6 research outputs found
State Estimation for a Humanoid Robot
This paper introduces a framework for state estimation on a humanoid robot
platform using only common proprioceptive sensors and knowledge of leg
kinematics. The presented approach extends that detailed in [1] on a quadruped
platform by incorporating the rotational constraints imposed by the humanoid's
flat feet. As in previous work, the proposed Extended Kalman Filter (EKF)
accommodates contact switching and makes no assumptions about gait or terrain,
making it applicable on any humanoid platform for use in any task. The filter
employs a sensor-based prediction model which uses inertial data from an IMU
and corrects for integrated error using a kinematics-based measurement model
which relies on joint encoders and a kinematic model to determine the relative
position and orientation of the feet. A nonlinear observability analysis is
performed on both the original and updated filters and it is concluded that the
new filter significantly simplifies singular cases and improves the
observability characteristics of the system. Results on simulated walking and
squatting datasets demonstrate the performance gain of the flat-foot filter as
well as confirm the results of the presented observability analysis.Comment: IROS 2014 Submission, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on
Intelligent Robots and Systems (2014) 952-95
Hybrid Contact Preintegration for Visual-Inertial-Contact State Estimation Using Factor Graphs
The factor graph framework is a convenient modeling technique for robotic
state estimation where states are represented as nodes, and measurements are
modeled as factors. When designing a sensor fusion framework for legged robots,
one often has access to visual, inertial, joint encoder, and contact sensors.
While visual-inertial odometry has been studied extensively in this framework,
the addition of a preintegrated contact factor for legged robots has been only
recently proposed. This allowed for integration of encoder and contact
measurements into existing factor graphs, however, new nodes had to be added to
the graph every time contact was made or broken. In this work, to cope with the
problem of switching contact frames, we propose a hybrid contact preintegration
theory that allows contact information to be integrated through an arbitrary
number of contact switches. The proposed hybrid modeling approach reduces the
number of required variables in the nonlinear optimization problem by only
requiring new states to be added alongside camera or selected keyframes. This
method is evaluated using real experimental data collected from a Cassie-series
robot where the trajectory of the robot produced by a motion capture system is
used as a proxy for ground truth. The evaluation shows that inclusion of the
proposed preintegrated hybrid contact factor alongside visual-inertial
navigation systems improves estimation accuracy as well as robustness to vision
failure, while its generalization makes it more accessible for legged
platforms.Comment: Detailed derivations are provided in the supplementary material
document listed under "Ancillary files
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Control Implementation of Dynamic Locomotion on Compliant, Underactuated, Force-Controlled Legged Robots with Non-Anthropomorphic Design
The control of locomotion on legged robots traditionally involves a robot that takes a standard legged form, such as the anthropomorphic humanoid, the dog-like quadruped, or the bird-like biped. Additionally, these systems will often be actuated with position-controlled servos or series-elastic actuators that are connected through rigid links. This work investigates the control implementation of dynamic, force-controlled locomotion on a family of legged systems that significantly deviate from these classic paradigms by incorporating modern, state-of-the-art proprioceptive actuators on uniquely configured compliant legs that do not closely resemble those found in nature. The results of this work can be used to better inform how to implement controllers on legged systems without stiff, position-controlled actuators, and also provide insight on how intelligently designed mechanical features can potentially simplify the control of complex, nonlinear dynamical systems like legged robots. To this end, this work presents the approach to control for a family of non-anthropomorphic bipedal robotic systems which are developed both in simulation and with physical hardware. The first is the Non-Anthropomorphic Biped, Version 1 (NABi-1) that features position-controlled joints along with a compliant foot element on a minimally actuated leg, and is controlled using simple open-loop trajectories based on the Zero Moment Point. The second system is the second version of the non-anthropomorphic biped (NABi-2) which utilizes the proprioceptive Back-drivable Electromagnetic Actuator for Robotics (BEAR) modules for actuation and fully realizes feedback-based force controlled locomotion. These systems are used to highlight both the strengths and weaknesses of utilizing proprioceptive actuation in systems, and suggest the tradeoffs that are made when using force control for dynamic locomotion. These systems also present case studies for different approaches to system design when it comes to bipedal legged robots
From locomotion to cognition: Bridging the gap between reactive and cognitive behavior in a quadruped robot
The cognitivistic paradigm, which states that cognition is a result of computation with symbols that represent the world, has been challenged by many. The opponents have primarily criticized the detachment from direct interaction with the world and pointed to some fundamental problems (for instance the symbol grounding problem). Instead, they emphasized the constitutive role of embodied interaction with the environment. This has motivated the advancement of synthetic methodologies: the phenomenon of interest (cognition) can be studied by building and investigating whole brain-body-environment systems. Our work is centered around a compliant quadruped robot equipped with a multimodal sensory set. In a series of case studies, we investigate the structure of the sensorimotor space that the application of different actions in different environments by the robot brings about. Then, we study how the agent can autonomously abstract the regularities that are induced by the different conditions and use them to improve its behavior. The agent is engaged in path integration, terrain discrimination and gait adaptation, and moving target following tasks. The nature of the tasks forces the robot to leave the ``here-and-now'' time scale of simple reactive stimulus-response behaviors and to learn from its experience, thus creating a ``minimally cognitive'' setting. Solutions to these problems are developed by the agent in a bottom-up fashion. The complete scenarios are then used to illuminate the concepts that are believed to lie at the basis of cognition: sensorimotor contingencies, body schema, and forward internal models. Finally, we discuss how the presented solutions are relevant for applications in robotics, in particular in the area of autonomous model acquisition and adaptation, and, in mobile robots, in dead reckoning and traversability detection