scholarly journals Multi-Sensor Validation Approach of an End-Effector-Based Robot for the Rehabilitation of the Upper and Lower Limb

Electronics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1751
Author(s):  
Cinzia Amici ◽  
Federica Ragni ◽  
Manuela Ghidoni ◽  
Davide Fausti ◽  
Luciano Bissolotti ◽  
...  

End-effector-based robots are widely adopted by physiotherapists and caregivers as support in the delivery of the rehabilitation training to the patient. The validation of these devices presents critical aspects, since the system performance must be assessed analyzing the movement performed by the subject limb, i.e., elements outside the device. This paper presents a multi-sensor approach for the validation of an innovative end-effector-based device, comparing different measurement strategies for evaluating the system effectiveness in imposing an expected training. The study was performed monitoring the movement induced by the device on the upper limb of a young male healthy subject during a set of fictitious rehabilitation sessions. The kinematic structure of the device is characterized by a compact differential mechanism with two degrees of freedom. A sequence of repetitions of a planar reaching pattern was analyzed as illustrative training task. A kinematic model of subject and system was developed, and the kinematics of a set of specific landmark points on the subject limb was evaluated. Data obtained from two measurement systems were compared: (1) an optoelectronic system with two cameras and eight skin passive markers, and (2) two triaxial accelerometers. Results were analyzed in MATLAB and R environment, revealing a high repeatability of the limb movement. Although both the measurement systems allow evaluating the acceleration of subject’s arm and forearm, accelerometers should be preferred for punctual analysis, like components optimizations, whereas optical markers provide a general overview of the system, particularly suitable for the functional design process.

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.


Robotica ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 224-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvador Cobos-Guzman ◽  
David Palmer ◽  
Dragos Axinte

SUMMARYThis paper presents a novel kinematic approach for controlling the end-effector of a continuum robot for in-situ repair/inspection in restricted and hazardous environments. Forward and inverse kinematic (IK) models have been developed to control the last segment of the continuum robot for performing multi-axis processing tasks using the last six Degrees of Freedom (DoF). The forward kinematics (FK) is proposed using a combination of Euler angle representation and homogeneous matrices. Due to the redundancy of the system, different constraints are proposed to solve the IK for different cases; therefore, the IK model is solved for bending and direction angles between (−π/2 to +π/2) radians. In addition, a novel method to calculate the Jacobian matrix is proposed for this type of hyper-redundant kinematics. The error between the results calculated using the proposed Jacobian algorithm and using the partial derivative equations of the FK map (with respect to linear and angular velocity) is evaluated. The error between the two models is found to be insignificant, thus, the Jacobian is validated as a method of calculating the IK for six DoF.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 172988141880384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonqlan Lin ◽  
Chi Ying Wu ◽  
Julian Chang

Cable-driven parallel robots comprise driven actuators that allow controlled cables to act in parallel on an end-effector. Such a robotic system has a potentially large reachable workspace, large load capacity, high payload-to-weight ratio, high reconfigurability, and low inertia, relative to rigid link serial and parallel robots. In this work, a multi-degrees-of-freedom cable-suspended robot that can carry out pick-and-place tasks in large workspaces with heavy loads is designed. The proposed cable-driven parallel robot is composed of a rigid frame and an end-effector that is suspended from eight cables—four upper cables and four lower cables. The lengths of the cables are computed from the given positions of the suspended end-effector using a kinematic model. However, most multi-cable-driven robots suffer from interference among the cables, requiring a complex control methodology to find a target goal. Owing to this issue with cable-driven parallel robots, the whole control structure decomposes positioning control missions and allocates them into upper level and lower level. The upper level control is responsible for tracking the suspended end-effector to the target region. The lower level control makes fine positional modifications. Experimental results reveal that the hybrid control mode notably improves positioning performance. The wide variety of issues that are considered in this work apply to aerostats, towing cranes, locomotion interfaces, and large-scale manufacturing that require cable-driven parallel robots.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Zhufeng Shao ◽  
Guangqiang Xie ◽  
Zhaokun Zhang ◽  
Li-Ping Wang

Abstract Parallel cables are gradually widely used in cable-driven parallel robots (CDPR) to provide constraints to the end effector and to realize translational degrees of freedom. However, when there are dimensional errors, parallel cables become no longer parallel and will cause terminal attitude errors, which can’t be compensated by kinematic calibration. In this paper, the attitude assurance method is studied considering a three DOFs translational CDPR. Firstly, the kinematic model and error mapping model of the robot is established by using the closed-loop method, considering the pulley radius. Secondly, the influence of the dimensional parameter errors on the terminal error is analyzed with the sensitivity index, which establishes a theoretical basis for the simplification of the accuracy synthesis process. Thirdly, the design tolerances of the cable connection points are determined through accuracy synthesis, which is implemented with the genetic algorithm considering the optimal manufacturing cost and ensure the attitude accuracy of the end effector. Finally, to reduce the influence of cable length error, the method of adjusting the initial pose was proposed and studied, which is verified as an effective approach.


Author(s):  
Miguel Ramírez-Aguirre ◽  
José Luis Ortiz-Simón ◽  
Martha Aguilera-Hernández ◽  
Nicolás Cruz-Hernández

The article presents the analysis of a robot with three degrees of freedom to follow trajectories through a partitioned control. Which is made up of two revolute and one prismatic joint where the end effector is located, that allows it to move correctly in its work area. This robot has a different structure from those most studied and analyzed by current literature, therefore it presents an opportunity to be used as a didactic resource, due to the structure, the degrees of freedom and the affinity of the models used by the students. The analysis consists of the use of the DH rule for the assignment of frames and referential axes, centers of mass, dynamic model by Jacobian and Christoffel symbols, inverse kinematic model, variables such as friction, gravitational and friction compensation, ending in a model in "Simulink" capable of following trajectories from the partitioned control law.


Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (13) ◽  
pp. 1468
Author(s):  
Luis Nagua ◽  
Carlos Relaño ◽  
Concepción A. Monje ◽  
Carlos Balaguer

A soft joint has been designed and modeled to perform as a robotic joint with 2 Degrees of Freedom (DOF) (inclination and orientation). The joint actuation is based on a Cable-Driven Parallel Mechanism (CDPM). To study its performance in more detail, a test platform has been developed using components that can be manufactured in a 3D printer using a flexible polymer. The mathematical model of the kinematics of the soft joint is developed, which includes a blocking mechanism and the morphology workspace. The model is validated using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) (CAD software). Experimental tests are performed to validate the inverse kinematic model and to show the potential use of the prototype in robotic platforms such as manipulators and humanoid robots.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 2346
Author(s):  
Alessandro Tringali ◽  
Silvio Cocuzza

The minimization of energy consumption is of the utmost importance in space robotics. For redundant manipulators tracking a desired end-effector trajectory, most of the proposed solutions are based on locally optimal inverse kinematics methods. On the one hand, these methods are suitable for real-time implementation; nevertheless, on the other hand, they often provide solutions quite far from the globally optimal one and, moreover, are prone to singularities. In this paper, a novel inverse kinematics method for redundant manipulators is presented, which overcomes the above mentioned issues and is suitable for real-time implementation. The proposed method is based on the optimization of the kinetic energy integral on a limited subset of future end-effector path points, making the manipulator joints to move in the direction of minimum kinetic energy. The proposed method is tested by simulation of a three degrees of freedom (DOF) planar manipulator in a number of test cases, and its performance is compared to the classical pseudoinverse solution and to a global optimal method. The proposed method outperforms the pseudoinverse-based one and proves to be able to avoid singularities. Furthermore, it provides a solution very close to the global optimal one with a much lower computational time, which is compatible for real-time implementation.


Author(s):  
Saeed Behzadipour

A new hybrid cable-driven manipulator is introduced. The manipulator is composed of a Cartesian mechanism to provide three translational degrees of freedom and a cable system to drive the mechanism. The end-effector is driven by three rotational motors through the cables. The cable drive system in this mechanism is self-stressed meaning that the pre-tension of the cables which keep them taut is provided internally. In other words, no redundant actuator or external force is required to maintain the tensile force in the cables. This simplifies the operation of the mechanism by reducing the number of actuators and also avoids their continuous static loading. It also eliminates the redundant work of the actuators which is usually present in cable-driven mechanisms. Forward and inverse kinematics problems are solved and shown to have explicit solutions. Static and stiffness analysis are also performed. The effects of the cable’s compliance on the stiffness of the mechanism is modeled and presented by a characteristic cable length. The characteristic cable length is calculated and analyzed in representative locations of the workspace.


2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin-Hsing Kuo ◽  
Jian S. Dai

A crucial design challenge in minimally invasive surgical (MIS) robots is the provision of a fully decoupled four degrees-of-freedom (4-DOF) remote center-of-motion (RCM) for surgical instruments. In this paper, we present a new parallel manipulator that can generate a 4-DOF RCM over its end-effector and these four DOFs are fully decoupled, i.e., each of them can be independently controlled by one corresponding actuated joint. First, we revisit the remote center-of-motion for MIS robots and introduce a projective displacement representation for coping with this special kinematics. Next, we present the proposed new parallel manipulator structure and study its geometry and motion decouplebility. Accordingly, we solve the inverse kinematics problem by taking the advantage of motion decouplebility. Then, via the screw system approach, we carry out the Jacobian analysis for the manipulator, by which the singular configurations are identified. Finally, we analyze the reachable and collision-free workspaces of the proposed manipulator and conclude the feasibility of this manipulator for the application in minimally invasive surgery.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3537
Author(s):  
Christian Friedrich ◽  
Steffen Ihlenfeldt

Integrated single-axis force sensors allow an accurate and cost-efficient force measurement in 6 degrees of freedom for hexapod structures and kinematics. Depending on the sensor placement, the measurement is affected by internal forces that need to be compensated for by a measurement model. Since the parameters of the model can change during machine usage, a fast and easy calibration procedure is requested. This work studies parameter identification procedures for force measurement models on the example of a rigid hexapod-based end-effector. First, measurement and identification models are presented and parameter sensitivities are analysed. Next, two excitation strategies are applied and discussed: identification from quasi-static poses and identification from accelerated continuous trajectories. Both poses and trajectories are optimized by different criteria and evaluated in comparison. Finally, the procedures are validated by experimental studies with reference payloads. In conclusion, both strategies allow accurate parameter identification within a fast procedure in an operational machine state.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document