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Assembly Automation

Publisher:
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Emerald Publishing
ISSN:
0144-5154
Scimago Journal Rank:
44
journal article
LitStream Collection
sEMG-based shoulder-elbow composite motion pattern recognition and control methods for upper limb rehabilitation robot

Zhang, Xiufeng; Dai, Jitao; Li, Xia; Li, Huizi; Fu, Huiqun; Pan, Guoxin; Zhang, Ning; Yang, Rong; Xu, Jianguang

2019 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/aa-11-2017-148

This paper aims to develop a signal acquisition system of surface electromyography (sEMG) and use the characteristics of (sEMG) signal to interference action pattern.Design/methodology/approachThis paper proposes a fusion method based on combining the coefficient of AR model and wavelet coefficient. It improves the recognition rate of the target action. To overcome the slow convergence speed and local optimum in standard BP network, the study presents a BP algorithm which combine with LM algorithm and PSO algorithm, and it improves the convergence speed and the recognition rate of the target action.FindingsExperiments verify the effectiveness of the system from two aspects the target motion recognition rate and the corresponding reaction speed of the robotic system.Originality/valueThe study developed a signal acquisition system of sEMG and used the characteristics of (sEMG) signal to interference action pattern. The myoelectricity integral values are presented to determine the starting point and end point of target movement, which is more effective than using single sample point amplitude method.
journal article
LitStream Collection
Anti-disturbance iterative learning tracking control for space manipulators with repetitive reference trajectory

Qiao, Jian Zhong; Wu, Hao; Zhu, Yukai; Xu, Jianwei; Li, Wenshuo

2019 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/aa-12-2017-176

This paper is concerned with the repetitive trajectory tracking control for space manipulators under model uncertainties and vibration disturbances.Design/methodology/approachThe model uncertainties and link vibration of manipulators will degrade the tracking performance of space manipulators; in this paper, a new hybrid control scheme that consists of a composite hierarchical anti-disturbance controller and an iterative learning controller is developed to solve this problem.FindingsThe composite hierarchical controller can effectively attenuate model uncertainties and reject vibration disturbances, whereas the iterative learning controller is able to improve the tracking accuracy for repetitive reference trajectory.Originality/valueThe proposed scheme compensates for the shortcomings of iterative learning control which can only deal with repetitive disturbances, ensuring the accuracy and repeatability of space manipulators under model uncertainties and random disturbances.
journal article
LitStream Collection
CurviPicker: a continuum robot for pick-and-place tasks

Yang, Zhixiong; Zhao, Bin; Bo, Liang; Zhu, Xiangyang; Xu, Kai

2019 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/aa-12-2017-187

Pick-and-place tasks are common across many industrial sectors, and many rigid-linked robots have been proposed for this application. This paper aims to alternatively present the development of a continuum robot for low-load medium-speed pick-and-place tasks.Design/methodology/approachAn inversion of a previously proposed dual continuum mechanism, as a key design element, was used to realize the horizontal movements of the CurviPicker’s end effector. A flexible shaft was inserted to realize rotation and translation about a vertical axis. The design concept, kinematics, system descriptions and proof-of-concept experimental characterizations are elaborated.FindingsExperimental characterizations show that the CurviPicker can achieve satisfactory accuracy after motion calibration. The CurviPicker is easy to control due to its simple kinematics, while its structural compliance makes it safe to work with, as well as less sensitive to possible target picking position errors to avoid damaging itself or the to-be-picked objects.Research limitations/implicationsThe vertical translation of the CurviPicker is currently realized by moving the flexible shaft. Insertion of the flexible shaft introduces possible disturbances. It is desired to explore other form of variations to use structural deformation to realize the vertical translation.Practical implicationsThe proposed CurviPicker realizes the Schöenflies motions via a simple structure. Such a robot can be used to increase robot presence and automation in small businesses for low-load medium-speed pick-and-place tasks.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, the CurviPicker is the first continuum robot designed and constructed for pick-and-place tasks. The originality stems from the concept, kinematics, development and proof-of-concept experimental characterizations of the CurviPicker.
journal article
LitStream Collection
Flexible co-manipulation and transportation with mobile multi-robot system

Hichri, Bassem; Adouane, Lounis; Fauroux, Jean-Christophe; Mezouar, Youcef; Doroftei, Ioan

2019 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/aa-12-2017-190

The purpose of this paper is to address optimal positioning of a group of mobile robots for a successful manipulation and transportation of payloads of any shape.Design/methodology/approachThe chosen methodology to achieve optimal positioning of the robots around the payload to lift it and to transport it while maintaining a geometric multi-robot formation is presented. This appropriate configuration of the set of robots is obtained by combining constraints ensuring stable and safe lifting and transport of the payload. A suitable control law is then used to track a virtual structure in which each elementary robot has to keep its desired position with respect to the payload.FindingsAn optimal positioning of mobile robots around a payload to ensure stable co-manipulation and transportation task according to stability multi-criteria constraints. Simulation and experimental results validate the proposed control architecture and strategy for a successful transportation task based on virtual structure navigation approach.Originality/valueThis paper presents a new strategy for co-manipulation and co-transportation task based on a virtual structure navigation approach. An algorithm for optimal positioning of mobile robots around a payload of any mass and shape is proposed while ensuring stability during the whole process by respecting multi-criteria task stability constraints.
journal article
LitStream Collection
Docking mechanism design and dynamic analysis for the GEO tumbling satellite

Jianbin, Huang; Zhi, Li; Longfei, Huang; Bo, Meng; Xu, Han; Yujia, Pang

2019 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/aa-12-2017-191

According to the requirements of servicing and deorbiting the failure satellites, especially the tumbling ones on geosynchronous orbit, this paper aims to design a docking mechanism to capture these tumbling satellites in orbit, to analyze the dynamics of the docking system and to develop a new collision force-limited control method in various docking speeds.Design/methodology/approachThe mechanism includes a cone-rod mechanism which captures the apogee engine with a full consideration of despinning and damping characteristics and a locking and releasing mechanism which rigidly connects the international standard interface ring (Marman rings, such as 937B, 1194 and 1194A mechanical interface). The docking mechanism was designed under-actuated, aimed to greatly reduce the difficulty of control and ensure the continuity, synchronization and force uniformity under the process of repeatedly capturing, despinning, locking and releasing the tumbling satellite. The dynamic model of docking mechanism was established, and the impact force was analyzed in the docking process. Furthermore, a collision detection and compliance control method is proposed by using the active force-limited Cartesian impedance control and passive damping mechanism design.FindingsA variety of conditions were set for the docking kinematics and dynamics simulation. The simulation and low-speed docking experiment results showed that the force translation in the docking phase was stable, the mechanism design scheme was reasonable and feasible and the proposed force-limited Cartesian impedance control could detect the collision and keep the external force within the desired value.Originality/valueThe paper presents a universal docking mechanism and force-limited Cartesian impedance control approach to capture the tumbling non-cooperative satellite. The docking mechanism was designed under-actuated to greatly reduce the difficulty of control and ensure the continuity, synchronization and force uniformity. The dynamic model of docking mechanism was established. The impact force was controlled within desired value by using a combination of active force-limited control approach and passive damping mechanism.
journal article
LitStream Collection
Receding horizon control of mobile robots for locating unknown wireless sensor networks

Chen, Dilong; Lu, Qiang; Peng, Dongliang; Yin, Ke; Zhong, Chaoliang; Shi, Ting

2019 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/aa-12-2017-198

The purpose of this paper is to propose a receding horizon control approach for the problem of locating unknown wireless sensor networks by using a mobile robot.Design/methodology/approachA control framework is used and consists of two levels: one is a decision level, while the other is a control level. In the decision level, a spatiotemporal probability occupancy grid method is used to give the possible positions of all nodes in sensor networks, where the posterior probability distributions of sensor nodes are estimated by capturing the transient signals. In the control level, a virtual robot is designed to move along the edge of obstacles such that the problem of obstacle avoidance can be transformed into a coordination problem of multiple robots. On the basis of the possible positions of sensor nodes and virtual robots, a receding horizon control approach is proposed to control mobile robots to locate sensor nodes, where a temporary target position method is utilized to avoid several special obstacles.FindingsWhen the number of obstacles increases, the average localization errors between the actual locations and the estimated locations significantly increase.Originality/valueThe proposed control approach can guide the mobile robot to avoid obstacles and deal with the corresponding dynamical events so as to locate all sensor nodes for an unknown wireless network.
journal article
LitStream Collection
Concurrent-learning-based visual servo tracking and scene identification of mobile robots

Qiu, Yu; Li, Baoquan; Shi, Wuxi; Chen, Yimei

2019 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/aa-02-2018-024

The purpose of this paper is to present a visual servo tracking strategy for the wheeled mobile robot, where the unknown feature depth information can be identified simultaneously in the visual servoing process.Design/methodology/approachBy using reference, desired and current images, system errors are constructed by measurable signals that are obtained by decomposing Euclidean homographies. Subsequently, by taking the advantage of the concurrent learning framework, both historical and current system data are used to construct an adaptive updating mechanism for recovering the unknown feature depth. Then, the kinematic controller is designed for the mobile robot to achieve the visual servo trajectory tracking task. Lyapunov techniques and LaSalle’s invariance principle are used to prove that system errors and the depth estimation error converge to zero synchronously.FindingsThe concurrent learning-based visual servo tracking and identification technology is found to be reliable, accurate and efficient with both simulation and comparative experimental results. Both trajectory tracking and depth estimation errors converge to zero successfully.Originality/valueOn the basis of the concurrent learning framework, an adaptive control strategy is developed for the mobile robot to successfully identify the unknown scene depth while accomplishing the visual servo trajectory tracking task.
journal article
LitStream Collection
Mobile robot motion control and autonomous navigation in GPS-denied outdoor environments using 3D laser scanning

Yang, Qifeng; Qu, Daokui; Xu, Fang; Zou, Fengshan; He, Guojian; Sun, Mingze

2019 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/aa-02-2018-029

This paper aims to propose a series of approaches to solve the problem of the mobile robot motion control and autonomous navigation in large-scale outdoor GPS-denied environments.Design/methodology/approachBased on the model of mobile robot with two driving wheels, a controller is designed and tested in obstacle-cluttered scenes in this paper. By using the priori “topology-geometry” map constructed based on the odometer data and the online matching algorithm of 3D-laser scanning points, a novel approach of outdoor localization with 3D-laser scanner is proposed to solve the problem of poor localization accuracy in GPS-denied environments. A path planning strategy based on geometric feature analysis and priority evaluation algorithm is also adopted to ensure the safety and reliability of mobile robot’s autonomous navigation and control.FindingsA series of experiments are conducted with a self-designed mobile robot platform in large-scale outdoor environments, and the experimental results show the validity and effectiveness of the proposed approach.Originality/valueThe problem of motion control for a differential drive mobile robot is investigated in this paper first. At the same time, a novel approach of outdoor localization with 3D-laser scanner is proposed to solve the problem of poor localization accuracy in GPS-denied environments. A path planning strategy based on geometric feature analysis and priority evaluation algorithm is also adopted to ensure the safety and reliability of mobile robot’s autonomous navigation and control.
journal article
LitStream Collection
Unknown geometrical constraints estimation and trajectory planning for robotic door-opening task with visual teleoperation assists

Xing, Hongjun; Xia, Kerui; Ding, Liang; Gao, Haibo; Liu, Guangjun; Deng, Zongquan

2019 Assembly Automation

doi: 10.1108/aa-08-2018-109

The purpose of this paper is to enable autonomous door-opening with unknown geometrical constraints. Door-opening is a common action needed for mobile manipulators to perform rescue operation. However, it remains difficult for them to handle it in real rescue environments. The major difficulties of rescue manipulation involve contradiction between unknown geometrical constraints and limited sensors because of extreme physical constraints.Design/methodology/approachA method for estimating the unknown door geometrical parameters using coordinate transformation of the end-effector with visual teleoperation assists is proposed. A trajectory planning algorithm is developed using geometrical parameters from the proposed method.FindingsThe relevant experiments are also conducted using a manipulator suited to extreme physical constraints to open a real door with a locked latch and unknown geometrical parameters, which demonstrates the validity and efficiency of the proposed approach.Originality/valueThis is a novel method for estimating the unknown door geometrical parameters with coordinate transformation of the end-effector through visual teleoperation assists.
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