Modeling, analysis, and performance evaluation of a robotic grippersystem for limp material handling

This paper presents an analytical model of a flat surfaced robotic gripper designed to automate the process of reliable, rapid and distortion-free limp material handling. The designed gripper prototype is integrated with an industrial robot manipulator. The gripper geometry and its grasp stability are justified. Performance of the overall system is experimentally tested, based on a set of industry dictated operational constraints. It is found that the gripper system has high reliability, grasp stability, and that it is capable of rapid rates of manipulation.     

Optimal two-degree-of-freedom fuzzy control for locomotion control of a hydraulically actuated hexapod robot

Locomotion control of legged robots is a very challenging task because very accurate foot trajectory tracking control is necessary for stable walking. An electro-hydraulically actuated walking robot has sufficient power to walk on rough terrain and carry a heavier payload. However, electro-hydraulic servo systems suffer from various shortcomings such as a high degree of nonlinearity, uncertainty due to changing hydraulic properties, delay due to oil flow and dead-zone of the proportional electromagnetic control valves. These shortcomings lead to inaccurate analytical system model, therefore, application of classical control techniques result into large tracking error. Fuzzy logic is capable of modeling mathematically complex or ill-defined systems. Therefore, fuzzy logic is becoming popular for synthesis of control systems for complex and nonlinear plants. In this investigation, a two-degree-of-freedom fuzzy controller, consisting of a one-step-ahead fuzzy prefilter in the feed-forward loop and a PI-like fuzzy controller in the feedback loop, has been proposed for foot trajectory tracking control of a hydraulically actuated hexapod robot. The fuzzy prefilter has been designed by a genetic algorithm (GA) based optimization. The prefilter overcomes the flattery delay caused by the hydraulic dead-zone of the electromagnetic proportional control valve and thus helps to achieve better tracking. The feedback fuzzy controller ensures the stability of the overall system in the face of model uncertainty associated with hydraulically actuated robotic mechanisms. Experimental results exhibit that the proposed controller manifests better foot trajectory tracking performance compared to single-degree-of-freedom (SDF) fuzzy controller or optimal classical controller like state feedback LQR controller.     

A Real-Time, Hierarchical, Sensor-Based Robotic System Architecture

A robotic system architecture is presented and its real-time performance, when used to control a robotic gripper system for deformation-free handling of limp material, is evaluated. A major problem to be overcome has been the integrability and compatibility issues between various components of the developed system. The software and hardware protocols and interfaces developed to control and coordinate the subsystem operations and interactions are presented. The performance of the developed real-time, hierarchical, sensor-based robotic system architecture is found to meet and satisfy a set of system operational constraints and demands as dictated by the industry.     

Neuro-fuzzy position control of demining tele-operation system based on RNN modeling

The paper considers the neuro-fuzzy position control of multi-finger robot hand in tele-operation system—an active master–slave hand system (MSHS) for demining. Recently, fuzzy control systems utilizing artificial intelligent techniques are also being actively investigated in robotic area. Neural network with their powerful learning capability are being sought as the basis for many adaptive control systems where on-line adaptation can be implemented. Fuzzy logic on the other hand has been proved to be rather popular in many control system applications providing a rule-base like structure. In this paper, the design and optimization process of fuzzy position controller is supported by learning techniques derived from neural network where a radial basis function (RBF) neural network is implemented to learn fuzzy rules and membership functions with predictor of recurrent neural network (RNN) model. The results of experiment show that based on the predictive capability of RNN model neuro-fuzzy controller with good adaptation and robustness capability can be designed.     

Fuzzy logic path planning for the robotic placement of fabrics on a work table

In this paper, an innovative fuzzy logic approach for the robotic laying of fabrics on a work table and based on fuzzy sets is presented. Through handling experiments the solution domain for the path of the robotic gripper is determined, the handling parameters are identified and implicit knowledge is accumulated. Then a proper scheme for the data acquisition is formed and a path-planning algorithm based on fuzzy logic is developed. Due to conflicts and inaccuracies of the acquired data, a subtractive clustering algorithm is used, to identify the proper clusters for the two developed fuzzy systems, with the first employing the clusters as rules and the second a neuro-fuzzy system initialised by the implicit knowledge and trained via back-propagation. Finally, the effectiveness of the two path-planning systems is investigated in an experimental stage where the robot successfully places on a table fabrics of a variety of materials and sizes.     

Observer-Based Adaptive Controller Design of Flexible Manipulators Using Time-Delay Neuro-Fuzzy Networks

In this paper, a dynamical time-delay neuro-fuzzy controller is proposed for the adaptive control of a flexible manipulator. It is assumed that the robotic manipulator has only joint angle position measurements. A linear observer is used to estimate the robot joint angle velocity. For a perfect tracking control of the robot, the output redefinition approach is used in the adaptive controller design using time-delay neuro-fuzzy networks. The time-delay neuro-fuzzy networks with the rule representation of the TSK type fuzzy system have better learning ability for complex dynamics as compared with existing neural networks. The novel control structure and learning algorithm are given, and a simulation for the trajectory tracking of a flexible manipulator illustrates the control performance of the proposed control approach.     

Design fundamentals of a reconfigurable robotic gripper system

Discusses the design and modeling fundamentals of a multi-degree-of-freedom reconfigurable robotic gripper system (RGS), designed to automate the process of limp material handling, reliably and without distortion, deformation, and/or folding. The reconfigurable gripper design draws upon a previously reported flat surfaced, fixed-dimensions gripper system (Kolluru et al., 1998). The design consists of four arms in a cross-bar configuration, with a flat surfaced, fixed dimensions, suction-based gripper unit mounted on each of the arms. The kinematic and dynamic performance of the reconfigurable RGS is analyzed theoretically and then validated using Integrated Design Engineering Analysis Software (I-DEAS) simulation software     

Adaptive neuro fuzzy controller for adaptive compliant robotic gripper

The requirement for new flexible adaptive grippers is the ability to detect and recognize objects in their environments. It is known that robotic manipulators are highly nonlinear systems, and an accurate mathematical model is difficult to obtain, thus making it difficult то control using conventional techniques. Here, a novel design of an adaptive neuro fuzzy inference strategy (ANFIS) for controlling input displacement of a new adaptive compliant gripper is presented. This design of the gripper has embedded sensors as part of its structure. The use of embedded sensors in a robot gripper gives the control system the ability to control input displacement of the gripper and to recognize particular shapes of the grasping objects. Since the conventional control strategy is a very challenging task, fuzzy logic based controllers are considered as potential candidates for such an application. Fuzzy based controllers develop a control signal which yields on the firing of the rule base. The selection of the proper rule base depending on the situation can be achieved by using an ANFIS controller, which becomes an integrated method of approach for the control purposes. In the designed ANFIS scheme, neural network techniques are used to select a proper rule base, which is achieved using the back propagation algorithm. The simulation results presented in this paper show the effectiveness of the developed method.     

Force-reflecting Telepresence in Extensive Remote Environments

Many recent contributions on flexible link and elastic joint robotic arms focus on how to solve path tracking and vibration damping problems in slow and fast mode control, respectively. For slow mode control, the problem has been dealt with previously by soft computing tools in which some parameters are designed manually. As a result, system performances are often tiresome and intractable. This paper introduces a scheme to improve the system performance by applying genetic algorithms (GAs) to tune the membership function parameters of a fuzzy logic controller for the slow mode of a two-flexible-link and two-elastic-joint robotic manipulator. The system with the new controller is simulated and its behaviour is compared with that provided by conventional and expert-designed fuzzy logic controllers.     

Adaptive neuro fuzzy estimation of underactuated robotic gripper contact forces

It is known that robotic manipulators are highly nonlinear systems, and an accurate mathematical model is difficult to obtain, thus making it difficult tо analyze with conventional analytical methods. Here, a novel design of an adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for estimation contact forces of a new adaptive gripper is presented. Since the conventional analytical methods is a very challenging task, fuzzy logic based systems are considered as potential candidates for such an application. The main points of this paper are in explanation of kinetostatic analyzing of the new gripper structure using rigid body model with added compliance in every single joint. The experimental results can be used as training data for ANFIS network for estimation of gripping forces. An adaptive neuro-fuzzy network is used to approximate correlation between contact point locations and contact forces magnitudes. The simulation results presented in this paper show the effectiveness of the developed method. This system is capable to find any change in ratio of positions of the gripper contacts and magnitudes of the contact forces and thus indicates state of both finger phalanges.     

电动车转向系统的模糊控制仿真

本仿真的背景基于全国大学生智能车竞赛,研究电动车在随机轨迹上的跟踪转向控制。由于电动车转向控制系统的不确定性,使用传统PID控制无法满足控制需求并可能产生调节振荡。模糊控制技术基于模糊数学理论,通过模拟人的近似推理和综合决策过程,使控制算法的可控性、适应性和合理性得到提高。根据电动车转向控制的特点设计了一种简化了的模糊控制器,并与传统PID控制器进行比较。通过在MATLAB下搭建传统PID控制器模型和简化了的模糊控制器模型,最终分析和比较了该模糊控制器和传统PID控制器的不同控制效果。     

A novel intelligent controller for combating stiction in pneumatic control valves

Pneumatic control valve introduces limit cycles in process variables due to stiction nonlinearity. In this paper a novel stiction combating intelligent controller (SCIC) based on fuzzy logic has been proposed. The proposed technique reduces the complexity of the overall control scheme as it does not require any additional compensator. The SCIC controller is a variable gain fuzzy Proportional Integral (PI) controller making use of Takagi-Sugeno (TS) scheme. The performance of the SCIC controller has been investigated and compared with conventional PI controller on a laboratory scale flow process. SCIC controller outperformed PI controller and provided promising performance with lesser aggressive stem movement.     

Sliding mode control of wind-induced vibrations using fuzzy sliding surface and gain adaptation

Although fuzzy/adaptive sliding mode control can reduce the chattering problem in structural vibration control applications, they require the equivalent control and the upper bounds of the system uncertainties. In this paper, we used fuzzy logic to approximate the standard sliding surface and designed a dead-zone adaptive law for tuning the switching gain of the sliding mode control. The stability of the proposed controller is established using Lyapunov stability theory. A six-storey building prototype equipped with an active mass damper has been used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller towards the wind-induced vibrations.     

Design and manufacturing of mobile micro manipulation system with a compliant piezoelectric actuator based micro gripper

This paper presents a new design of mobile micro manipulation system for robotic micro assembly where a compliant piezoelectric actuator based micro gripper is designed for handling the miniature parts and compensation of misalignment during peg-in-hole assembly is done because piezoelectric actuator has capability of producing the displacement in micron range and generates high force instantaneously. This adjusts the misalignment of peg during robotic micro assembly. The throughput/speed of mobile micro manipulation system is found for picking and placing the peg from one hole to next hole position. An analysis of piezoelectric actuator based micro gripper has been carried out where voltage is controlled through a proportional-derivative (PD) controller. By developing a prototype, it is demonstrated that compliant piezoelectric actuator based micro gripper is capable of handling the peg-in-hole assembly task in a mobile micro manipulation system.     

Robust adaptive neuro-fuzzy control of uncertain nonholonomic systems

In this paper, we present an adaptive neuro-fuzzy controller design for a class of uncertain nonholonomic systems in the perturbed chained form with unknown virtual control coefficients and strong drift nonlinearities. The robust adaptive neuro-fuzzy control laws are developed using state scaling and backstepping. Semiglobal uniform ultimate bound-edness of all the signals in the closed-loop are guaranteed, and the system states are proven to converge to a small neigh-borhood of zero. The control performance of the closed-loop system is guaranteed by appropriately choosing the design parameters. By using fuzzy logic approximation, the proposed control is free of control singularity problem. An adaptive control-based switching strategy is proposed to overcome the uncontrollability problem associated with x 0 (t 0 ) = 0.     

基于遗传算法和模糊逻辑的智能飞控技术研究

设计了基于遗传算法和模糊逻辑控制的智能飞行控制系统及采用论域自调整的模糊控制器，控制器以角度跟踪误差及其微分信号为输入来控制相应的气动舵面偏转，实现对该姿态的跟踪控制。文中给出了控制器输入输出的隶属函数，设计了相应的规则库。并在此基础上进一步利用遗传算法对模糊控制器进行优化设计，给出了遗传算法各个参数的选择原则。仿真结果表明，基于遗传算法和模糊逻辑的智能飞控系统具有良好的控制效果。     

Application of Fuzzy Logic for the Solution of Inverse Kinematics and Hierarchical Controls of Robotic Manipulators

In this paper, hierarchical control techniques is used for controlling a robotic manipulator. The proposed method is based on the establishment of a non-linear mapping between Cartesian and joint coordinates using fuzzy logic in order to direct each individual joint. The hierarchical control will be implemented with fuzzy logic to improve the robustness and reduce the run time computational requirements. Hierarchical control consists of solving the inverse kinematic equations using fuzzy logic to direct each individual joint. A commercial Microbot with three degrees of freedom is utilized to evaluate this methodology. A decentralized fuzzy controller is used for each joint, with a Fuzzy Associative Memories (FAM) performing the inverse kinematic mapping in a supervisory mode. The FAM determines the inverse kinematic mapping which maps the desired Cartesian coordinates to the individual joint angles. The individual fuzzy controller for each joint generates the required control signal to a DC motor to move the associated link to the new position. The proposed hierarchical fuzzy controller is compared to a conventional controller. The simulation experiments indeed demonstate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

基于模糊控制策略的车辆主动悬架研究

建立了车辆整车7自由度模型的主动悬架控制的系统状态方程模型,设计了两种模糊控制策略,方法一针对整车模型,采用一种控制方法,方法二针对整车模型的运动方式,设计不同的模糊控制器,垂直振动模糊控制器,俯仰振动模糊控制器,侧倾振动模糊控制器和逻辑控制器,仿真结果表明,所设计的模糊控制器对提高车辆的舒适性与操纵稳定性有较好的效果.     

基于RBF-BP算法的机械臂多自由度分拣控制系统设计

为提升机械臂设备的准确分拣能力,设计基于RBF-BP算法的机械臂多自由度分拣控制系统。利用RBF-BP前馈神经网络,规划机械臂设备的运动轨迹路线,实现基于RBF-BP算法的机械臂运动轨迹建模。确定工业相机在总功能框架中所处连接位置,根据机械臂选型情况,确定可编程逻辑控制器、变频控制器对于所选机械臂元件的调节能力,完成对系统功能模块的开发。借助传输信道,将Sorting分拣指令、ToolControl控制指令反馈回核心控制主机,建立完整的指令执行回路,再联合相关硬件设备结构,实现基于RBF-BP算法的机械臂多自由度分拣控制系统设计。实验结果表明,在抓取能力相同的情况下,应用RBF-BP算法控制系统机械臂成功分拣的工件数量为19件,机械臂抓取成功率为95%,说明所设计系统满足提升机械臂准确分拣能力的设计初衷。     

Locomotion Control of a Hydraulically Actuated Hexapod Robot by Robust Adaptive Fuzzy Control with Self-Tuned Adaptation Gain and Dead Zone Fuzzy Pre-compensation

Hydraulically actuated robotic mechanisms are becoming popular for field robotic applications for their compact design and large output power. However, they exhibit nonlinearity, parameter variation and flattery delay in the response. This flattery delay, which often causes poor trajectory tracking performance of the robot, is possibly caused by the dead zone of the proportional electromagnetic control valves and the delay associated with oil flow. In this investigation, we have proposed a trajectory tracking control system for hydraulically actuated robotic mechanism that diminishes the flattery delay in the output response. The proposed controller consists of a robust adaptive fuzzy controller with self-tuned adaptation gain in the feedback loop to cope with the parameter variation and disturbances and a one-step-ahead fuzzy controller in the feed-forward loop for hydraulic dead zone pre-compensation. The adaptation law of the feedback controller has been designed by Lyapunov synthesis method and its adaptation rate is varied by fuzzy self-tuning. The variable adaptation rate helps to improve the tracking performance without sacrificing the stability. The proposed control technique has been applied for locomotion control of a hydraulically actuated hexapod robot under independent joint control framework. For tracking performance of the proposed controller has also been compared with classical PID controller, LQG state feedback controller and static fuzzy controller. The experimental results exhibit a very accurate foot trajectory tracking with very small tracking error with the proposed controller.