Reaction Force Estimation of a Robot Arm with Variable Stiffness Joints under External Load

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021.59 (0) ◽  
pp. 10d3
Author(s):  
Tatsuya OHE ◽  
Jae Hoon LEE ◽  
Shingo OKAMOTO
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-33
Author(s):  
Ozan Kaya ◽  
Gokce Burak Taglioglu ◽  
Seniz Ertugrul

Abstract In recent years, robotic applications have been improved for better object manipulation and collaboration with human. With this motivation, the detection of objects has been studied with serial elastic parallel gripper by simple touching in case of no visual data available. A series elastic gripper, capable of detecting geometric properties of objects is designed using only elastic elements and absolute encoders instead of tactile or force/torque sensors. The external force calculation is achieved by employing an estimation algorithm. Different objects are selected for trials for recognition. A Deep Neural Network model is trained by synthetic data extracted from STL file of selected objects . For experimental set-up, the series elastic parallel gripper is mounted on a Staubli RX160 robot arm and objects are placed in pre-determined locations in the workspace. All objects are successfully recognized using the gripper, force estimation and the DNN model. The best DNN model capable of recognizing different objects with the average prediction value ranging from 71% to 98%. Hence the proposed design of gripper and the algorithm achieved the recognition of selected objects without need for additional force/torque or tactile sensors.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael McGeehan ◽  
Peter Adamczyk ◽  
Kieran Nichols ◽  
Michael Hahn

INTRODUCTION: Passive energy storage and return (ESR) feet are the current performance standard in lower limb prostheses. A recently developed semi-active variable-stiffness foot (VSF) prosthesis balances the simplicity of a passive ESR device with the adaptability of a powered design. The purpose of this study was to model and simulate the ESR properties of the VSF prosthesis. METHODS: The ESR properties of the VSF were modeled as a lumped parameter overhung beam. The overhung length is variable, allowing the model to exhibit variable ESR stiffness. Foot-ground contact was modeled using sphere-to-plane contact models. Contact parameters were optimized to represent the geometry and dynamics of the VSF and its foam base. Static compression tests and gait were simulated. Simulation outcomes were compared to corresponding experimental data. RESULTS: Stiffness of the model matched that of the physical VSF (R2: 0.98, RMSE: 1.37 N/mm). Model-predicted resultant ground reaction force (GRFR) matched well under optimized parameter conditions (R2: 0.98, RMSE: 5.3% body weight,) and unoptimized parameter conditions (R2: 0.90, mean RMSE: 13% body weight). Anterior-posterior center of pressure matched well with R2 > 0.94 and RMSE < 9.5% foot length in all conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The ESR properties of the VSF were accurately simulated under benchtop testing and dynamic gait conditions. These methods may be useful for predicting GRFR arising from gait with novel prostheses. Such data are useful to optimize prosthesis design parameters on a user-specific basis.


Soft Robotics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Elena Giannaccini ◽  
Chaoqun Xiang ◽  
Adham Atyabi ◽  
Theo Theodoridis ◽  
Samia Nefti-Meziani ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Seyed Fakoorian ◽  
Vahid Azimi ◽  
Mahmoud Moosavi ◽  
Hanz Richter ◽  
Dan Simon

A method to estimate ground reaction forces (GRFs) in a robot/prosthesis system is presented. The system includes a robot that emulates human hip and thigh motion, along with a powered (active) transfemoral prosthetic leg. We design a continuous-time extended Kalman filter (EKF) and a continuous-time unscented Kalman filter (UKF) to estimate not only the states of the robot/prosthesis system but also the GRFs that act on the foot. It is proven using stochastic Lyapunov functions that the estimation error of the EKF is exponentially bounded if the initial estimation errors and the disturbances are sufficiently small. The performance of the estimators in normal walk, fast walk, and slow walk is studied, when we use four sensors (hip displacement, thigh, knee, and ankle angles), three sensors (thigh, knee, and ankle angles), and two sensors (knee and ankle angles). Simulation results show that when using four sensors, the average root-mean-square (RMS) estimation error of the EKF is 0.0020 rad for the joint angles and 11.85 N for the GRFs. The respective numbers for the UKF are 0.0016 rad and 7.98 N, which are 20% and 33% lower than those of the EKF.


2020 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 003685042094129
Author(s):  
Jishu Guo

The variable stiffness joint is a kind of flexible actuator with variable stiffness characteristics suitable for physical human–robot interaction applications. In the existing variable stiffness joints, the antagonistic variable stiffness joint has the advantages of simple implementation of variable stiffness mechanism and easy modular design of the nonlinear elastic element. The variable stiffness characteristics of antagonistic variable stiffness joints are realized by the antagonistic actuation of two nonlinear springs. A novel design scheme of the equivalent nonlinear torsion spring with compact structure, large angular displacement range, and desired stiffness characteristics is presented in this article. The design calculation for the equivalent quadratic torsion spring is given as an example, and the actuation characteristics of the antagonistic variable stiffness joint based on the equivalent quadratic torsion spring are illustrated. Based on the design idea of constructing the antagonistic variable stiffness joint with compact structure and high compliance, as well as the different design requirements of the joints at different positions of the multi–degrees of freedom robot arm, nine types of mechanical schemes of antagonistic variable stiffness joint with the open design concept are proposed in this article. Finally, the conceptual joint configuration schemes of the robot arm based on the antagonistic variable stiffness joint show the application scheme of the designed antagonistic variable stiffness joint in the multi–degrees of freedom robot.


1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-234
Author(s):  
Kiyoshi Ohishi ◽  
◽  
Masaru Miyazaki ◽  
Masahiro Fujita ◽  

Generally, hybrid control is realized by sensor signal feedback of position and force. However, some robot manipulators do not have a force sensor due to the environment. Moreover, a precise force sensor is very expensive. In order to overcome these problems, we propose the estimation system of reaction force without using a force sensor. This system consists of the torque observer and the inverse dynamics calculation. Using both this force estimation system and <I>H</I>∞ acceleration controller which is based on <I>H</I>∞ control theory, it takes into account the frequency characteristics of both sensor noise effect and disturbance rejection. The experimental results in this paper illustrate the fine hybrid control of the three tested degrees-of-freedom DD robot manipulator without force sensor.


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