scholarly journals Preliminary Study of End-Effector Compliance for Reducing Insertion Force in Automated Fluid Coupling for Trains

Author(s):  
Kourosh Eshraghi ◽  
Pingfei Jiang ◽  
Daniele Suraci ◽  
Mark Atherton

Robotic assembly of mating parts (peg-in-hole (PiH)) inevitably encounters misalignments. Although passive end-effector compliance is key to successful alignment during the assembly, the literature does not propose many solutions for large misalignments, which is relevant to applications such as compliance of a robot end-effector for train fluid servicing. The results from physical experiments indicate insertion forces that are too large for practical applications, even with small misalignments. This preliminary study applies a hybrid approach combining physical experiments and simulation modelling for large motion PiH coupling with end-effector compliance. This provides a platform for investigating insertion force during misaligned coupling. The simulation model contains configurable parameters for robot compliance and PiH friction which are informed by the physical experiment results. The many robot compliances are lumped as two torsional springs on the pitch and yaw motion axis of the robot arm model. The simulation model is then calibrated using the physical results without having to conduct further intensive physical experiments. The calibrated model represents the physical measurements to a satisfactory degree, however its performance can still be improved.


Robotics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doria ◽  
Cocuzza ◽  
Comand ◽  
Bottin ◽  
Rossi

In robotic processes, the compliance of the robot arm plays a very important role. In some conditions, for example, in robotic assembly, robot arm compliance can compensate for small position and orientation errors of the end-effector. In other processes, like machining, robot compliance may generate chatter vibrations with an impairment in the quality of the machined surface. In industrial robots, the compliance of the end-effector is chiefly due to joint compliances. In this paper, joint compliances of a serial six-joint industrial robot are identified with a novel modal method making use of specific modes of vibration dominated by the compliance of only one joint. Then, in order to represent the effect of the identified compliances on robot performance in an intuitive and geometric way, a novel kinematic method based on the concept of “Mozzi axis” of the end-effector is presented and discussed.



Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 831
Author(s):  
Izzat Al-Darraji ◽  
Dimitrios Piromalis ◽  
Ayad A. Kakei ◽  
Fazal Qudus Khan ◽  
Milos Stojemnovic ◽  
...  

Aerial Robot Arms (ARAs) enable aerial drones to interact and influence objects in various environments. Traditional ARA controllers need the availability of a high-precision model to avoid high control chattering. Furthermore, in practical applications of aerial object manipulation, the payloads that ARAs can handle vary, depending on the nature of the task. The high uncertainties due to modeling errors and an unknown payload are inversely proportional to the stability of ARAs. To address the issue of stability, a new adaptive robust controller, based on the Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural network, is proposed. A three-tier approach is also followed. Firstly, a detailed new model for the ARA is derived using the Lagrange–d'Alembert principle. Secondly, an adaptive robust controller, based on a sliding mode, is designed to manipulate the problem of uncertainties, including modeling errors. Last, a higher stability controller, based on the RBF neural network, is implemented with the adaptive robust controller to stabilize the ARAs, avoiding modeling errors and unknown payload issues. The novelty of the proposed design is that it takes into account high nonlinearities, coupling control loops, high modeling errors, and disturbances due to payloads and environmental conditions. The model was evaluated by the simulation of a case study that includes the two proposed controllers and ARA trajectory tracking. The simulation results show the validation and notability of the presented control algorithm.



Author(s):  
Martin Hosek ◽  
Michael Valasek ◽  
Jairo Moura

This paper presents single- and dual-end-effector configurations of a planar three-degree of freedom parallel robot arm designed for automated pick-place operations in vacuum cluster tools for semiconductor and flat-panel-display manufacturing applications. The basic single end-effector configuration of the arm consists of a pivoting base platform, two elbow platforms and a wrist platform, which are connected through two symmetric pairs of parallelogram mechanisms. The wrist platform carries an end-effector, the position and angular orientation of which can be controlled independently by three motors located at the base of the robot. The joints and links of the mechanism are arranged in a unique geometric configuration which provides a sufficient range of motion for typical vacuum cluster tools. The geometric properties of the mechanism are further optimized for a given motion path of the robot. In addition to the basic symmetric single end-effector configuration, an asymmetric costeffective version of the mechanism is derived, and two dual-end-effector alternatives for improved throughput performance are described. In contrast to prior attempts to control angular orientation of the end-effector(s) of the conventional arms employed currently in vacuum cluster tools, all of the motors that drive the arm can be located at the stationary base of the robot with no need for joint actuators carried by the arm or complicated belt arrangements running through the arm. As a result, the motors do not contribute to the mass and inertia properties of the moving parts of the arm, no power and signal wires through the arm are necessary, the reliability and maintenance aspects of operation are improved, and the level of undesirable particle generation is reduced. This is particularly beneficial for high-throughput applications in vacuum and particlesensitive environments.



Author(s):  
Michael John Chua ◽  
Yen-Chen Liu

Abstract This paper presents cooperation and null-space control for networked mobile manipulators with high degrees of freedom (DOFs). First, kinematic model and Euler-Lagrange dynamic model of the mobile manipulator, which has an articulated robot arm mounted on a mobile base with omni-directional wheels, have been presented. Then, the dynamic decoupling has been considered so that the task-space and the null-space can be controlled separately to accomplish different missions. The motion of the end-effector is controlled in the task-space, and the force control is implemented to make sure the cooperation of the mobile manipulators, as well as the transportation tasks. Also, the null-space control for the manipulator has been combined into the decoupling control. For the mobile base, it is controlled in the null-space to track the velocity of the end-effector, avoid other agents, avoid the obstacles, and move in a defined range based on the length of the manipulator without affecting the main task. Numerical simulations have been addressed to demonstrate the proposed methods.



Author(s):  
Bronius Baksys ◽  
Jolanta Baskutiene ◽  
Saulius Baskutis

Purpose This paper aims to consider the experimental and theoretical investigation of the vibratory alignment of the peg-hole, when the peg is fixed in the remote centre compliance (RCC) device, and the vibrations are provided either to the hole or to the peg. Design/methodology/approach The experimental analysis of the circular and rectangular peg-hole vibratory alignment using the attached to the robot arm RCC device, under vibratory excitation of the hole, has been performed. The parameters of the vibratory excitation and the part-to-part pressing force influence on the alignment process have been analysed. The mathematical approach of the vibratory alignment using the passive compliance device with the vibrations provided to the peg has been proposed, and the simulation has been carried out. Findings The research has approved the applicability of the RCC device for both of the vibratory alignments of the non-chamfered peg-hole parts either circular or rectangular ones. The compensation of the axial misalignments has been resulted by the directional displacement of the peg supported compliantly. To perform the successful alignment of the parts, it has been necessary to adjust the frequency and the amplitude of the vibrations, the pressing force, the lateral, as well as the angular stiffness of the device. Research limitations/implications The experiments on the vibratory alignment of the rectangular peg-hole parts have been carried out considering only the translational misalignment moved into one direction. The non-impact regime of the vibratory alignment has been analysed. Practical implications The obtained results can be applied in designing the reliable and efficient devices of the vibratory assembly for the alignment of the non-chamfered peg-hole parts, as well as for chamfered ones, if the axial misalignment exceeds the width of the chamfer. The vibratory technique and passive compliance provide possibility to accomplish the assembly operations using the non-expensive low accuracy robots. Originality/value The new method and the mathematical approach of the vibratory assembly using the RCC device can ensure the reliable alignment of the non-chamfered parts, chamfered circular and the rectangular ones, in case the axial misalignment exceeds the assembly clearance, and prevent jamming and wedging.



2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zubair Iqbal ◽  
Maria Pozzi ◽  
Domenico Prattichizzo ◽  
Gionata Salvietti

Collaborative robots promise to add flexibility to production cells thanks to the fact that they can work not only close to humans but also with humans. The possibility of a direct physical interaction between humans and robots allows to perform operations that were inconceivable with industrial robots. Collaborative soft grippers have been recently introduced to extend this possibility beyond the robot end-effector, making humans able to directly act on robotic hands. In this work, we propose to exploit collaborative grippers in a novel paradigm in which these devices can be easily attached and detached from the robot arm and used also independently from it. This is possible only with self-powered hands, that are still quite uncommon in the market. In the presented paradigm not only hands can be attached/detached to/from the robot end-effector as if they were simple tools, but they can also remain active and fully functional after detachment. This ensures all the advantages brought in by tool changers, that allow for quick and possibly automatic tool exchange at the robot end-effector, but also gives the possibility of using the hand capabilities and degrees of freedom without the need of an arm or of external power supplies. In this paper, the concept of detachable robotic grippers is introduced and demonstrated through two illustrative tasks conducted with a new tool changer designed for collaborative grippers. The novel tool changer embeds electromagnets that are used to add safety during attach/detach operations. The activation of the electromagnets is controlled through a wearable interface capable of providing tactile feedback. The usability of the system is confirmed by the evaluations of 12 users.





2010 ◽  
Vol 108-111 ◽  
pp. 1439-1445
Author(s):  
Shahed Shojaeipour ◽  
Sallehuddin Mohamed Haris ◽  
Ehsan Eftekhari ◽  
Ali Shojaeipour ◽  
Ronak Daghigh

In this article, the development of an autonomous robot trajectory generation system based on a single eye-in-hand webcam, where the workspace map is not known a priori, is described. The system makes use of image processing methods to identify locations of obstacles within the workspace and the Quadtree Decomposition algorithm to generate collision free paths. The shortest path is then automatically chosen as the path to be traversed by the robot end-effector. The method was implemented using MATLAB running on a PC and tested on a two-link SCARA robotic arm. The tests were successful and indicate that the method could be feasibly implemented on many practical applications.



Author(s):  
K. D. Chaney ◽  
J. K. Davidson

Abstract A new method is developed for determining both a satisfactory location of a workpiece and a suitable mounting-angle of the tool for planar RPR robots that can provide dexterous workspace. The method is an analytical representation of the geometry of the robot and the task, and is particularly well suited to applications in which the task requires large rotations of the end-effector. It is determined that, when the task requires that the end-effector rotate a full turn at just two locations and when the first or third joint in the robot is rotatable by one turn, then the radial location of the workpiece is fixed in the workcell but its angular location is not fixed. When the mounting-angle of the tool is also a variable, the method accommodates tasks in which the tool must rotate a full turn at three locations on the workpiece. The results are presented as coordinates of points in a two-dimensional Cartesian reference frame attached to the workcell. Consequently, a technician or an engineer can determine the location for the workpiece by laying out these coordinates directly in the workcell. Example problems illustrate the method. Practical applications include welding and deposition of adhesives.



SIMULATION ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 95 (11) ◽  
pp. 1015-1025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Trochimczuk ◽  
Andrzej Łukaszewicz ◽  
Tadeusz Mikołajczyk ◽  
Francesco Aggogeri ◽  
Alberto Borboni

This paper presents the concept of a novel telemanipulator for minimally invasive surgery, along with numerical analysis to validate the main system performance. The proposed kinematic structure consists of a passive and an active module. The passive module is similar to the Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm - SCARA robot. The active module is based on a parallelogram mechanism. The results of the numerical study are discussed, focusing on the influence of geometry parameters of the kinematic chain on the displacement accuracy of the end-effector. In particular, the paper deals with the identification of the main factors that impact the position accuracy of the robot.



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