Balance Recovery based on Whole-Body Control using Joint Torque Feedback for Quadrupedal Robots

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Young Hun Lee ◽  
Hyunyong Lee ◽  
Hansol Kang ◽  
Jun Hyuk Lee ◽  
Ji Man Park ◽  
...  

Abstract In legged locomotion, the contact force between a robot and the ground plays a crucial role in balancing the robot. However, in quadrupedal robots, general whole-body controllers generate feed-forward force commands without considering the actual torque or force feedback. This paper presents a whole-body controller by using the actual joint torque measured from a torque sensor, which enables the quadrupedal robot to demonstrate both dynamic locomotion and reaction to external disturbances. We compute external joint torque using the measured joint torque and the robot's dynamics, and then transform this to the moment of the center of mass (CoM). Using the computed CoM moment, the moment-based impedance controller distributes a feed-forward force corresponding to the desired moment of the CoM to stabilize the robot's balance. Furthermore, to recover balance, the CoM motion is generated using capture point-based stepping control and zero moment point trajectory. The proposed whole-body controller was tested on a quadrupedal robot, named AiDIN-VI. Locomotive abilities on uneven terrains and slopes and in the presence of external disturbances are verified through experiments.

Author(s):  
Zhuohua Shen ◽  
Justin Seipel

The concept of passive dynamic walking and running [5] has demonstrated that a simple passive model can represent the dynamics of whole-body human locomotion. Since then, many passive models were developed and studied: [3,1,2,11]. The later developed Spring-Loaded Inverted Pendulum (SLIP) [1, 4, 11, 2] exhibits stable center of mass (CoM) motions just by resetting the landing angle at each touch down. Also, compared to SLIP, a SLIP-like model with simple flight leg control is better at resisting perturbations of the angle of velocity but not the magnitude [11, 2, 7]. Energy conserving models explain much about whole-body locomotion. Recently, there has been investigations of modified spring-mass models capable of greater stability, like that of animals and robots [9, 10, 8, 12]. Inspired by RHex [6], the Clock-Torqued Spring-Loaded Inverted Pendulum (CT-SLIP) model [9] was developed, and has been used to explain the robust stability of animal locomotion [12]. Here we present a model (mechanism) simpler than CT-SLIP called Forced-Damped SLIP (FD-SLIP) that can attain full asymptotically stability of the CoM during locomotion, and is capable of both walking and running motions. The FD-SLIP model, having fewer parameters, is more accessible and easier to analyze for the exploration and discovery of principles of legged locomotion.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Stein ◽  
Katja Mombaur

Maintaining balance on a slackline is a challenging task in itself. Walking on a high line, jumping and performing twists or somersaults seems nearly impossible. Contact forces are essential to understanding how humans maintain balance in such challenging situations, but they cannot always be measured directly. Therefore, we propose a contact model for slackline balancing that includes the interaction forces and torques as well as the position of the Center of Pressure. We apply this model within an optimization framework to perform a fully dynamic motion reconstruction of a jump with a rotation of approximately 180 ° . Newton’s equations of motions are implemented as constraints to the optimization, hence the optimized motion is physically feasible. We show that a conventional kinematic analysis results in dynamic inconsistencies. The advantage of our method becomes apparent during the flight phase of the motion and when comparing the center of mass and angular momentum dynamics. With our motion reconstruction method all momentum is conserved, whereas the conventional analysis shows momentum changes of up to 30%. Furthermore, we get additional and reliable information on the interaction forces and the joint torque that allow us to further analyze slackline balancing strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 4016
Author(s):  
Yizhou Lu ◽  
Junyao Gao ◽  
Xuanyang Shi ◽  
Dingkui Tian ◽  
Yi Liu

The point-foot biped robot is highly adaptable to and can move rapidly on complex, non-structural and non-continuous terrain, as demonstrated in many studies. However, few studies have investigated balance control methods for point-foot sliding on low-friction terrain. This article presents a control framework based on the dual-objective convergence method and whole-body control for the point-foot biped robot to stabilize its posture balance in sliding. In this control framework, a dual-objective convergence equation is used to construct the posture stability criterion and the corresponding equilibrium control task, which are simultaneously converged. Control tasks are then carried out through the whole-body control framework, which adopts an optimization method to calculate the viable joint torque under the physical constraints of dynamics, friction and contact forces. In addition, this article extends the proposed approach to balance control in standing recovery. Finally, the capabilities of the proposed controller are verified in simulations in which a 26.9-kg three-link point-foot biped robot (1) slides over a 10∘ trapezoidal terrain, (2) slides on terrain with a sinusoidal friction coefficient between 0.05 and 0.25 and (3) stands and recovers from a center-of-mass offset of 0.02 m.


Author(s):  
Nikhil Rao ◽  
Zhuohua Shen ◽  
Justin Seipel

Legged locomotion has been a subject of study for many years. However, the role of the knee in whole-body dynamics of locomotion is not well understood, especially for non-conservative dynamics. Based upon a hip actuated Spring-Loaded Inverted Pendulum (Hip-actuated SLIP) model, we develop a more human-like, two-segment leg model with a pin-jointed springy knee, to see what effects a knee has in the context of an applied hip torque. Overall, we find that the governing equations for the two-segment (knee) version have a distinct structure when compared to the telescoping version of SLIP. The two-segment model with a knee spring influences forces acting on the mass center in a more complex way than a telescoping spring. While a wide variation of behavior is possible for the two-segment model, here we focus on comparing the dynamics for a special case when the knee spring resting angle is 90°. For this particular choice of resting knee angle we find that the knee version of actuated SLIP can have similar locomotion dynamics to the telescoping version of actuated SLIP. This result provides one explanation for how animals and robots with multi-segmented legs could produce overall center-of-mass dynamics that are similar to models with telescoping legs. Nonetheless, despite overall similarities for this special case, small differences in the stability of locomotion are still observed. In particular, we find that the knee version tends to be slightly more stable than the telescoping SLIP in terms of the allowable size of perturbations, while requiring higher input power.


2019 ◽  
pp. 105-107
Author(s):  
A. S. Busygin ◽  
А. V. Shumov

The paper considers a method for simulating the flight of a multistage rocket in Matlab using Simulink software for control and guidance. The model takes into account the anisotropy of the gravity of the Earth, changes in the pressure and density of the atmosphere, piecewise continuous change of the center of mass and the moment of inertia of the rocket during the flight. Also, the proposed model allows you to work out various targeting options using both onboard and ground‑based information tools, to load information from the ground‑based radar, with imitation of «non‑ideality» of incoming target designations as a result of changes in the accuracy of determining coordinates and speeds, as well as signal fluctuations. It is stipulated that the design is variable not only by the number of steps, but also by their types. The calculations are implemented in a matrix form, which allows parallel operations in each step of processing a multidimensional state vector of the simulated object.


Author(s):  
Hyun-Jung Kwon ◽  
Hyun-Joon Chung ◽  
Yujiang Xiang

The objective of this study was to develop a discomfort function for including a high DOF upper body model during walking. A multi-objective optimization (MOO) method was formulated by minimizing dynamic effort and the discomfort function simultaneously. The discomfort function is defined as the sum of the squares of deviation of joint angles from their neutral angle positions. The dynamic effort is the sum of the joint torque squared. To investigate the efficacy of the proposed MOO method, backward walking simulation was conducted. By minimizing both dynamic effort and the discomfort function, a 3D whole body model with a high DOF upper body for walking was demonstrated successfully.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Fumery ◽  
Nicolas A. Turpin ◽  
Laetitia Claverie ◽  
Vincent Fourcassié ◽  
Pierre Moretto

AbstractThe biomechanics of load carriage has been studied extensively with regards to single individuals, yet not so much with regards to collective transport. We investigated the biomechanics of walking in 10 paired individuals carrying a load that represented 20%, 30%, or 40% of the aggregated body-masses. We computed the energy recovery rate at the center of mass of the system consisting of the two individuals plus the carried load in order to test to what extent the pendulum-like behavior and the economy of the gait were affected. Joint torque was also computed to investigate the intra- and inter-subject strategies occurring in response to this. The ability of the subjects to move the whole system like a pendulum appeared rendered obvious through shortened step length and lowered vertical displacements at the center of mass of the system, while energy recovery rate and total mechanical energy remained constant. In parallel, an asymmetry of joint moment vertical amplitude and coupling among individuals in all pairs suggested the emergence of a leader/follower schema. Beyond the 30% threshold of increased load mass, the constraints at the joint level were balanced among individuals leading to a degraded pendulum-like behavior.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Matthew K. Seeley ◽  
Seong Jun Son ◽  
Hyunsoo Kim ◽  
J. Ty Hopkins

Context: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is often categorized by researchers and clinicians using subjective self-reported PFP characteristics; however, this practice might mask important differences in movement biomechanics between PFP patients. Objective: To determine whether biomechanical differences exist during a high-demand multiplanar movement task for PFP patients with similar self-reported PFP characteristics but different quadriceps activation levels. Design: Cross-sectional design. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Participants: A total of 15 quadriceps deficient and 15 quadriceps functional (QF) PFP patients with similar self-reported PFP characteristics. Intervention: In total, 5 trials of a high-demand multiplanar land, cut, and jump movement task were performed. Main Outcome Measures: Biomechanics were compared at each percentile of the ground contact phase of the movement task (α = .05) between the quadriceps deficient and QF groups. Biomechanical variables included (1) whole-body center of mass, trunk, hip, knee, and ankle kinematics; (2) hip, knee, and ankle kinetics; and (3) ground reaction forces. Results: The QF patients exhibited increased ground reaction force, joint torque, and movement, relative to the quadriceps deficient patients. The QF patients exhibited: (1) up to 90, 60, and 35 N more vertical, posterior, and medial ground reaction force at various times of the ground contact phase; (2) up to 4° more knee flexion during ground contact and up to 4° more plantarflexion and hip extension during the latter parts of ground contact; and (3) up to 26, 21, and 48 N·m more plantarflexion, knee extension, and hip extension torque, respectively, at various times of ground contact. Conclusions: PFP patients with similar self-reported PFP characteristics exhibit different movement biomechanics, and these differences depend upon quadriceps activation levels. These differences are important because movement biomechanics affect injury risk and athletic performance. In addition, these biomechanical differences indicate that different therapeutic interventions may be needed for PFP patients with similar self-reported PFP characteristics.


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