Bio-harmonized control experiments of a carangiform robotic fish underwater vehicle

This paper presents experimental implementation and comparison of three different control schemes of a bio-inspired robotic fish underwater vehicle. The dynamics model is obtained by unifying conventional rigid body dynamics and bio-fluid dynamics of a carangiform fish swimming given by Lighthill’s(LH) slender body theory. It proposes an inclusive mathematical design for better control and energy efficient path travel for the robotic fish. The system is modeled as an two-link robot manipulator (caudal tail) with a mobile base (head). This forward thrust drives the robotic fish head represented by a combined non-linear equation of motion in earth fixed frame. We develop and compare the dynamic motion closed loop control strategy of the bio-harmonized robotic fish based on three different non-linear control schemes using CTM (Computed Torque Method), FF (Feed-Forward) controllers both with dynamic PD compensation and finally a proposed combination of CTM with FF. An inverse dynamic control method based on non-linear state function model including hydrodynamics is proposed to improve tracking performance. CTM control generates a feedback loop for linearization and decoupling robot dynamic model with a shorter response time, while a dynamic PD compensation in the FF path is employed by FF scheme through the desired trajectories. FF model-based strategy results in an improved tracking and shorter route to travel between two points. Overall results indicate that performances of the proposed control schemes based on the inverse dynamic model are comparable and useful for robotic fish motion tracking in fluid environment.     

双鱼并排游动时水动力性能研究

随着水下仿生机器人的发展,人们开始关注鱼群个体之间的能量传输.鱼类在水中游动时,尾鳍摆动会与水相互作用,形成尾涡.鱼类会从附近尾涡中汲取能量,降低自身消耗.但是,有学者指出鱼群中不同摆动相位差个体之间存在相互干扰,阻碍鱼群前进,增加了自身能量消耗.使用一种在线实时功率检测系统,检测并排游动时两条机器鱼的纯功率、速度等鱼群水动力性能随着机器鱼摆动其相位差变化趋势.同时研究了双鱼之间横向距离对纯功率消耗影响,并结合纯功率和速度计算机器鱼推力.引入效率计算方法,并结合纯功率、速度和推力,计算和拟合效率分布趋势图.     

Maneuverability modeling and trajectory tracking for fish robot

This study develops a 6-DOF mathematical model for a robotic fish that considers surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch, and yaw. The model considers the conditions of a fish swimming in ocean current perturbations similar to the ocean current perturbations of the slender-body autonomous underwater vehicles. For swimming and turning behaviors, a nonlinear, dynamic, carangiform locomotion model is derived by using a planar four-link model. A 2-DOF barycenter mechanism is proposed to provide body stabilization and to serve as an actuating device for active control design. A barycenter control scheme is developed to change the center of gravity of the robot fish body by moving balancing masses along two axes. The projected torque on x and y axes propel pitch and roll angles to the desired settings. A Stabilizing controller, fish-tail mechanism, rigid body dynamics, and kinematics are incorporated to enable the fish robot to move in three dimensional space. Simulation results have demonstrated maneuverability and control system performance of the developed controller which is proposed to conduct path tracking of the robot fish as it swims under current perturbations.     

仿生机器鱼运动学模型优化与实验

以仿生学为基础的机器鱼是一种新型水下机器人,具有高速、高效、节能等方面优势。为进一步探索仿生机器鱼的运动机理,指出了当前仿生机器鱼运动学模型存在的不足,即未考虑因制造、鱼体结构的影响,而产生的头部左右摆动。故在考虑仿生机器鱼头部摆动的情况下,构建头部摆动方程,引入摆动偏移量,修正其运动学模型。利用MATLAB对模型进行优化,分析结果表明修正后的运动学模型更能够描述实体仿生机器鱼的游动特性。最后,将修正后的运动学模型,运用到三关节仿生机器鱼上进行实验,结果表明,该模型能够有效地抑制仿生机器鱼头部摆动,进而提高了仿生机器鱼的游动速度。     

NiTi形状记忆合金驱动的仿生鱼鳍的研究

为了提高仿鱼型推进器在水中运动的灵活性，选择了典型的依靠腹部绸带状鱼鳍波动运动产生推进力的黑色魔鬼刀鱼进行研究，对此绸带状鱼鳍的形态和运动机理进行了分析，同时对鱼鳍的结构进行简化．基于绸带状鱼鳍的这种简化模型设计了形状记忆合金驱动的仿生鱼鳍．介绍了鱼鳍的机械结构和相应的控制电路．重点推导了仿生鱼鳍波状运动时理论上能到达的推进速度和产生的推进力；并采用数值仿真给出了波动推进时仿生鱼鳍表面的压力分布以及推进力随时间的周期变化规律．将数值仿真结论和先前的实验结果进行了比较，验证了数值仿真的合理性和正确性．通过上述分析，说明基于形状记忆合金驱动的仿生鱼鳍的研究是很有意义而且可行的．     

仿生机器鱼S形起动的控制与实现

给出一种仿生机器鱼S形起动的控制方法.结合北美狗鱼S形起动的形态特征及水动力学知识, 建立了多关节链式结构仿生机器鱼的S形起动模型.整个过程设计为两个阶段: 1)弯曲阶段:以转向速度最大化为目标.在鱼体S形变保证重心稳定平移的前提下, 增大较长转向力臂处的转向力矩,提高转向速度,使鱼体迅速转向目标方向. 2)伸展阶段:以增大前推力为目标.始终保持部分将要伸展的鱼体垂直前进方向,以L形滑动方式打开鱼体. 同时,为保证转向精度,采用模糊控制调节已展开鱼体关节的小角度转动,实时纠正鱼体展开所引起的游动方向偏离. 在S形起动末期,采用变幅值——频率的中枢模式发生器(Central pattern generator, CPG)实现向稳态游动方式的过渡:前期为保证游动方向及获取较大推进力,采用小幅值——高频率的CPG信号, 后期则进入大幅值——低频率的稳态游动.最终,采用四关节仿生机器鱼验证了该方法的有效性, 实现了峰值转速为318.08±9.20°/s、转向误差为1.03±0.48°的较好结果, 对提升水下游动机器人的机动性能具有指导意义.     

仿生机器鱼俯仰与深度控制方法

提出一种基于重心改变法的仿生机器鱼俯仰姿态与深度控制方法, 用于实现机器鱼水中的浮潜运动. 该方法利用一种可调整位置的配重块结构, 改变机器鱼的重心位置, 进而实现机器鱼俯仰姿态的调节. 在对机器鱼内部配重块位置和机器鱼俯仰角的关系进行分析的基础上, 对一定速度下机器鱼的深度与俯仰角的关系进行建模, 提出由于尾部形变引起的俯仰姿态变化的补偿方法. 文中给出机器鱼原形样机的相关实验, 分析验证配重块位置变化和机器鱼重心及其姿态的调整, 深度控制等在多种情况下的结果.     

Infiltrating the zebrafish swarm: design,implementation and experimental tests of a miniature robotic fish lure for fish–robot interaction studies

Robotic fish are nowadays developed for various types of research, such as bio-inspiredrobotics, biomimetics and animal behavior studies. In the context of our research on the social interactions of the zebrafish Danio Rerio, we developed a miniature robotic fish lure for direct underwater interaction with the living fish. This remotely controlled and waterproof device has a total length of 7.5 cm with the same size ratio as zebrafish and is able to beat its tail with different frequencies and amplitudes, while following the group of living animals using a mobile robot moving outside water that is coupled with the robotic lure using magnets. The robotic lure is also equipped with a rechargeable battery and can be used autonomously underwater for experiments of up to 1 h. We performed experiments with the robot moving inside an aquarium with living fish to analyze its impact on the zebrafish behavior. We found that the beating rate of the tail increased the attractiveness of the lure among the zebrafish shoal. We also demonstrated that the lure could influence a collective decision of the zebrafish shoal, the swimming direction, when moving with a constant linear speed inside a circular corridor. This new robotic fish design and the experimental results are promising for the field of fish–robot interaction.     

超磁致伸缩薄膜驱动仿生游动微型机器人

研制了以超磁致伸缩薄膜为驱动器的仿生游动微型机器人，其作业原理是以超磁致伸缩薄膜驱动器为尾鳍，通过改变时变振荡磁场的驱动频率，在超磁致伸缩薄膜的磁机耦合作用下,将时变振荡磁场能转换成驱动器的振动机械能，振动的超磁致伸缩薄膜驱动器再与液体耦合，便产生了机器人的推力．由于超磁致伸缩薄膜为非接触式驱动，因此机器人不需要电缆驱动．基于仿生游动原理，提出一种计算推力的数学模型，以建立的超磁致伸缩薄膜受迫振动模型的前三阶谐振频率模态为尾鳍的摆动，对振动薄膜产生的推力进行了计算．实验验证了理论分析的正确性，表明仿生游动微型机器人的方案切实可行．     

基于人工侧线的相邻仿生机器鱼感知研究

侧线系统是鱼类重要的感知器官,鱼类可以通过侧线器官实现对周围环境的感知,从而进行捕食、避敌以及一些群体行为.鱼类尾鳍摆动时会形成反卡门涡街,研究反卡门涡街对于仿生机器人的位姿和运动状态感知具有重要意义.以仿生机器鱼为平台、以侧线系统为依据,在机器鱼上实现人工侧线系统,当前方不同相对横向位置处机器鱼尾鳍摆动时,利用人工侧线实现对尾鳍摆动产生的反卡门涡街进行信息感知,从而间接识别机器鱼的相对横向位置,为群体机器鱼的相互感知提供了新思路.     

Development of a biomimetic robotic fish and its control algorithm

This paper is concerned with the design of a robotic fish and its motion control algorithms. A radio-controlled, four-link biomimetic robotic fish is developed using a flexible posterior body and an oscillating foil as a propeller. The swimming speed of the robotic fish is adjusted by modulating joint's oscillating frequency, and its orientation is tuned by different joint's deflections. Since the motion control of a robotic fish involves both hydrodynamics of the fluid environment and dynamics of the robot, it is very difficult to establish a precise mathematical model employing purely analytical methods. Therefore, the fish's motion control task is decomposed into two control systems. The online speed control implements a hybrid control strategy and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control algorithm. The orientation control system is based on a fuzzy logic controller. In our experiments, a point-to-point (PTP) control algorithm is implemented and an overhead vision system is adopted to provide real-time visual feedback. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.     

Optimal design and motion control of biomimetic robotic fish

This paper is concerned with the design, optimization, and motion control of a radiocontrolled, multi-link, free-swimming biomimetic robotic fish based on an optimized kinematic and dynamic model of fish swimming. The performance of the robotic fish is determined by both the fish＇s morphological characteristics and kinematic parameters. By applying ichthyologic theories of propulsion, a design framework that takes into consideration both mechatronic constraints in physical realization and feasibility of control methods is presented, under which a multiple linked robotic fish that integrates both the carangiform and anguilliform swimming modes can be easily developed. Taking account of both theoretic hydrodynamic issues and practical problems in engineering realization, the optimal link-lengthratios are numerically calculated by an improved constrained cyclic variable method, which are successfully applied to a series of real robotic fishes. The rhythmic movements of swimming are driven by a central pattern generator （CPG） based on nonlinear oscillations, and up-and-down motion by regulating the rotating angle of pectoral fins. The experimental results verify that the presented scheme and method are effective in design and implementation.     

基于CFD的仿鲹科机器鱼动力学建模与运动控制

仿生机器鱼的运动控制是仿生机器鱼推广应用的基础;然而,仿鲹科机器鱼的推进一般采用鱼体波数据,很少采用真实鱼类游动数据;为了深入探究仿鲹科机器鱼运动控制方法,采用了计算流体力学方法,通过标定流体介质、来流速度、鱼体几何形状等措施,利用Fluent软件进行了建模,然后针对鱼体波数据和真实金枪鱼游动采样数据两种不同推进数据对仿生机器鱼进行了仿真和实验;结果表明对于多关节仿生机器鱼推进方面,真实金枪鱼游动采样数据相较于常见的鱼体波产生的推进数据,在躯干进行大幅值摆动的情况下效果更好;这一仿真和实验对比为仿鲹科机器鱼的高效运动控制提供了一种新思路。     

Dynamic state feedback control of two cooperative manipulators

Dynamic coordinated control of two robot manipulators that rigidly grasp a common object is studied. A dynamic coordinated control model for the two manipulators is derived that is suitable for system analysis and design in state space. The model takes into account kinematic and dynamic constraints between the two manipulators, and is explicitly described by non-linear state equtions and non-linear output equations in the state space. Since coordinated control requires the control of forces applied to the object by manipulators, the output equations include both position components and force components. While robotic systems with position outputs can be linearized using a static state feedback, systems with force outputs, such as the present two robot system, require a dynamic non-linear state feedback for exact linearization. By using dynamic non-linear feedback, coordinated control of two robotic manipulators is converted into a control problem of linear systems.     

Undulatory locomotion and effective propulsion for fish-inspired robot

Swimming, turning, and whip-sweeping propulsion for carangiform locomotion of a fish robot are investigated by means of a 4-link planar tail and an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)-like model. It is observed that excellent acceleration occurs when a whip sweeping behavior has been applied to the fish tail. The forward speed can even increases twice to the nominal swimming via the simulation study. The efficient movement is thus incorporated to the fish robot for agile movement. The robot's swimming patterns realize the effect in terms of the forward swimming, turning swimming, acceleration increasing, descended swimming, ascended swimming, depth regulating, and self-stabilization. Verification is accomplished by incorporating the 4-link planar tail, AUV-like model, and a two degree-of-freedom (DOF) barycenter mechanism. The four-link planar tail and 2-DOF barycenter mechanism act, respectively, as the thrust generator and stabilizing actuator for the fish robot. Sliding mode control (SMC) has been applied for three-dimensional (3D) trajectory tracking. Simulation results illustrate satisfactory performances of the fish robot in terms of the fish-like behaviors and maneuverability, which are due to the consequence of the mimicked predator-fish behaviors and performance robustness of the SMC for trajectory tracking under ocean current perturbations and modeling uncertainties.     

Design and performance evaluation of a biomimetic microrobot for the father–son underwater intervention robotic system

Underwater intervention is a favorite and difficult task for AUVs. To realize the underwater manipulation for the small size spherical underwater robot SUR-II, a father–son underwater intervention robotic system (FUIRS) is proposed in our group. The FUIRS employs a novel biomimetic microrobot to realize an underwater manipulation task. This paper describes the biomimetic microrobot which is inspired by an octopus. The son robot can realize basic underwater motion, i.e. grasping motion, object detection and swimming motion. To enhance the payload, a novel buoyancy force adjustment method was proposed which can provides 11.8 mN additional buoyancy force to overcome the weight of the object in water. Finally, three underwater manipulation experiments are carried out to verify the performance of the son robot. One is carried by swimming motion and buoyancy adjustment; the other two are only carried by buoyancy adjustment. And the experimental results show that the son robot can realize the underwater manipulation of different shape and size objects successfully. The swimming motion can reduce the time cost of underwater manipulation remarkably.     

Fuzzy-neuro position/force control for robotic manipulators with uncertainties

The performance of a controller for robot force tracking is affected by the uncertainties in both the robot dynamic model and the environmental stiffness. This paper aims to improve the controller’s robustness by applying the neural network to compensate for the uncertainties of the robot model at the input trajectory level rather than at the joint torque level. A self-adaptive fuzzy controller is introduced for robotic manipulator position/force control. Simulation results based on a two-degrees of freedom robot show that highly robust position/force tracking can be achieved, despite the existence of large uncertainties in the robot model.     

Three-dimensional swimming tadpole mini-robot using three-axis Helmholtz coils

Electromagnetic-actuated robotic systems have been studied recently for special purposes. Because these systems use external magnetic fields to control their robots, the robots can have simple structures and move with much freedom. In particular, these electromagnetic actuation (EMA) systems are being widely adopted for the actuation of biomedical mini-robots and microrobots for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and diagnosis. We previously reported, as a feasible biomedical robot, the biomimetic swimming tadpole mini-robot, which can only swim above water. Indeed, the two-dimensional (D) plane swimming tadpole mini-robot is limited in its use because of its motility in the 2D plane. Therefore, this paper proposes a 3D swimming tadpole mini-robot that can move freely in water. First, in the proposed 3D swimming tadpole mini-robot, the buoyancy force was regulated for subaqueous swimming, and the permanent magnet was rearranged for precise movement. Second, to attain a 3D swimming motion, the actuation mechanism of the robot was developed using an EMA system. Finally, various experiments verified that the proposed 3D swimming tadpole mini-robot can swim freely in a 3D water environment.     

空间机器人抓捕目标后基于任务相容性的消旋策略

针对双臂空间机器人抓捕自旋目标后的镇定操作,在考虑机器人系统输入约束的条件下,提出了一种基于任务相容性的消旋规划与控制方法。首先,给出空间机器人抓捕目标后的组合系统的动力学模型,作为规划与控制的基础。然后,根据动力学可操作度和任务相容性设计了目标的快速消旋策略,其期望加速度的方向和大小分别取作速度的反方向和机器人系统输入约束允许的最大值。最后,基于所推导的运动学和动力学模型,通过对目标和机械臂末端分别建立柔顺度等式,提出了一种跟踪期望运动轨迹同时对末端接触力进行调节的柔顺控制方法。通过双臂7自由度空间机器人消除目标自旋运动的仿真结果,验证了所提方法的有效性。     

基于机器鱼的违规排污口定位方法

为解决违规排污口的侦测和定位的问题,本文使用机器鱼作为传感器的城体对违规排污口排放的污染物质进行检测分析,结合污染物的扩散模型对污染物浓度场进行分析并对排污阴进行定位。论文对违规排污侦测机器鱼所需的功能进行了分析,并根据分析结果对机器鱼的机械机构和内部电路结构进行设计,使用机器鱼结合污染物的扩散模型的方法设计出违规排污口的追踪定位方法,并对机器鱼和追踪算法进行实际测试,通过实际测试表明了设计的正确性。