Advanced Robotics

P.Chan, S.; P.Chen, H.

doi: 10.1163/156855301317035179pmid: N/A

Compliant manipulation requires the robot to follow a motion trajectory and to exert a force profile while making compliant contact with a dynamic environment. For this purpose, a generalized impedance in the task space consisting of a second-order function relating motion errors and interaction force errors is introduced such that force tracking can be achieved. Using variable structure model reaching control, the generalized impedance is realized in the presence of parametric uncertainties. The proposed control method is applied to a multi-d.o.f. robot for an assembly task of inserting a printed circuit board into an edge connector socket. It is suggested that an assembly strategy which involves a sequence of planned target generalized impedances can enable the task to be executed in a desirable manner. The effectiveness of this approach is illustrated through experiments by comparing the results with those obtained using a model-based control implementation.

Jia, Songmin; Takase, Kunikatsu

doi: 10.1163/156855301317035188pmid: N/A

The elderly population is growing while the number of people to take care of them is declining. Here, we describe an Internet telerobotic system to assist the aged or disabled in their homes when their caregivers are away. In this paper we analyze typical teleoperation robotic systems and design an Internet telerobotic system using Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). We detail the system's features, architecture and implementation. The proposed system gives users the ability to control the robotic system remotely by an intuitive user interface. The client can transparently invoke methods on the application servers across the network and does not have to know where the application servers are located, what programming language the application is written in or what operating system is being used. This is because, in developing and implementing the system, CORBA for the distributed, object-oriented applications was selected.

Capi, Genci; Nasu, Yasuo; Barolli, Leonard; Mitobe, Kazuhisa; Takeda, Kenro

doi: 10.1163/156855301317035197pmid: N/A

Selecting an appropriate gait can reduce consumed energy by a biped robot. In this paper, a Genetic Algorithm gait synthesis method is proposed, which generates the angle trajectories based on the minimum consumed energy and minimum torque change. The gait synthesis is considered for two cases: walking and going up-stairs. The proposed method can be applied for a wide range of step lengths and step times during walking; or step lengths, stair heights and step times for going up-stairs. The angle trajectories are generated without neglecting the stability of the biped robot. The angle trajectories can be generated for other tasks to be performed by the biped robot, like going down-stairs, overcoming obstacles, etc. In order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, the results for minimum consumed energy and minimum torque change are compared. A Radial Basis Function Neural Network is considered for the real-time application. Simulations are realized based upon the parameters of the 'Bonten-Maru I'humanoid robot, which is under development in our laboratory. The evaluation by simulations shows that the proposed method has a good performance.

Wattanasin, Chatchai; Aiyama, Yasumichi; Kurabayashi, Daisuke; Ota, Jun; Arai, Tamio

doi: 10.1163/156855301317035205pmid: N/A

Service robots are frequently fitted with end-effecters, which require high energy, to achieve a specific task. Robots require high-power energy sources that can meet several goals simultaneously. Given the technology of today, a battery-driven robot cannot work for long on a single charge. Todevelop a new powerful battery technology may take many years of exhaustive research. In this paper, we present a dual-energized scheme called HYbrid POwer Supply (HYPOS) that integrates the function of batteries and a household electric system to supply a robot. This technique can be realized by existing technology and is applicable to a variety of indoor applications. The challenge of implementing the HYPOS system is to develop the outlet-connection procedures and to handle the electric cord to reduce movement disturbance. We report on the prototype robot and the experiments that illustrate the effectiveness and practicality of this proposed system. The result has shown that the HYPOS system can supply a robot consecutively for almost 2 h and its efficiency is 73.6%, while the efficiency of a lead-acid battery is only 38.5%.