A cooperative robotic platform for adaptive and immersive artistic installations

In this paper we shall review the major approaches done in the past concerning the development of immersive artistic installations. This will permit one to identify the basic features to be attained by this kind of installations and based on them a new cooperative and autonomous robotic platform will be proposed. The major novelty of the approach presented in this paper relies on its short- and long-term adaptation capabilities. The technical details of its basic building blocks and the results of the preliminary field tests will be provided, showing that it constitutes a very efficient platform for the construction of actual adaptive and immersive artistic installations.     

The Ranger robotic satellite servicer and its autonomous software-based safety system

We describe the Ranger robotic system and its autonomous hazard control system, which is designed to meet the stringent criteria imposed on space shuttle payloads. Mature Ranger systems have enabled evaluation of telerobotic servicing tasks in a variety of 1-g and neutral buoyancy environments. These evaluations have included rigorous testing with operators that ranged from experienced system designers to small children who frequently activate the safety system as they operate manipulators without skill or caution. Originally developed to demonstrate space-based robotic servicing as a shuttle payload, Ranger has subsequently evolved into an Earth-based test bed for robotic servicing tasks.     

Embedding robotic surgery into routine practice and impacts on communication and decision making: a review of the experience of surgical teams

While an increasing number of healthcare providers are purchasing surgical robots because of anticipated improvements in patient outcomes, their implementation into practice is highly variable. In robotic surgery, the surgeon is physically separated from the patient and the rest of the team with the potential to impact communication and decision making in the operating theatre and subsequently patient safety. Drawing on the approach of realist evaluation, in this article we review reports of the experience of surgical teams that have introduced robotic surgery to identify how and in what contexts robotic surgery is successfully integrated into practice and how and in what contexts it affects communication and decision making. Our analysis indicates that, while robotic surgery might bring about a number of benefits, it also creates new challenges. Robotic surgery is associated with increased operation duration, which has implications for patient safety, but strategies to reduce it can be effective with appropriate support from hospital administration and nursing management. The separation of the surgeon from the team can compromise communication but may be overcome through use of standardised communication. While surgeon situation awareness may be affected by the separation, the ergonomic benefits of robotic surgery may reduce stress and tiredness and enhance surgeon decision making. Our review adds to the existing literature by revealing strategies to support the introduction of robotic surgery and contextual factors that need to be in place for these to be effective.     

Mechanical design and control of inflatable robotic arms for high positioning accuracy

In recent years, inflatable robotic arms have been developed so that physical contact with humans and working environments could be performed safety. In industry, there is a growing demand for safe industrial robots to collaborate with people and work in various environments. In general, however, the positioning accuracy of inflatable robotic arms has not been discussed. This paper proposes an inflatable link structure and a non-inflatable joint structure that could realize a high positioning accuracy for such robotic arms. This paper experimentally demonstrates that these structures can improve positioning accuracy. In addition to these structures, the joint torque characteristics of the inflatable robotic arms were investigated. In order to perform accurate motion control, a visual feedback control method was introduced for inflatable robotic arms. The mechanism and control system used in this paper can improve the positioning accuracy performance of inflatable robots. A 2-DOF inflatable robotic arm and a camera system were found to be able to achieve a high positioning accuracy (i.e. less than 1 mm).     

Safe human–robot interaction based on dynamic sphere-swept line bounding volumes

This paper presents a geometric representation for human operators and robotic manipulators, which cooperate in the development of flexible tasks. The main goal of this representation is the implementation of real-time proximity queries, which are used by safety strategies for avoiding dangerous collisions between humans and robotic manipulators. This representation is composed of a set of bounding volumes based on swept-sphere line primitives, which encapsulate their links more precisely than previous sphere-based models. The radius of each bounding volume does not only represent the size of the encapsulated link, but it also includes an estimation of its motion. The radii of these dynamic bounding volumes are obtained from an algorithm which computes the linear velocity of each link. This algorithm has been implemented for the development of a safety strategy in a real human–robot interaction task.     

On Climbing Winding Stairs in an Open Mode for a New Robotic Wheelchair

This paper presents the mechanical design, locomotion and associated dynamic models of a new robotic wheelchair on climbing winding stairs. The prototype stair-climbing robotic wheelchair is constructed comprising a pair of rotational multi-limbed structures pivotally mounted on opposite sides of a support base so that the robotic wheelchair can ascend and descend stairs; in particular, the capability of climbing winding stairs is addressed. Based on the skid-steering analysis, the dynamic models for climbing winding stairs are developed for the trajectory planning and motion analyses. These models are required to ensure a passenger's safety in such a way that the robotic wheelchair is operated in an open mode. Moreover, an equivalent constraint method is proposed for the prescribed motion of the robotic wheelchair on climbing winding stairs. The results of the simulation and maneuver are reported that show the behavior of the prototype as it climbs winding stairs in a dynamic turning.     

Reinforcement learning based compliance control of a robotic walk assist device

ABSTRACT

Millions of people around the globe have to deal with walking disability. Robotic walk assist devices can help people with walking disabilities, especially those with weak legs. However, safety, cost, efficiency and user friendliness are some of the key challenges. For robotic walk assist devices, light weight structure and energy efficient design as well as optimal control are vitally important. In addition, compliance control can help to improve the safety of such devices as well as contribute to their user friendliness. In this paper, an optimal adaptive compliance control is proposed for a Robotic walk assist device. The suggested scheme is based on bio-inspired reinforcement learning. It is completely dynamic-model-free scheme and employs joint position and velocity feedback as well as sensed joint torque (applied by user during walk) for compliance control. The efficiency of the controller is tested in simulation on a robotic walk assisting device model.     

An overview on optimal flocking

The decentralized aggregate motion of many individual robots is known as robotic flocking. The study of robotic flocking has received considerable attention in the past twenty years. As we begin to deploy flocking control algorithms on physical multi-agent and swarm systems, there is an increasing necessity for rigorous promises on safety and performance. In this paper, we present an overview the literature focusing on optimization approaches to achieve flocking behavior that provide strong safety guarantees. We separate the literature into cluster and line flocking, and categorize cluster flocking with respect to the system-level objective, which may be realized by a reactive or planning control algorithm. We also categorize the line flocking literature by the energy-saving mechanism that is exploited by the agents. We present several approaches aimed at minimizing the communication and computational requirements in real systems via neighbor filtering and event-driven planning, and conclude with our perspective on the outlook and future research direction of optimal flocking as a field.     

Design and performance evaluation of a novel robotic catheter system for vascular interventional surgery

Vascular interventional surgery (VIS) is an effective treatment method for vascular diseases. However, there are many problems in traditional VIS, such as surgeons are radiated by X-ray, the lack of well skilled surgeons, the security of the surgery will be reduced due to the Surgeons’ fatigue, high risk of the surgery. To solve these problems, a robotic catheter system is needed to protect the surgeons and enhance the safety of the surgery. In this paper, a novel robotic catheter system with master–slave structure for VIS has been developed. This system is designed with the consideration of the operation method in traditional VIS, which allows the surgeon to operate a real catheter on the master side, then the surgeon make full use of the natural catheter manipulation experience and skills obtained in conventional catheter operation. The salve manipulator operates the catheter insert into the blood vessel with following the operation of the surgeon, and the operating force of the salve manipulator is detected. On the master side, a novel damper-based magnetorheological (MR) fluid is designed to realize the force feedback, which is also used to reappear the operation force from the salve manipulator. The damper connected directly with real catheter is a piston structure using the MR fluid to realize the force feedback. It can transmit the feedback force to surgeon’s hand through the operating catheter connected with damper, which seems that the surgeon operates the catheter beside the patient. The operating transparency of the developed system has been enhanced. The mechanism of the developed system has been introduced in detail. Performance evaluation experiments for the developed robotic catheter system have been done. The experimental results indicated that the developed robotic catheter system is fit for VIS.     

A performance evaluation methodology for robotic machine tools used in large volume manufacturing

The manufacture of large components in various industries can create health, safety and economic challenges as a result of machining operations. A potential solution is the replacement of conventional large machine tools with low-cost and portable robotic machine tools, although these lack accuracy and precision in comparison. Effort is therefore required to develop robotic machining technology to a state where it can be implemented in high tolerance applications using a variety of materials. A barrier to implementation is that there is not a standardised procedure available to robustly assess current robotic machining performance, which makes it challenging to assess the impact of technological developments. This paper develops a methodology to determine robotic machining performance based upon reviews of standards available that currently specify such guidelines for robotics and machine tool technologies used independently. It is found that useful elements from each theme can be combined and applied to robotic machine tool performance evaluation. These are presented here with the aim of forming a conceptual foundation on which the technology can be developed for large volume manufacturing.     

欠驱动自适应机器人手的研制

采用欠驱动自适应原理研制了与成年人手大小相仿的五指机器人手，所设计的机器人手结构简单，重量轻，适应性强，它既可以作为仿人形机器人末端操作器，也可以应用于残疾人假手．根据虚功原理建立了3自由度欠驱动手指的准静力学模型．     

Development and Model-Aided Performance Measure of a Sensor-Augmented Industrial Robotic System for Handling Steel Bearing Races in an Unstructured Environment

Industrial application of robotic system for material handling operations has progressively become more challenging in situations of unstructured environments, in comparison to the same under somewhat known perspectives. Gripping under an unstructured robotic workspace poses serious challenges, which are beyond the purview of traditional grasp models and those need to be tackled only through customized modeling of the robotic environment. The present paper describes the details of such an application at the shop-floor of TATA STEEL, India, encompassing installation of the four degrees-of-freedom SCARA type industrial robotic system, design and construction of the magnetic gripper, sensory and hardware interfaces, safety measures (viz. design and development of electronic guarding system), environment model, application programming and final commissioning of the system for the intended use of handling steel bearing races of various sizes. Besides technical paradigms, the paper focuses on the performance measure of this maiden application of robotics in Indian steel industries.     

A literature survey of the robotic technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic

Since the late 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has been spread all around the world. The pandemic is a critical challenge to the health and safety of the general public, the medical staff and the medical systems worldwide. It has been globally proposed to utilise robots during the pandemic, to improve the treatment of patients and leverage the load of the medical system. However, there is still a lack of detailed and systematic review of the robotic research for the pandemic, from the technologies’ perspective. Thus a thorough literature survey is conducted in this research and more than 280 publications have been reviewed, with the focus on robotics during the pandemic. The main contribution of this literature survey is to answer two research questions, i.e. 1) what the main research contributions are to combat the pandemic from the robotic technologies’ perspective, and 2) what the promising supporting technologies are needed during and after the pandemic to help and guide future robotics research. The current achievements of robotic technologies are reviewed and discussed in different categories, followed by the identification of the representative work’s technology readiness level. The future research trends and essential technologies are then highlighted, including artificial intelligence, 5 G, big data, wireless sensor network, and human-robot collaboration.     

A fail-safe tele-autonomous robotic system for nuclear facilities

A fail-safe tele-autonomous robotic system is proposed for use in advanced nuclear reprocessing facilities. The design exploits the technologies developed for space telerobotics. The target system consists of a graphical user interface for an operator to execute robotic tasks, hand controllers for teleoperation, a three-dimensional graphical simulator, and robot control software to drive both the graphical simulation and dual six degree-of-freedom robots to perform tasks using autonomous, teleoperated, and shared control modes. A preliminary design for a safety monitoring system for fail-safe operations is also described.     

Alternative Solution for a Robotic Stereotactic System

The development of robotic technology applications in the stereotactic neurosurgical method has reached the stage of high acceptation, which is the driving force for searching for other solutions. The article describes an alternative robotic system solution for stereotaxis and compares it with other known solutions. It is characterised by a minimal number of the controlled robot axes, while preserving required articulation possibilities. Since it is a non-traditional robotic architecture, the article outlines its kinematic analysis with the specification of transformation matrices for an inversion problem. At the same time, outputs from the robot computer animation, which is an indispensable aid in the development of kinematic mechanisms, are presented.     

RSSS-II 脊柱手术机器人系统开发及其实验研究

手术机器人应用于脊柱手术中,辅助医生完成脊柱手术中钉道定位、钻钉道等操作,有助于降低医生工作强度,保证了手术操作的精确性、稳定性和安全性.文章针对椎弓根钉内固定术,设计研制了脊柱手术辅机器人系统RSSS-Ⅱ.首先,从脊柱手术的临床需求出发,充分考虑术中安全性、手术区域覆盖范围、患者术中摆位以及对机器人占地空间等多方面因素,设计六自由度串联式手术机械臂以及力反馈钻骨装置.其次,以椎弓根钉内固定术中准确定位为目的,对机器人导航定位所涉及的关键技术展开研究,构建了图像导航定位系统.最后,通过精度测试实验和离体样本骨实验,对关键技术及系统的精度、安全性等进行原理性验证.实验结果显示,脊柱手术机器人系统RSSS-Ⅱ能满足手术对精度的要求.     

基于碰撞检测的护理型操作臂的安全性设计与实现

针对与人近距离交互的护理型操作臂的安全性问题,提出并实现了一种基于碰撞检测的安全性设计方法,它根据由动力学模型计算获得的参考输出力矩与力矩传感器测得的实际输出力矩间的偏差实现碰撞检测.在关节力矩传感器设计中,采用有限元分析方法来优化应变片的位置布置,并开发了高抗干扰能力的信号处理电路.根据护理型操作臂的低速特点,提出了...     

服务机器人云平台服务质量指标体系综述

服务机器人的诞生丰富了人们的生活,并且随着大数据、云计算等技术的迅速发展,服务机器人连接云平台并从中调取算法服务已经能够实现,云服务机器人已然成为服务机器人的重点研究方向之一,而服务机器人云平台作为云服务机器人的云端服务平台有着重要的作用,需要对服务机器人云平台服务质量进行全面地评估,使服务机器人云平台能够和云服务机器人更好地结合。对服务机器人云平台服务质量指标体系进行综述,分别从软件QOS指标、网络QOS指标、服务机器人QOS指标三方面展开研究,并对三方面指标内容进行总结分析,得出一种服务机器人云平台服务质量指标体系,通过该体系能够对目前的服务机器人云平台以及相关云服务机器人的服务质量进行较为全面地评估,对该体系的未来发展进行展望。     

A delayed force-reflecting haptic controller for master–slave neurosurgical robots

This paper presents a new force-reflecting control system for master–slave haptic devices. This controller has been implemented and tested on the robotic systems for minimally invasive neurosurgery developed by our Research Group. Robot-assisted surgery is a very valuable treatment, since it allows benefits of high precision, accuracy, and repeatability of robotic devices. The proposed controller is meant to be used for master–slave haptic robotic surgery, but it can be used for any device that provides haptic feedback. The new controller merges the paradigms of force reflection (FR) control and delayed reference control. Unlike the FR control, the proposed solution enhances the safety since it does not allow an unwanted motion of the slave device once the operator releases the haptic controller. Experimental tests are provided to show the capabilities and the performance of the controller. Closed-loop stability is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The analytic results on stability impose a limit on the ratio between the measured contact force and the sampling frequency of the closed-loop controller.