A control for spatial motions of a robot in a rectangular Cartesian coordinate system

Two mathematical models of a robot with elastic or rigid links working in a rectangular Cartesian coordinate system are proposed. The problems of dynamic and kinematic controls for such a robot are posed within the framework of the specified models. The difficulties of mathematical simulation of real robots of such a type with sliding joints are discussed in connection with the presence of elastic flexibility in the actuators. The technique for estimating the accuracy of positioning of the load carried by the robot based on joint use of the specified mathematical models is presented. As an example, solution of the problems of kinematic control of flexible and rigid robots with equivalent geometric and physical parameters functioning in a rectangular Cartesian coordinate system is considered.     

Decentralized sliding mode control for flexible link robots

A technique using augmented sliding mode control for robust, real-time control of flexible multiple link robots is presented. For the purpose of controller design, the n-link, n-joint robot is subdivided into n single joint, single link subsystems. A sliding surface for each subsystem is specified so as to be globally, asymptotically stable. Each sliding surface contains rigid-body angular velocity, angular displacement and flexible body generalized velocities. The flexible body generalized accelerations are treated as disturbances during the controller design. This has the advantage of not requiring explicit equations for the flexible body motion. The result is n single input, single output controllers acting at the n joints of the robot, controlling rigid body angular displacement and providing damping for flexible body modes. Furthermore, the n controllers can be operated in parallel so that compute speed is independent of the number of links, affording real-time, robust, control.     

Modelling and Model Fitting of Flexible Robots – a Multibody System Toolkit Approach

During the last decade robots with flexible links became a popular research object for control engineers. This is because of their sophisticated properties referring to feedback control, e.g., non-minimum phase behaviour in end-effector control. Massive problems already occur trying to obtain an accurate analytic model for multilink flexible robots. This paper presents an effective way for numerical modelling of multilink flexible robots using the multibody system toolkit MBILE. The experimental model fitting to a laboratory test bed of a two-link flexible robot is documented.     

Cooperative Control of a 3D Dual-Flexible-Arm Robot

This paper discusses cooperative control of a dual-flexible-arm robot to handle a rigid object in three-dimensional space. The proposed control scheme integrates hybrid position/force control and vibration suppression control. To derive the control scheme, kinematics and dynamics of the robot when it forms a closed kinematic chain is discussed. Kinematics is described using workspace force, velocity and position vectors, and hybrid position/force control is extended from that on dual-rigid-arm robots. Dynamics is derived from constraint conditions and the lumped-mass-spring model of the flexible robots and an object. The vibration suppression control is calculated from the deflections of the flexible links and the dynamics. Experiments on cooperative control are performed. The absolute positions/orientations and internal forces/moments are controlled using the robot, each arm of which has two flexible links, seven joints and a force/torque sensor. The results illustrate that the robot handled the rigid object damping links' vibration successfully in three-dimensional space.     

A review on vision-based control of flexible manipulators

In this review, recent developments in the field of flexible robot arm control using visual servoing are reviewed. In comparison to rigid robots, the end-effector position of flexible links cannot be obtained precisely enough with respect to position control using kinematic information and joint variables. To solve the task here the use of a vision sensor (camera) system, visual servoing is proposed to realize the task of control flexible manipulators with improved quality requirements. The paper is organized as follows: the visual servoing architectures will be reviewed for rigid robots first. The advantages, disadvantages, and comparisons between different approaches of visual servoing are carried out. The using of visual servoing to control flexible robot is addressed next. Open problems such as state variables estimation as well as the combination of different sensor properties as well as some application-oriented points related to flexible robot are discussed in detail.     

A distributed parameter model for the dynamics of flexible-link robots

In this paper a model is developed for kinematic and dynamic analysis of flexible robots undergoing general three-dimensional motion. For modeling robotic links, distributed mass and flexibility are considered without discretization. Some modeling issues are discussed, and parameters characterizing the real design of a robot are introduced into the analysis. The concept of a fictitious rigid link is presented to consider the rigid body motion of a link separately, and to account for possibly complex link shapes. Based on Jourdain's principle, an alternative formulation is proposed to derive the dynamic equations of flexible robots. The equations of motion are developed and analyzed in detail. The vibrations of links are described by linear, inhomogeneous partial differential equations, with homogeneous, nonlinear, time-dependent boundary conditions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Development of flexible joints for a humanoid robot that walks on an oscillating plane

In this study, we develop flexible joints for a humanoid robot that walks on an oscillating plane and discuss their effectiveness in compensating disturbances. Conventional robots have a rigid frame and are composed of rigid joints driven by geared motors. Therefore, disturbances, which may be caused by external forces from other robots, obstacles, vibration and oscillation of the surface upon which the robot is walking, and so on, are transmitted directly to the robot body, causing the robot to fall. To address this problem, we focus on a flexible mechanism. We develop flexible joints and incorporate them in the waist of a humanoid robot; the experimental task of the robot is to walk on a horizontally oscillating plane until it reaches the desired position. The robot with the proposed flexible joints, reached the goal position despite the fact that the controller was the same as that used for a conventional robot walking on a static plane. From these results, we conclude that our proposed mechanism is effective for humanoid robots that walk on an oscillating plane.     

Active Vibration Control of Flexible Robots Using Virtual Spring-damper Systems

When using robots for heavy loads and huge operating ranges, elastic deformations of the links have to be taken into account during modeling and controller design. Whereas for conventional rigid multilink industrial robots modeling can schematically be done by standard techniques, it is a massive problem to obtain an accurate analytic model for multilink flexible robots. But an accurate analytic model is essential for most modern controller design techniques, and modeling errors can lead to instability of the controlled system due to spillover since the eigenvalues of the system are only slightly damped. A new approach to active damping control for flexible robots is presented in this paper where the actuators act like virtual spring-damper-systems. As the spring-damper-element is a passive energy dissipative device, it will never destabilize the system and thus the control concept will be very insensitive to modeling errors. Basically, the two parameters, spring stiffness and damping constant of this system, are arbitrary and model independent. To satisfy performance requirements they are adjusted using knowledge of the system model. The more it is known about the system model, the better these parameters may be adjusted. The new input of the controlled system is a virtual variation of the spring base. The paper illustrates this technique with the help of a simple and easy to model one link flexible robot which is also available as a real laboratory testbed.     

Motion teaching method for complex robot links using motor current

Conventional robot motion teaching methods use a teaching pendant or a motion capture device and are not the most convenient or intuitive ways to teach a robot sophisticated and fluid movements such as martial arts motions. Ideally, a robot could be set up as if it were a clothing mannequin that has light limbs and flexible yet frictional joints which can be positioned at desirable shape and hold all the positions. To do the same with a robot, an operator could pull or push the links with minor forces until the desired robot posture is attained. For this, a robot should measure the applied external force by using torque sensors at the robot joints. However, torque sensors are bulky and expensive to install in every DOF joints while keeping a compact design, which is essential to humanoid robots. In this paper, we use only motor current readings to acquire joint torques. The equations used to compensate for the effect of gravity on the joint torques and the self-calibration method to earn link parameters are presented. Additionally, kinematic restrictions can be imposed on the robot’s arms to simplify the motion teaching. Here, we teach the Kendo training robot with this method and the robot’s learnt martial art motions are demonstrated.     

钢结构建筑探伤机器人刚柔耦合空间位姿解析与实验研究

针对传统钢结构建筑健康监测中存在检测盲区和检测不全面的问题,研究了磁吸附式刚柔耦合柔性探伤机器人并对其控制系统进行了改进．建立了柔性机器人前、后车体位移和姿态运动学数学模型与机器人刚柔耦合结构位姿解算方程,通过惯性测量单元和编码器获取柔性探伤机器人前、后车体实时动态位姿参数,分别采用显性互补滤波器和扩展卡尔曼滤波器解算前、后车体在不同工况中的静态、动态姿态,利用航迹推算算法确定机器人的位置,通过数据融合得到柔性机器人刚柔耦合结构的空间位姿．实验结果表明,扩展卡尔曼滤波算法的动态跟踪性能更好,可为柔性探伤机器人在复杂建筑结构越障运动中提供精确的空间位姿参数．     

一种新型机器人三维力柔性触觉传感器的设计

基于柔性力敏导电橡胶材料,设计了一种能测量三维力的新型机器人柔性触觉传感器。研究了力敏导电橡胶材料的压阻效应,阐述了触觉传感器的设计思想,分别进行了触觉传感器单元设计和阵列结构设计和研究。获得了计算三维力的数学模型,并通过实验进行了三维力的验证。结果表明,设计的机器人三维力柔性触觉传感器具有设计简单,造价低廉,柔顺性好等优点,而且布置成阵列结构可用于医疗、体育、机器人等领域中检测三维力信息。     

A PC-Based Simulator/Controller/Monitor Software for a Generic 6-DOF Manipulator

General form application is a very important issue in industrial design. Prototyping a design helps in determining system parameters, ranges and in structuring better systems. Robotics is one of the industrial design fields in which prototyping is crucial for improved functionality. Developing an environment that enables optimal and flexible design using reconfigurable links, joints, actuators and sensors is essential for using robots in the education and industrial fields. We propose a PC-based software package to control, monitor, and simulate a generic 6-DOF (six degrees of freedom) robot including a spherical wrist. This package may be used as a black box for the design implementations or as a white (detailed) box for learning about the basics of robotics and simulation technology.     

提高柔性冗余度机器人动态特性的最小变形能法

冗余度柔性机器人的运动规划是机器人领域的重要前沿课题之一 .利用此机器人的冗余特性 ,可以改善其运动学和动力学性能 .柔性机器人的变形能能够很好地反映出其整体弹性变形程度 .本文提出了在最小变形能意义下的柔性冗余度机器人运动学规划的新方法 .以平面三柔性臂机器人为例进行了仿真 ,通过与最小末端误差意义下的规划策略进行比较 ,充分显示了最小变形能法在提高柔性机器人动态性能的有效性和优越性     

柔性机器人协调操作闭链负载机构的一般模型

本文利用闭链刚性负载内部运动参数之间的微分关系,在单柔性机器人有限元动力 学模型基础上,建立了系统的运动学和动力学协调约束条件,首次导出了基于负载运动任务 参数的柔性机器人协调操作闭链刚性负载的动力学方程,并给出了两3R柔性机器人协调操作 刚性四杆机构的仿真算例．     

Modal sensitivity analysis of planar robots,based on a simplified CMS approach

The modal properties of industrial robots have become a major issue following the increasing demand for faster, lighter manipulators. In this article, the basic in-plane and out-of-plane modal analysis of a planar robot with revolute joints is conducted via component mode synthesis (CMS) using a limited number of low-order monomials as mode shapes for the different links, and an automatic coordinate reduction procedure in the assembly phase which accounts for the physical characteristics of the joints. This model is then used to study the effect of variations in configuration, payload and various physical parameters on the natural frequencies of the robot. As regards the influence of physical parameter variations, frequency sensitivity coefficients are evaluated in a straightforward manner requiring only one eigenvalue analysis, and allow to determine the eigenvalue variations. It is observed that relatively large variations of parameters can be accommodated using these sensitivity coefficients.     

Design of global tracking controllers for flexible-joint robots

An approach to design control laws for trajectory tracking of robots having flexible joints is presented. An application to the adaptive control is also given with reference to a single-link robot with one revolute elastic joint whose parameters are unknown.     

Real-time Velocity Alteration Strategy for Collision-free Trajectory Planning of Two Articulated Robot Manipulators

Two articulated robots working in a shared workspace can be programmed by planning the tip trajectory of each robot independently. To account for collision avoidance between links, a real-time velocity alteration strategy based on fast and accurate collision detection is proposed in this paper to determine the step of next motion of slave (low priority) robot for collision-free trajectory planning of two robots with priorities. The effectiveness of the method depends largely on a newly developed method of accurate estimate of distance between links. By using the enclosing and enclosed ellipsoids representations of polyhedral models of links of robots, the minimum distance estimate and collision detection between the links can be performed more efficiently and accurately. The proposed strategy is implemented in an environment where the geometric paths of robots are pre-planned and the preprogrammed velocities are piecewise constant but adjustable. Under the control of the proposed strategy, the master robot always moves at a constant speed. The slave robot moves at the selected velocity, selected by a tradeoff between collision trend index and velocity reduction in one collision checking time, to keep moving as far as possible and as fast as possible while avoid possible collisions along the path. The collision trend index is a fusion of distance and relative velocity between links of two robots to reflect the possibility of collision at present and in the future. Graphic simulations of two PUMA560 robot arms working in common workspace but with independent goals are conducted. Simulations demonstrate the collision avoidance capability of the proposed approach as compared to the approach based on bounding volumes. It shows that advantage of our approach is less number of speed alterations required to react to potential collisions.     

A constrained assumed modes method for dynamics of a flexible planar serial robot with prismatic joints

In the present study, for the first time, flexible multibody dynamics for a three-link serial robot with two flexible links having active prismatic joints is presented using an approximate analytical method. Transverse vibrations of flexible links/beams with prismatic joints have complicated differential equations. This complexity is mostly due to axial motion of the links. In this study, first, vibration analysis of a flexible link sliding through an active prismatic joint having translational motion is considered. A rigid-body coordinate system is used, which aids in obtaining a new and rather simple form of the kinematic differential equation without the loss of generality. Next, the analysis is extended to include dynamic forces for a three-link planar serial robot called PPP (Prismatic, Prismatic, Prismatic), in which all joints are prismatic and active. The robot has a rigid first link but flexible second and third links. To model the prismatic joint, time-variant constraints are written, and a motion equation in a form of virtual displacement and virtual work of forces/moments is obtained. Finally, an approximate analytical method called the “constrained assumed modes method” is presented for solving the motion equations. For a numerical case study, approximate analytical results are compared with finite element results, which show that the two solutions closely follow each other.     

Toward efficient path-planning for articulated robots

Real-time issues are becoming more and more important in robot programming. When a 6-dof manipulator is used, planning obstacle-avoiding paths is a time-consuming activity, usually done in simulation. We present the geometric models and the reasoning techniques we have implemented while realizing a gross motion planner for a manipulator with six revolute joints. First, construction of a problem-oriented representation of the robot working space is explained. Then, the actual trajectory research carried out in our C-space representation is described. The whole C-space is not calculated; instead, a sequential strategy is used to determine the C-space only for the first two links. Our approximation of the obstacles, which occupy fixed and known positions, greatly speeds the computation, allowing us to reduce the problem to planar geometric reasoning. The work is not limited to theoretical studies or simulations; experiments have been run very thoroughly, with various tests, on a PUMA robot to assess the real efficiency and usability of our software. The method applies to robots in a fixed and known environment. © 3995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.