A manipulator size optimization method based on dexterous workspace volume

Background: Manipulators for robots are required to have high manipulability for adaptability in different tasks. However, general methods for designing manipulators with high manipulability are deficient. Here, aiming at improving the manipulability of the six degrees-of-freedom (DOF) manipulator, a method for optimizing structure size parameters based on the dexterous workspace volume is proposed. Methods: Firstly, the kinematic analysis of the manipulator is performed. Then, the manipulability of the single working point of the manipulator is judged based on reachability in different postures. The workspace of the manipulator is discretized to obtain the volume of the overall dexterous workspace. By taking the maximum volume of the dexterous workspace as the optimization goal, Genetic Algorithm (GA) is used to optimize the structure size parameters to achieve optimal manipulability. AUBO 6-DOF manipulator is defined and analyzed as an example. Results: The optimization results indicate that the dexterous workspace of the manipulator expands in volume and its manipulability is improved. The validity of the proposed optimization method is verified by comparing the distribution of dexterous workspace of the manipulator. Conclusions: This article proposes an optimization method for the structure size parameters of a 6-DOF manipulator, which can be implemented to improving the manipulability of the manipulator.

ABB IRB 120-30.6 Build Procedure in RoboDK

Purpose: Research on robotics needs a robot to experiment on it. The actual industrial robot is costly. So, the only resort is to use a Robot simulator. The RoboDK is one of the best robot simulators now. It has covered most of the popular industrial robots. Its interface is straightforward. Just open the software, download the robot as we need, and start experiments. Up to that, no issue was found anywhere. However, the problem begins when we want to build the simulated robot by own. Lots of complexity arises like coordinate assignment, rotation not aligned, length mismatch, robot not synced with DH parameter. We begin to find some documents for making the robots. A few bits of the document are present. That is why we research it. After doing that, we prepared this paper for the researcher who wants to develop the simulated robot independently. This paper can be referenced for them. To minimize the complexity of our research, we study an industrial robot, ABB IRB 120-30.6. It is a good and popular robot. It is six degrees of freedom robot. We will use the specification and STEP file from their respective website and build a simulated robot from the STEP file for our research purpose. Design/Methodology/Approach: We will create a simulated robot from ABB IRB 120-30.6 STEP file. To create a robot by own, we took the help of the IRB 120 robot model. To demonstrate as simple as possible, we start with that robot whose default design is already present. We match and tune the joint coordinate based on robot parameters through this experiment. Findings/results: Here, we see how to create a custom robot. Using the IRB 120 robot model, we will create a robot model step by step. Furthermore, it will move it around its axis. Originality/Value: Using this experiment, the new researcher can get valuable information to create their custom robot. Paper Type: Simulation-based Research.

Optimal Geno-Fuzzy Lateral Control of Powered Parachute Flying Vehicles

In this work, we propose a systematic procedure to design a fuzzy logic controller (FLC) to control the lateral motion of powered parachute (PPC) flying vehicles. The design process does not require knowing the details of vehicle dynamics. Moreover, the physical constraints of the system, such as the maximum error of the yaw angle and the maximum allowed steering angle, are naturally included in the designed controller. The effectiveness of the proposed controller was assessed using the nonlinear six degrees of freedom (6DOF) mathematical model of the PPC. The genetic algorithm (GA) optimization technique was used to optimize the distribution of the fuzzy membership functions in order to improve the performance of the suggested controller. The robustness of the proposed controller was evaluated by changing the values of the parafoil aerodynamic coefficients and the initial flight conditions.

Reducing Cybersickness in 360-Degree Virtual Reality

Despite the technological advancements in Virtual Reality (VR), users are constantly combating feelings of nausea and disorientation, the so-called cybersickness. Cybersickness symptoms cause severe discomfort and hinder the immersive VR experience. Here we investigated cybersickness in 360-degree head-mounted display VR. In traditional 360-degree VR experiences, translational movement in the real world is not reflected in the virtual world, and therefore self-motion information is not corroborated by matching visual and vestibular cues, which may trigger symptoms of cybersickness. We evaluated whether a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) software designed to supplement the 360-degree VR experience with artificial six-degrees-of-freedom motion may reduce cybersickness. Explicit (simulator sickness questionnaire and Fast Motion Sickness (FMS) rating) and implicit (heart rate) measurements were used to evaluate cybersickness symptoms during and after 360-degree VR exposure. Simulator sickness scores showed a significant reduction in feelings of nausea during the AI-supplemented six-degrees-of-freedom motion VR compared to traditional 360-degree VR. However, six-degrees-of-freedom motion VR did not reduce oculomotor or disorientation measures of sickness. No changes were observed in FMS and heart rate measures. Improving the congruency between visual and vestibular cues in 360-degree VR, as provided by the AI-supplemented six-degrees-of-freedom motion system considered, is essential for a more engaging, immersive and safe VR experience, which is critical for educational, cultural and entertainment applications.

Modal testing and modelling the dynamic characteristics of a plate with bolted joints

Modelling the dynamic characteristics of the bolted joints in a complex assembled structure with a high accuracy is very challenging due to the assumptions and uncertainties in the input data of the FE model. In this paper, the identification of the dynamic characteristics of the bolted joints structure using the CBUSH element connector is proposed. Modal testing and normal modes analysis are conducted on a thin plate assembled structure with bolted joints. In the simulation work, the CBUSH element connector is employed and the stiffness coefficient for six degrees of freedom is computed based on four flexibility formulae. The predicted natural frequencies and their corresponding mode shapes are compared against the results of the experimental work. A good agreement of the FE model is achieved by using the coefficient of stiffness as represented in the Swift flexibility formula. The study justifies that the dynamic characteristics of the bolt joints could be accurately modelled by using the CBUSH element connector. The obtained findings provided an alternative approach to modelling the dynamic characteristics of a thin plate assembled structure with bolted joints.

A NUMERICAL SIMULATION INVESTIGATION OF THE HYDRODYNAMIC MOTIONS OF A SHIP ADVANCING IN WAVES

This study establishes a relationship diagram of the ship-wave interaction under a ship advancing in waves. A finite difference method based on volume of fluid (VOF) principles was used to simulate the hydrodynamic motions of a ship advancing in waves. A ship model was constructed using a computer aided design (CAD) tool. The computational fluid dynamic (CFD) technique was used to calculate the hydrodynamic motions effect of a ship sailing in waves at varying angles of incidence. This study investigates a number of significant related parameters, such as the speed of the ship model, the various wave incidence angles, the wave height, and the navigation time. A chart is also used to show the flow field, and changes in the six degrees of freedom motion and continually compare changes in the drag force.

IDENTIFICATION OF INFLUENTIAL PARAMETERS IN A SHIP’S MOTION RESPONSES: A ROUTE TO MONITORING DYNAMIC STABILITY

Six degrees of freedom motion response tests of a Ro-Ro model have been carried out in irregular waves under intact conditions. A stationary model was tested in different sea states for following, astern quartering and beam seas. The investigation was limited to the effect of encountered frequency components and associated magnitude of energy of the ship’s motion responses. Analysis of heave, pitch and roll motions confirmed the vulnerability of the model to certain frequency ranges resulting in an adverse effect on the responses, and these were closely related to its natural frequencies. It was confirmed that the roll motion maintains its highest oscillation around the natural frequency in all sea conditions regardless of heading angles. However spectral analysis of the heave and pitch responses revealed the wave peak frequency. Roll is magnified when the peak frequency of wave approaches the natural roll frequency; therefore keeping them apart avoids a large motion response. It was concluded that peak frequency and associated magnitude are two important inherent characteristics of motion responses. Detection of influential parameters of encountered wave through heave and pitch responses could be utilised to limit a large ship’s motion at sea.

STEPPING RESPONSE DURING CONSTRAINED AND UNCONSTRAINED STANDING IN MOVING ENVIRONMENTS

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in human stepping response reaction between constrained and unconstrained standing while being exposed to simulated wave-induced platform motions. Twenty subjects (10 male and 10 female), with limited experience recreating or working in motion-rich environments, performed a constrained and an unconstrained standing task on a six-degrees-of-freedom motion bed while being exposed to two different simulated platform motion conditions. Stepping occurrence was greater during unconstrained standing than constrained standing during all three motion conditions. However, no significant differences in platform kinematics were found between stepping cases. These results suggest that stepping occurs more frequently than originally hypothesized. As such, stepping should not be considered as a last resource when all fixed-support options have been exhausted. This should be taken into consideration to ensure ecological validity when developing models to predict stepping occurrence.

CFNet: LiDAR-Camera Registration Using Calibration Flow Network

As an essential procedure of data fusion, LiDAR-camera calibration is critical for autonomous vehicles and robot navigation. Most calibration methods require laborious manual work, complicated environmental settings, and specific calibration targets. The targetless methods are based on some complex optimization workflow, which is time-consuming and requires prior information. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can regress the six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) extrinsic parameters from raw LiDAR and image data. However, these CNN-based methods just learn the representations of the projected LiDAR and image and ignore the correspondences at different locations. The performances of these CNN-based methods are unsatisfactory and worse than those of non-CNN methods. In this paper, we propose a novel CNN-based LiDAR-camera extrinsic calibration algorithm named CFNet. We first decided that a correlation layer should be used to provide matching capabilities explicitly. Then, we innovatively defined calibration flow to illustrate the deviation of the initial projection from the ground truth. Instead of directly predicting the extrinsic parameters, we utilize CFNet to predict the calibration flow. The efficient Perspective-n-Point (EPnP) algorithm within the RANdom SAmple Consensus (RANSAC) scheme is applied to estimate the extrinsic parameters with 2D–3D correspondences constructed by the calibration flow. Due to its consideration of the geometric information, our proposed method performed better than the state-of-the-art CNN-based methods on the KITTI datasets. Furthermore, we also tested the flexibility of our approach on the KITTI360 datasets.