s. without deviating more than one foot from the specified path in an indoor environment. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Optimal location of a general position and orientation end-effector's path relative to manipulator's base,considering velocity performance

The objective of the present paper is to introduce an offline algorithm searching for the optimal or suboptimal placement of a robot's base during workcell design, so that its end-effector can perform a position and orientation path following task of a given 3D curved path and orientation, maximizing the manipulator's velocity performance. The global index employed for this velocity performance optimization is the approximation of the minimum manipulator velocity ratio (AMMVR).     

基于多行为的移动机器人路径规划

机器人由当前点向目标点运动的过程中,所处环境经常为动态变化且未知的,这使得传统的路径规划算法对于移动机器人避障过程很难建立精确的数学模型.为此,针对环境信息完全未知的情况,为移动机器人设计一种基于模糊控制思想的多行为局部路径规划方法.该方法通过对各种行为之间进行适时合理的切换,以保证机器人安全迅速地躲避静态和动态障碍物,并利用改进的人工势场法实现对变速目标点的追踪.对于模糊避障中常见的U型陷阱问题,提出一种边界追踪的陷阱逃脱策略,使得机器人成功解除死锁状态.另外,设计一个速度模糊控制器,实现了机器人的智能行驶.最后,基于Matlab平台的仿真结果验证了所提出算法的有效性和实时性,与A*势场法的对比结果更突出了该算法的可行性.     

Pose optimization in robotic machining using static and dynamic stiffness models

Industrial robots are typically not used for milling of hard materials due to their low stiffness compared to traditional machine tools. Due to milling being a five degree of freedom (dof) operation, a typical six dof serial manipulator introduces a redundant degree of freedom in the robot pose. This redundancy can be exploited to optimize the pose of the robot during milling to minimize force-induced deflections at the end-effector. Stiffness modeling and optimization techniques for industrial robots utilizing both static (no mass and damping terms) and dynamic (mass and damping terms included) models exist. This paper presents a comparative study of robot pose optimization using static and dynamic stiffness models for different cutting scenarios. Milling experiments show that while a dynamic model-based robot pose optimization yields significant improvement over a static model-based optimization for cutting conditions where the time varying cutting forces approach the robot's natural frequencies, a static model-based optimization is sufficient when the frequency content of the cutting forces are not close to the robot's natural frequencies.     

Wheeled mobile robot navigation using proportional navigation

We present a method for wheeled mobile robot navigation based on the proportional navigation law. This method integrates the robot's kinematics equations and geometric rules. According to the control strategy, the robot's angular velocity is proportional to the rate of turn of the angle of the line of sight that joins the robot and the goal. We derive a relative kinematics system which models the navigation problem of the robot in polar coordinates. The kinematics model captures the robot path as a function of the control law parameters. It turns out that different paths are obtained for different control parameters. Since the control parameters are real, the number of possible paths is infinite. Results concerning the navigation using our control law are rigorously proven. An extensive simulation confirms our theoretical results.     

A geometric approach to solving the stable workspace of quadruped bionic robot with hand–foot-integrated function

This paper discusses stable workspace of a hand–foot-integrated quadruped walking robot, which is an important issue for stable operation of the robot. This robot was provided with combined structure of parallel and serial mechanisms, whose stable workspace was the subspace of the workspace in which the system was considered stable. The reachable region was formed under structural conditions, while the stable space was formed by the overall conditions of stability which changed with the robot's pose and the mass of grabbed object. In this paper, based on the robot's main structure, the key issues in solving the robot's workspace are discussed in detail, including searching steady conditions of operation of the robot. To research the robot's workspace, working leg's motion curve needed to be solved by kinematics analysis. Due to the redundant drive, it was problematic to deal analytically with the kinematics of the quadruped walking robot. A geometric method of kinematic analysis was proposed as well. Based on the geometric method, the workspace of the robot under varying postures was analyzed by the method of grid partition and in combination with Matlab, VB and Solidworks software programs. An automated computational system of the stable workspace was developed and an example was given to illustrate the whole process in detail. The theory and analysis procedures were also verified by simulation of the robot and its actual grabbing of an object.