串联弹性驱动器设计、建模及在机器人上的应用

相比于传统的刚性驱动器, 串联弹性驱动器(Series elastic actuator, SEA)具有被动柔顺性、阻抗低、抗冲击、力感知等诸多优点, 因而已被广泛应用于各种机器人系统中. 首先根据弹性和阻尼特性将串联弹性驱动器分为弹性型、阻尼型和弹性?阻尼型串联弹性驱动器, 介绍不同类型串联弹性驱动器的优缺点, 并详细概述弹性和阻尼特性的机械实现方式; 然后对各类串联弹性驱动器作为力传感器的建模方法进行介绍; 接着叙述串联弹性驱动器在机器人系统中的主要应用, 如力传感器、安全保护、降低能耗; 最后展望串联弹性驱动器未来的发展方向.     

气动人工肌肉驱动球面并联机器人关节的力控制研究

分析了具有柔索冗余驱动特点的静力关系，研究了力控制的智能控制算法及策略，在建立的实验样机上达到了良好的力伺服性能．将气动人工肌肉的被动柔顺性与位置控制到力控制过渡的主动柔顺控制策略结合，有效避免了机器人在与环境接触时的碰撞与冲击．     

Design of 22-DOF pneumatically actuated upper body for child android ‘Affetto’

Child robots have been used in a lot of studies on human–robot social/physical interaction because they are suitable for safe and casual experiments. However, providing many compliant joints and lifelike exteriors to enhance their interaction potential is difficult because of the limited space available inside their bodies. In this paper, we propose an upper body structure that consists of slider crank and parallel mechanisms for linear actuators and serial mechanisms for rotary actuators. Such combinations of several joint mechanisms efficiently utilize the body space; in total, 22 degrees of freedoms were realized in an upper body space equivalent to that of an 80cm tall child. A pneumatic drive system was adopted in order to fully verify the behavioral performance of the body mechanism. The proposed redundant and compact upper body mechanism can be a platform for testing the effectiveness of future exteriors for the little child android ‘Affetto’, which was developed in order to integrate several key characteristics for achieving advanced human–robot interaction.     

A proposal of a new rotational-compliant joint with oil-hydraulic McKibben artificial muscles

Abstract

Conventional hydraulic actuators can generate a strong force due to high pressure. However, most of them are heavy and hard because they are made of metal. It is difficult to use such actuators in robots required to be as light as possible. Moreover, the joint mechanisms of these actuators have problems with intrinsic safety and robustness because the compliance is acquired using delicate sensors and advanced controls. Therefore, we propose a new rotational-compliant mechanism that allows the coexistence of strong force and compliance. The proposed mechanism has compliance in an active rotational direction and in two directions orthogonal to it. To realize this mechanism, we have developed a Hydraulic Artificial Muscle (HAM), which is very lightweight and able to generate strong force. Furthermore, the HAM has compliance without any advanced control. By exploiting the characteristics of the HAM, the function of the proposed mechanism can be realized even in conditions of compact dimensions. In this paper, by constructing a simple experimental system that imitates the proposed mechanism, and by modeling it, we verify its compliance from both a theoretical and an experimental point of view. We demonstrate that the mechanism has compliance in the three rotational directions.     

Compliant grasping with passive forces

Because friction is central to robotic grasp, developing an accurate and tractable model of contact compliance, particularly in the tangential direction, and predicting the passive force closure are crucial to robotic grasping and contact analysis. This paper analyzes the existence of the uncontrollable grasping forces (i.e., passive contact forces) in enveloping grasp or fixturing, and formulates a physical model of compliant enveloping grasp. First, we develop a locally elastic contact model to describe the nonlinear coupling between the contact force with friction and elastic deformation at the individual contact. Further, a set of “compatibility” equations is given so that the elastic deformations among all contacts in the grasping system result in a consistent set of displacements of the object. Then, combining the force equilibrium, the locally elastic contact model, and the “compatibility” conditions, we formulate the natural compliant model of the enveloping grasp system where the passive compliance in joints of fingers is considered, and investigate the stability of the compliant grasp system. The crux of judging passive force closure is to predict the passive contact forces in the grasping system, which is formulated into a nonlinear least square in this paper. Using the globally convergent Levenberg‐Marquardt method, we predict contact forces and estimate the passive force closure in the enveloping grasps. Finally, a numerical example is given to verify the proposed compliant enveloping grasp model and the prediction method of passive force closure. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A Study on Kinematics and Workspace Determination of a General 6-<Emphasis Type="Underline">P</Emphasis> US Robot

This paper proposes the novel adaptive neural network (ADNN) compliant force/position control algorithm applied to a highly nonlinear serial pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM) robot as to improve its compliant force/position output performance. Based on the new adaptive neural ADNN model which is dynamically identified to adapt well all nonlinear features of the 2-axes serial PAM robot, a new hybrid adaptive neural ADNN-PID controller was initiatively implemented for compliant force/position controlling the serial PAM robot system used as an elbow and wrist rehabilitation robot which is subjected to not only the internal coupled-effects interactions but also the external end-effecter contact force variations (from 10[N] up to critical value 30[N]). The experiment results have proved the feasibility of the new control approach compared with the optimal PID control approach. The novel proposed hybrid adaptive neural ADNN-PID compliant force/position controller successfully guides the upper limb of subject to follow the linear and circular trajectories under different variable end-effecter contact force levels.     

Force-guidance of a compliant omnidirectional non-holonomic platform

Physical guidance is a natural interaction capability that would be beneficial for mobile robots. However, placing force sensors at specific locations on the robot limits where physical interaction can occur. This paper presents an approach that uses torque data from four compliant steerable wheels of an omnidirectional non-holonomic mobile platform, to respond to physical commands given by a human. The use of backdrivable and torque-controlled elastic actuators for active steering of this platform intrinsically provides the capability of perceiving applied forces directly from its locomotion mechanism. In this paper, we integrate this capability into a control architecture that allows users to force-guide the platform with shared-control ability, i.e., having the platform being guided by the user while avoiding obstacles and collisions. Results using a real platform demonstrate that user’s intent can be estimated from the compliant steerable wheels, and used to guide the platform while taking nearby obstacles into consideration.     

Design and analysis of a pneumatic high-impact force drive mechanism for in-pipe inspection robots

A pneumatic actuator is suitable and safe for in-pipe inspection robots in inflammable circumstances because of its ability to withstand explosions. However, ordinary pneumatic actuators limit driving speed because of their slow response. In this paper, we propose a novel pneumatic drive mechanism that can produce a high-impact force to move the in-pipe robot forward with sufficient speed by a catastrophic phenomenon using rapid release between a magnet and springs. We also introduce an anisotropic friction mechanism that uses a self-locking phenomenon to transmit the impact force to the pipe walls efficiently. A pin retraction mechanism that releases the self-locking condition is applied to retrieve the robot from the pipes. Optimizations of the proposed design were conducted based on a motion simulation model and verified in experiments. The experimental results obtained for maximum driving speeds in a straight pipe with different material types were approximately 90 and 50 mm/s for horizontal and vertical pipes, respectively. Stable strokes were also observed at different driving frequencies from 0.5 to 2.0 Hz.     

一种高分辨力柔性触觉传感器

本文描述了一种基于全内反射原理，用透明橡胶材料作为波导板的柔性触觉传感器。该传感器除具有一般刚性波导板触觉传感器的高分辨力等特点外，还具有柔性好，力灵敏阈值低，不怕碰撞等特点，该传感器特别适合装在智能机器人手爪上，为机器人系统高效率地获取物体形状，位置和姿态信息，实现智能抓握物体，操作物体等功能提供了有效的手段。     

弹性体力/触觉框架模型

在力/触觉建模技术中,高效的实时性与基于物理意义的准确性是与生俱来的一对矛盾.为了提高实时性与准确性的和谐程度,提出一种分析虚拟柔性体力/变形关系的框架结构模型.在柔性体内部建立一定数量并相互独立的钢架结构,运用虚功原理计算每根钢架上节点的位移;根据接触点和节点的分布,采用分水岭法将柔性体表面分割成若干区域,通过本区域内节点和接触点的位移插值计算区域内顶点的变形,进而得到柔性体的整体变形.仿真实验结果表明,该模型简便、实时性好,在具体的虚拟建模力反馈工作中可操作性强.     

Feasibility Study on Stability of Gait Patterns with Changeable Body Stiffness Using Pneumatic Actuators in a Quadruped Robot

An oscillator-type gait controller for a quadruped robot with antagonistic pairs of pneumatic actuators is proposed. By using the controller, a feasibility study on the stability of gait patterns with changeable body stiffness is reported. The periodic motions of the legs are generated and controlled by an oscillator network with state resetting. This type of controller has robustness in its gaits against variation in walking conditions or changes of environment. However, it sometimes loses robustness under conditions of actuation delay, decrease of actuator accuracy, etc. We investigated whether an oscillator-type controller with phase resetting is also effective under such conditions. The stability of locomotion also strongly depends on the mechanical properties of the body mechanism, especially the joint stiffness. In this report, the muscle tone of the robot on the pitching motion at the trunk is changeable by using the changeable elasticity of the pneumatic actuators. The stability of quadruped locomotion in walk and trot patterns with changeable body stiffness was evaluated with numerical simulations and hardware experiments.     

A self-adjusting active compliance controller for multiple robots handling an object

This paper presents the concept and experimental validation of a self-adjusting active compliance controller for n robots handling its compliant behaviour concerning partly unknown flexible object. The control strategy is based on the decomposition of the 6n-dimensional position/force space and includes a feedforward and feedback level. The feedforward level contains motion coordination, force distribution of external forces, creation of internal forces, and an additional loop adding the elastic displacements due to the applied forces to the planned robot positions. The feedback level is organized in the form of an active compliance control law. For adjusting the controller to the, in general, unknown flexible behaviour, which in practice is the main problem of the controller design, a quasi-static model of the system is derived for different contact cases of the object and a procedure is presented, which by use of this model is capable of determining the compliance of the considered system and therefore of adjusting the controller. Experiments with two puma-type robots have been conducted to show the applicability of the self-adjusting control strategy. The task has been to grasp and move an unconstrained object. It is shown, that the system can adjust the control parameters to the unknown system compliance and that the control performance is improved considerably.     

空间机器人捕获航天器操作的避撞柔顺复合自抗扰控制

讨论空间机器人在轨捕获非合作航天器过程避免关节受冲击力矩破坏的避撞柔顺控制问题.在机械臂与关节电机之间配置一种弹簧类柔顺装置—–旋转型串联弹性执行器(RSEA),其作用在于:1)在捕获碰撞阶段,可通过其内置弹簧的变形吸收碰撞产生的能量;2)在镇定运动阶段,结合避撞柔顺策略适时开、关电机,以保证关节所受冲击力矩受限在安全...     

Full-Body Compliant Human–Humanoid Interaction: Balancing in the Presence of Unknown External Forces

This paper proposes an effective framework of human-humanoid robot physical interaction. Its key component is a new control technique for full-body balancing in the presence of external forces, which is presented and then validated empirically. We have adopted an integrated system approach to develop humanoid robots. Herein, we describe the importance of replicating human-like capabilities and responses during human-robot interaction in this context. Our balancing controller provides gravity compensation, making the robot passive and thereby facilitating safe physical interactions. The method operates by setting an appropriate ground reaction force and transforming these forces into full-body joint torques. It handles an arbitrary number of force interaction points on the robot. It does not require force measurement at interested contact points. It requires neither inverse kinematics nor inverse dynamics. It can adapt to uneven ground surfaces. It operates as a force control process, and can therefore, accommodate simultaneous control processes using force-, velocity-, or position-based control. Forces are distributed over supporting contact points in an optimal manner. Joint redundancy is resolved by damping injection in the context of passivity. We present various force interaction experiments using our full-sized bipedal humanoid platform, including compliant balance, even when affected by unknown external forces, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the method.     

Force estimation via physical properties of air cushion for the control of a human-cooperative robot: basic experiments

For the control of a human-cooperative robot (HCR) using a soft material, we aim to verify, in this study, the usefulness of force estimation via physical properties of an air cushion. First, the physical model of the air cushion was represented by an air cylinder with a piston, which is subject to constraint by nonlinear elasticity. Second, the elastic properties of the air cushion were examined under the assumption that it can be formulated by a function of pneumatic pressure. The force applied to the air cushion was next estimated on the basis of the physical model, and the HCR was successfully controlled according to the estimated force.     

空间机器人双臂捕获卫星操作的事件采样输出反馈神经网络避撞柔顺控制

讨论漂浮基空间机器人双臂捕获非合作卫星过程避免关节冲击破坏的避撞柔顺控制问题,提出在机械臂与关节电机之间加入一种旋转型串联弹性执行器(rotatory series elastic actuator,RSEA)作为柔顺缓冲机构,其作用在于:1)捕获碰撞过程,通过其内置弹簧的拉伸或压缩吸收捕获操作过程中被捕获卫星对空间机器人关节产生的冲击能量;2)捕获完成后的镇定过程,利用设计与之配合的避撞柔顺控制策略保证关节冲击力矩限制在安全范围.利用第二类拉格朗日方程推导得到捕获操作前含柔顺机构双臂空间机器人系统及目标卫星的各分体系统动力学模型;基于系统动量守恒关系、系统运动几何关系及牛顿第三定律,得到捕获操作后双臂空间机器人与被捕获卫星混合体系统综合动力学方程;针对捕获操作后受碰撞影响而产生不稳定运动的混合体系统,提出一种基于事件采样输出反馈的RBF神经网络避撞柔顺控制方案.上述方案与柔顺机构相结合不仅能有效吸收被捕获卫星的冲击能量,还能在冲击能量过大时应时开、关双臂空间机器人关节电机,以防止关节电机发生过载和破坏.通过李雅普诺夫稳定性理论证明系统的全局稳定性,并通过仿真结果验证所提避撞柔顺控制方案的有效性.     

Position/vibration control of two-degree-of-freedom arms having one flexible link with artificial pneumatic muscle actuators

A manipulator with a light and thus flexible link would be advantageous over a rigid link in the sense that it is physically safer when it comes into contact with its environment than a manipulator with a rigid and thus heavy link, even though it is harder for a flexible link manipulator to be robustly controlled. On the other hand, if an actuator can deliver enough force while maintaining proper compliance, it would be advantageous for the sake of safety. An artificial pneumatic muscle-type actuator is an adequate choice in this case. In this work, position control problem of a two-degree-of-freedom arm system having a flexible second link with artificial pneumatic muscle-type actuators is addressed. A composite controller design method is proposed in the framework of the singular perturbation method. Various robust control schemes are designed in order to meet with payload variation, parameter uncertainty, unmodeled vibration mode, actuator dynamics both in the slow and the fast subsystems.     

Comprehensive analysis of the position error and vibration characteristics of Delta robot

Taking Delta robot as research object, its characteristics of position error and vibration are analyzed synthetically. Using the position characteristic of driven arms, based on the method of geometry space vector, establish the mechanism error model; Taking use the principle of mathematical statistics and space vector as the basic, deriving the joint clearance error model; Based on finite element theory, on the basic of elastic dynamic model, establishing the flexible error model. Then, the kinematics and dynamics of branched chain with joint clearance generalized collision force are studied. Based on the definition of rod virtual length, combining the generalized collision force with the elastic dynamics model which includes mechanism error, joint clearance error and flexible error, establishing the comprehensive elastic dynamic model. Finally, by use of simulation software, numerical calculation and experiment, verified the correctness of comprehensive elastic dynamic model, and the characteristics of position error and vibration are analyzed.     

Development of a shape memory alloy actuator. Improvement of output performance by the introduction of a σ-mechanism

The driving-force-generating principle of an actuator made of shape memory alloy (SMA) is based on the thermal elastic martensitic transformation, a kind of elastic phenomenon. As a result, conventional SMA actuators which use a circular pulley have tended to exhibit undesirable characteristics such as the maximum generable torque being changed depending on the rotating angle when the robot joint was driven by rotating motion transformed from expansion/contraction of the SMA, so that the servo system to support the torque under a certain load could not have an operable range wide enough for practical application. This paper intends to clarify these problems of SMA actuators and proposes a new joint mechanism using a σ-shaped non-circular pulley, called the σ-mechanism, for joint linkage to overcome the problems. This design enables the maximum generated torque to be kept uniform at all times by reducing the torque-arm-length in inverse proportion when the SMA tension increases corresponding to the rotating angle of the joint. Subsequently, a specifically designing algorithm for the proposed σ-mechanism is discussed. The validity of the new mechanism is demonstrated by an experimental model using an SMA actuator with a σpulley.     

Intelligent rotational direction control of passive robotic joint with embedded sensors

Passive compliant joints with springs and dampers ensure a smooth contact with the surroundings, especially if robots are in contact with humans, but the passive compliant joints cannot determine precisely the position of the members of the joint or direction of the collision force. In this paper was proposed the structure of a passive compliant robotic joint with conductive silicone rubber elements as internal embedded sensors. The sensors can operate as absorbers of excessive external collision force instead of springs and dampers and can be used for some measurements. Therefore, this joint presents one type of safe robotic mechanisms with an internally measuring system. The sensors were made by press-curing from carbon-black filled silicone rubber which is an electro active material. Various compression tests of the sensors were done. The main task of this study is to investigate the application of a control algorithm for detecting the direction of the robotic joint angular rotation when subjected to an external collision force. Soft computing methodology, adaptive neuro fuzzy inference strategy (ANFIS), was used for the controller development. The simulation results presented in this paper show the effectiveness of the developed method.