Model based kinematic & dynamic simulation of 6-DOF upper-limb rehabilitation robot

Globally, a large population is suffering from motor disabilities caused by acute lesions to brain nervous system. One example is stroke, which is the third largest killer in New Zealand and the United States. Traditional manual therapy usually requires cooperative and intensive efforts from therapists and patients. Robot-assisted upper-limb rehabilitation techniques have been actively researched in the past few decades. However, limitations still exist such as inappropriate robotic modelling, mechanical design or limited Range of Motion (ROM). This paper proposes a mathematical model for a 6-Degree of Freedom (DOF) Universal Robot to be used in a rehabilitation system. This study focuses on the kinematics and dynamic analysis by using the Denavit-Hartenberg (D-H) parameters method with coordinate transformation theory. In order to simplify the computation process, Kane equation method is introduced in this paper. Simulation results show that the proposed model is correct although the fluctuation is possible to be reduced further. It concludes that the mathematical model can provide an intuitive and effective environment for designing the rehabilitation robot and planning the clinical trials

Model based kinematic & dynamic simulation of 6-DOF upper-limb rehabilitation robot

Globally, a large population is suffering from motor disabilities caused by acute lesions to brain nervous system. One example is stroke, which is the third largest killer in New Zealand and the United States. Traditional manual therapy usually requires cooperative and intensive efforts from therapists and patients. Robot-assisted upper-limb rehabilitation techniques have been actively researched in the past few decades. However, limitations still exist such as inappropriate robotic modelling, mechanical design or limited Range of Motion (ROM). This paper proposes a mathematical model for a 6-Degree of Freedom (DOF) Universal Robot to be used in a rehabilitation system. This study focuses on the kinematics and dynamic analysis by using the Denavit-Hartenberg (D-H) parameters method with coordinate transformation theory. In order to simplify the computation process, Kane equation method is introduced in this paper. Simulation results show that the proposed model is correct although the fluctuation is possible to be reduced further. It concludes that the mathematical model can provide an intuitive and effective environment for designing the rehabilitation robot and planning the clinical trials

Dynamics for variable length multisection continuum arms

Variable length multisection continuum arms are a class of continuum robotic manipulators that generate motion by structural mechanical deformation. Unlike most continuum robots, the sections of these arms do not have (central) supporting flexible backbone, and are actuated by multiple variable length actuators. Because of the constraining nature of actuators, the continuum sections can bend and/or elongate (compress) depending on the elongation/contraction characteristics of the actuators being used. Continuum arms have a number of distinctive differences with respect to traditional rigid arms namely: smooth bending, high inherent compliance, and adaptive whole arm grasping. However, due to numerical instability and the complexity of curve parametric models, there are no spatial dynamic models for multisection continuum arms. This paper introduces novel spatial dynamics and applies these to variable length multisection continuum arms with any number of sections. An efficient recursive computational scheme for deriving the equations of motion is presented. This is applied in a general form based on structurally accurate and numerically well-posed modal kinematics that assumes circular arc deformation of continuum sections without torsion. It is shown that the proposed modal dynamics are highly scalable, producing efficient and accurate numerical results. The spatial dynamic simulation results are experimentally validated using a pneumatic muscle actuated multisection prototype continuum arm. For the first time this enables investigation of spatial dynamic effects in this class of continuum arms

Maximum weight lifting prediction considering dynamic joint strength

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2018This thesis describes an efficient optimization method for predicting the maximum lifting weight considering dynamic joint strength in symmetric box lifting using a skeletal model. Dynamic joint strength is modeled as a three-dimensional function of joint angle and joint angular velocity based on experimentally obtained joint strength data. The function is further formulated as the joint torque limit constraint in an inverse dynamics optimization formulation to predict the lifting motion. In the proposed optimization formulation, external load is treated as design variables along with joint angle profiles, which are represented by control points of B-spline curves. By using this new formulation, dynamic lifting motion and strategy can be predicted for a symmetric maximum weight box lifting task with given initial and final box locations. Results show that incorporating dynamic strength is critical in predicting the lifting motion in extreme lifting conditions. The prediction outputs in joint space are incorporated in OpenSim software to find out muscles force and activity during the movement. Electromyography data are collected for a regular weight lifting to validate the integration process between the predictive model (joint model) and OpenSim model (muscle model). The proposed algorithm and analysis method based on motion prediction and OpenSim can be further developed as a useful ergonomic tool to protect workers from injury in manual material handling.Chapter 1 Introduction -- 1.1 Motivation and Objectives -- 1.2 Background -- 1.2.1 Lifting Simulation -- 1.2.2 Muscle modelling -- 1.3 Overview of thesis and specific contribution. Chapter 2 Human Modelling, Kinematics, and Dynamics. Chapter 3 Optimization Formulation -- 3.1 Basic optimization formulation -- 3.2 New optimization formulation -- 3.2.1 External force as design variable -- 3.2.2 Time grid points as design variables -- 3.2.3 Dynamic joint strength. Chapter 4 Maximum Weight Prediction. Chapter 5 OpenSim Simulation for Maximum Weight Lifting -- 5.1 OpenSim -- 5.2 OpenSim simulation and processing -- 5.3 Data processing -- 5.4 Post processing and analysis -- 5.5 Results and comparison. Chapter 6 Validation of Electromyography -- 6.1 Electromyography -- 6.2 Experimental setup -- 6.3 Procedure -- 6.4 Data acquisition -- 6.5 Results and conclusion. Chapter 7 Conclusion and Future Work -- 7.1 Conclusion -- 7.2 Future Work -- Reference -- Appendix

Development of a Novel Ball-and-Socket Flexible Manipulator for Minimally Invasive Flexible Surgery

This work proposes a novel flexible manipulator consisting of a series of 2-DOF vertebrae based on a ball-andsocket joint that is connected by a ball-shaped surface and a cupshaped socket and constrained by pins for circumferential rotation. This manipulator can demonstrate outstanding torsional stiffness since the circumferential rotation between the vertebrae is constrained by four ball pins. The point contact between ball pins and guideways effectively reduces the friction between the vertebrae, thus allowing the designed manipulator to yield a smooth bending shape with constant curvature. This manipulator features high axial and torsional stiffness, excellent bending performance, sufficient loading capacity, and convenient integration with surgical instruments. Moreover, the excellent torsional stiffness enables this manipulator to efficiently transfer torque and be applied in in-situ torsional motion, effectively addressing the typical issue of limited dexterity for torsional motion. The kinematic modeling of the proposed manipulator under in-situ torsional motion has been derived, and its workspace has been analyzed. A robotic system has been assembled, and experiments have verified the proposed design and modeling validity. The results show that the maximum position errors in bending motion are 2.39% (horizontal direction) and 1.98% (vertical direction), and its torsional stiffness is 21.13N∙mm/deg, which is 46 times higher than that of a typical spherical flexible manipulator (SFM). Such merits support this manipulator excellently performing the in-situ torsional motion with a maximum average position error of 3.58%. Furthermore, a phantom test of the larynx has been performed to verify the potential of clinical feasibility

An Overview of Formulae for the Higher-Order Kinematics of Lower-Pair Chains with Applications in Robotics and Mechanism Theory

The motions of mechanisms can be described in terms of screw coordinates by means of an exponential mapping. The product of exponentials (POE) describes the configuration of a chain of bodies connected by lower pair joints. The kinematics is thus given in terms of joint screws. The POE serves to express loop constraints for mechanisms as well as the forward kinematics of serial manipulators. Besides the compact formulations, the POE gives rise to purely algebraic relations for derivatives wrt. joint variables. It is known that the partial derivatives of the instantaneous joint screws (columns of the geometric Jacobian) are determined by Lie brackets the joint screws. Lesser-known is that derivative of arbitrary order can be compactly expressed by Lie brackets. This has significance for higher-order forward/inverse kinematics and dynamics of robots and multibody systems. Various relations were reported but are scattered in the literature and insufficiently recognized. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the relevant relations. Its original contributions are closed form and recursive relations for higher-order derivatives and Taylor expansions of various kinematic relations. Their application to kinematic control and dynamics of robotic manipulators and multibody systems is discussed

An Overview of Kinematic and Calibration Models Using Internal/External Sensors or Constraints to Improve the Behavior of Spatial Parallel Mechanisms

This paper presents an overview of the literature on kinematic and calibration models of parallel mechanisms, the influence of sensors in the mechanism accuracy and parallel mechanisms used as sensors. The most relevant classifications to obtain and solve kinematic models and to identify geometric and non-geometric parameters in the calibration of parallel robots are discussed, examining the advantages and disadvantages of each method, presenting new trends and identifying unsolved problems. This overview tries to answer and show the solutions developed by the most up-to-date research to some of the most frequent questions that appear in the modelling of a parallel mechanism, such as how to measure, the number of sensors and necessary configurations, the type and influence of errors or the number of necessary parameters

Trajectory planning for industrial robot using genetic algorithms

En las últimas décadas, debido la importancia de sus aplicaciones, se han propuesto muchas investigaciones sobre la planificación de caminos y trayectorias para los manipuladores, algunos de los ámbitos en los que pueden encontrarse ejemplos de aplicación son; la robótica industrial, sistemas autónomos, creación de prototipos virtuales y diseño de fármacos asistido por ordenador. Por otro lado, los algoritmos evolutivos se han aplicado en muchos campos, lo que motiva el interés del autor por investigar sobre su aplicación a la planificación de caminos y trayectorias en robots industriales. En este trabajo se ha llevado a cabo una búsqueda exhaustiva de la literatura existente relacionada con la tesis, que ha servido para crear una completa base de datos utilizada para realizar un examen detallado de la evolución histórica desde sus orígenes al estado actual de la técnica y las últimas tendencias. Esta tesis presenta una nueva metodología que utiliza algoritmos genéticos para desarrollar y evaluar técnicas para la planificación de caminos y trayectorias. El conocimiento de problemas específicos y el conocimiento heurístico se incorporan a la codificación, la evaluación y los operadores genéticos del algoritmo. Esta metodología introduce nuevos enfoques con el objetivo de resolver el problema de la planificación de caminos y la planificación de trayectorias para sistemas robóticos industriales que operan en entornos 3D con obstáculos estáticos, y que ha llevado a la creación de dos algoritmos (de alguna manera similares, con algunas variaciones), que son capaces de resolver los problemas de planificación mencionados. El modelado de los obstáculos se ha realizado mediante el uso de combinaciones de objetos geométricos simples (esferas, cilindros, y los planos), de modo que se obtiene un algoritmo eficiente para la prevención de colisiones. El algoritmo de planificación de caminos se basa en técnicas de optimización globales, usando algoritmos genéticos para minimizar una función objetivo considerando restricciones para evitar las colisiones con los obstáculos. El camino está compuesto de configuraciones adyacentes obtenidas mediante una técnica de optimización construida con algoritmos genéticos, buscando minimizar una función multiobjetivo donde intervienen la distancia entre los puntos significativos de las dos configuraciones adyacentes, así como la distancia desde los puntos de la configuración actual a la final. El planteamiento del problema mediante algoritmos genéticos requiere de una modelización acorde al procedimiento, definiendo los individuos y operadores capaces de proporcionar soluciones eficientes para el problema.Abu-Dakka, FJM. (2011). Trajectory planning for industrial robot using genetic algorithms [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/10294Palanci

Energy Shaping of Mechanical Systems via Control Lyapunov Functions with Applications to Bipedal Locomotion

This dissertation presents a method which attempts to improve the stability properties of periodic orbits in hybrid dynamical systems by shaping the energy. By taking advantage of conservation of energy and the existence of invariant level sets of a conserved quantity of energy corresponding to periodic orbits, energy shaping drives a system to a desired level set. This energy shaping method is similar to existing methods but improves upon them by utilizing control Lyapunov functions, allowing for formal results on stability. The main theoretical result, Theorem 1, states that, given an exponentially-stable limit cycle in a hybrid dynamical system, application of the presented energy shaping controller results in a closed-loop system which is exponentially stable. The method can be applied to a wide class of problems including bipedal locomotion; because the optimization problem can be formulated as a quadratic program operating on a convex set, existing methods can be used to rapidly obtain the optimal solution. As illustrated through numerical simulations, this method turns out to be useful in practice, taking an existing behavior which corresponds to a periodic orbit of a hybrid system, such as steady state locomotion, and providing an improvement in convergence properties and robustness with respect to perturbations in initial conditions without destabilizing the behavior. The method is even shown to work on complex multi-domain hybrid systems; an example is provided of bipedal locomotion for a robot with non-trivial foot contact which results in a multi-phase gait