Stability control of a hyperredundant arm for a grasping operation

In this paper a problem of a class of hyperredundant arms with continuum elements that perform the grasping function by coiling is discussed. This function is often met in the animal world as in the case of elephant trunk or octopus tentacle. First, the dynamic model in 3D-space is developed. The equations that describe the motion of the arm that carries a load by coiling are inferred. The stability of the motion is discussed. Numerical simulations of the motion towards an imposed target are presente

A distributed control for a grasping function of a hyperredundant arm

The paper focuses on the control problem of a tentacle robot that performs the coil function of grasping. First, the dynamic model of a hyperredundant arm with continuum elements produced by flexible composite materials in conjunction with active-controllable electro-rheological fluids is analyzed. Secondly, both problems, i.e. the position control and the force control are approached. The difficulties determined by the complexity of the non-linear integraldifferential equations are avoided by using a basic energy relationship of this system. Energy-based control laws are introduced for the position control problem. A force control method is proposed, namely the DSMC method in which the evolution of the system on the switching line by the ER fluid viscosity is controlled. Numerical simulations are also presente

Stability control of a hyperredundant arm for a grasping operation

In this paper a problem of a class of hyperredundant arms with continuum elements that perform the grasping function by coiling is discussed. This function is often met in the animal world as in the case of elephant trunk or octopus tentacle. First, the dynamic model in 3D-space is developed. The equations that describe the motion of the arm that carries a load by coiling are inferred. The stability of the motion is discussed. Numerical simulations of the motion towards an imposed target are presente

A distributed control for a grasping function of a hyperredundant arm

The paper focuses on the control problem of a tentacle robot that performs the coil function of grasping. First, the dynamic model of a hyperredundant arm with continuum elements produced by flexible composite materials in conjunction with active-controllable electro-rheological fluids is analyzed. Secondly, both problems, i.e. the position control and the force control are approached. The difficulties determined by the complexity of the non-linear integraldifferential equations are avoided by using a basic energy relationship of this system. Energy-based control laws are introduced for the position control problem. A force control method is proposed, namely the DSMC method in which the evolution of the system on the switching line by the ER fluid viscosity is controlled. Numerical simulations are also presente

A New Approach to Dynamic Modeling of Continuum Robots

ABSTRACT In this thesis, a new approach for developing practically realizable dynamic models for continuum robots is proposed. Based on the new dynamic models developed, a novel technique for analyzing the capabilities of continuum manipulators to be employed in various real world applications has also been proposed and developed. A section of a continuum arm is modeled using lumped model elements (masses, springs and dampers). It is shown that this model, although an approximation to a continuum structure, can be used to conveniently analyze the dynamics of the arm with suitable tradeoff in accuracy of modeling. This relatively simple model is more plausible to implement in an actual real-time controller when compared to other techniques of modeling continuum arms. Principles of Lagrangian dynamics are used to derive the expressions for the generalized forces in the system. The force exerted by McKibben actuators at different pressure level - length pairs is characterized and is incorporated into this dynamic model. The constraints introduced in the analytical model conform to the physical and operational limitations of the Octarm VI continuum robot manipulator. The model is validated by comparing the results of numerical simulation with the physical measurements of a continuum arm prototype built using McKibben actuators. Based on the new lumped parameter dynamic model developed for continuum robots, a technique for deducing measures of manipulability, forces and impacts that can be sustained or imparted by the tip of a continuum robot has been developed. These measures are represented in the form of ellipsoids whose volume and orientation gives information about the various functional capabilities (end effector velocities, forces and impacts) of the arm at a particular configuration. The above mentioned ellipsoids are exemplified for different configurations of the continuum section arm and their physical significances are analyzed. The new techniques proposed and methodologies adopted in this thesis supported by experimental results represent a significant contribution to the field of continuum robots

Shape-based compliance control for snake robots

I serpenti robot sono una classe di meccanismi iper-ridondanti che appartiene alla robotica modulare. Grazie alla loro forma snella ed allungata e all'alto grado di ridondanza possono muoversi in ambienti complessi con elevata agilità. L'abilità di spostarsi, manipolare e adattarsi efficientemente ad una grande varietà di terreni li rende ideali per diverse applicazioni, come ad esempio attività di ricerca e soccorso, ispezione o ricognizione. I robot serpenti si muovono nello spazio modificando la propria forma, senza necessità di ulteriori dispositivi quali ruote od arti. Tali deformazioni, che consistono in movimenti ondulatori ciclici che generano uno spostamento dell'intero meccanismo, vengono definiti andature. La maggior parte di esse sono ispirate al mondo naturale, come lo strisciamento, il movimento laterale o il movimento a concertina, mentre altre sono create per applicazioni specifiche, come il rotolamento o l'arrampicamento. Un serpente robot con molti gradi di libertà deve essere capace di coordinare i propri giunti e reagire ad ostacoli in tempo reale per riuscire a muoversi efficacemente in ambienti complessi o non strutturati. Inoltre, aumentare la semplicità e ridurre il numero di controllori necessari alla locomozione alleggerise una struttura di controllo che potrebbe richiedere complessità per ulteriori attività specifiche. L'obiettivo di questa tesi è ottenere un comportamento autonomo cedevole che si adatti alla conformazione dell'ambiente in cui il robot si sta spostando, accrescendo le capacità di locomozione del serpente robot. Sfruttando la cedevolezza intrinseca del serpente robot utilizzato in questo lavoro, il SEA Snake, e utilizzando un controllo che combina cedevolezza attiva ad una struttura di coordinazione che ammette una decentralizzazione variabile del robot, si dimostra come tre andature possano essere modificate per ottenere una locomozione efficiente in ambienti complessi non noti a priori o non modellabili

Modelling, synthesis and model-based motion planning for hyper-redundant, binary actuated manipulators

Die Untersuchung von schwer zu erreichenden Hohlräumen durch schmale Zugänge wird im technischen Umfeld als Boroskopie und in der Medizin als Endoskopie bezeichnet. Wenn neben der reinen Inspektion auch eine Manipulation erfolgen soll, wird ergänzend zu einer guten Anpassbarkeit an gekrümmte Pfade auch eine stabile Arbeitsplattform zur Aufnahme von Manipulationskräften benötigt. Einen Ansatz, die daraus resultierenden Anforderungen an die verwendeten Systeme zu adressieren, stellen schlangenartige Roboter dar. Ihre hyperredundante Struktur aus einzelnen Stellgliedern bietet eine vielseitige Positionierbarkeit. Die Verwendung von binären, kippstabilen Aktoren beschränkt zwar den Arbeitsraum auf wenige diskrete Punkte, bietet aber – in Abhängigkeit vom Antriebsmechanismus – besonders hohe Haltemomente und ermöglicht damit eine gezielte Systemversteifung. Eine Kombination beider Ansätze zur Klasse der binär aktuierten, hyperredundanten Manipulatoren ist in der Lage, diese Anforderungen zu erfüllen, jedoch existiert deutlicher Forschungsbedarf hinsichtlich Methoden zur optimalen Auslegung sowie zur gezielten Verfolgung von Referenzpfaden, sodass Kern der vorliegenden Arbeit die Erforschung der modellbasierten Bewegungsplanung dieser Roboterklasse ist. Voraussetzung für eine hohe Pfadfolgegenauigkeit ist, dass der Manipulator sich grundsätzlich gut an einen vorgegebenen Referenzpfad anschmiegen kann. Der Einschränkungsgrad durch die diskrete Positionierbarkeit des Manipulators ist dabei abhängig von den geometrischen Parametern der einzelnen Segmente. Die Untersuchungen in dieser Arbeit zeigen, dass durch die Analyse kinematischer Leistungsmerkmale, wie Arbeitsraum(-dichte) oder erzielbarer Krümmungsradius, kein allgemeingültiges optimales Design gefunden werden kann. Daher wird eine Maßsynthese unter Berücksichtigung von Randbedingungen entworfen, in der optimale geometrische Parameter eines einzelnen binären Aktors synthetisiert werden. Darauf aufbauend wird eine Pfadverfolgung gemäß dem „Follow-the-Leader“-Prinzip erarbeitet. Grundidee ist, dass das Endeffektorsegment den Referenzpfad exploriert, während alle weiteren Aktoren dem führenden Segment automatisch folgen. Da binäre Aktoren einen nicht-kontinuierlichen Schaltprozess aufweisen, wird ein modellbasierter Ansatz für die Bestimmung optimaler Schaltsequenzen vorgeschlagen, die zu jedem Zeitpunkt eine hohe Pfadtreue garantieren. Die anschließende experimentelle Evaluation erfolgt nach der Modellierung und Identifikation relevanter Parameter für den Prototyp einer elektromagnetischen Kippaktorkette. Grundsätzlich kann die Funktionsfähigkeit der in dieser Arbeit erforschten Methoden zur Bewegungsplanung sowohl in der Simulation als auch experimentell nachgewiesen werden.The investigation of difficult to reach cavities through narrow accesses is called borescopy in the technical environment and endoscopy in medicine. If manipulation is to be performed in addition to pure inspection, a stable working platform is required to withstand manipulation forces in combination with good adaptability to curved paths. One approach to address the resulting requirements for the systems used are snake-like robots. Their hyper-redundant structure of individual actuators allows for versatile positioning. Although the use of binary, tilt-stable actuators limits the working space to a few discrete points, they offer - depending on the drive mechanism - particularly high holding torques and thus enable a targeted system stiffening. A combination of both approaches to the class of binary actuated, hyper-redundant manipulators is able to meet the required requirements, however, there is a clear need for research into methods for optimal design and the targeted pursuit of reference paths, so that the core of the present work consists the investigation of model-based motion planning of this robot class. A prerequisite for a high path following accuracy is that the manipulator is able to adapt well to a given reference path. The degree of limitation due to discrete positionability of the manipulator depends on the geometric parameters of the individual segments. The studies in this thesis show that the analysis of kinematic performance characteristics, such as work space (density) or achievable radius of curvature, does not lead to a generally valid optimal design. Therefore, a dimensional synthesis is developed under consideration of boundary conditions, in which optimal geometric parameters of a single binary actuator are synthesized. Based on this, a path following according to the "Follow-the-Leader"principle is elaborated. The basic idea is that the end effector segment explores the reference path, while all other actuators automatically follow the leading segment. Since binary actuators have a discontinuous switching process, a model-based approach is proposed for determining optimal switching sequences that guarantee high path accuracy at all times. The subsequent experimental evaluation is performed after modelling and identification of relevant parameters for the prototype of an electromagnetic tilting actuator chain. In principle, the functionality of the motion planning methods investigated in this thesis are proven both in simulation and experimentally

DEVELOPMENT OF A KINETIC MODEL FOR STEERABLE CATHETERS FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY

The steerable catheters have demonstrated many advantages to overcome the limitations of the conventional catheters in the minimally invasive surgery. The motion and force transmission from the proximal end to distal tip of the catheter have significant effects to the efficiency and safety of surgery. While the force information between the catheter and the body (e.g., vessel) can be obtained by mounting sensors on the distal tip of the catheter, this would be more intrusive and less reliable than the one without the sensors, which is described in this disseration. In addition, the small diameters of the catheters may also restrict the idea of mounting sensors on the distal tip. The other approach to obtain the force information is to infer it from the information outside the body. This will demand an accurate mathematical model that describes the force and motion relation called kinetic model, and unfortunately, such a kinetic model is not available in the literature. In this dissertation, a kinetic model for steerable catheters is presented wich captures the following characteristics of the steerable catheter, namely (1) the geometrical non-linear behavior of the catheter in motion, (2) the deformable pathway, (3) the friction between the catheter and the pathyway, and (4) the contact between the catheter and pathway. A non-linear finite element system (SPACAR) was employed to capture these characteristics. A test-bed was built and an experiment was carried out to verify the developed kinetic model. The following conclusions can be drawn from this dissertation: (1) the developed kinetic model is accurte in comparison with those in literature; (2) the Dahl friction model, the LuGre friction model and the simplified LuGre friction model are able to capture the friction behavior between the catheter and the pathway but the Coulomb friction model fails (as it cannot capture the hysteresis property which has a significant influence on the behavior of the catheter); (3) the developed kinetic model has the potential of being used to optimize the design and operation of steerable catheters with several salient findings that (3a) the maximal contact force between the catheter and the pathway occurs on the tip of the distal part or the connecting part between the distal part and catheter body of the catheter and (3b) the rigidity and length of the distal part are crucial structural parameters that affect the motion and force transmission significantly. There are several contributions made by this dissertation. In the field of the steerable catheter, biomechanics and bio-instrumentation, the contributions are summarized in the following: (1) the approach to develop the kinetic model of the steerable catheter in a complex work environment is useful to model other similar compliant medical devices, such as endoscope; (2) the kinetic model of the steerable catheter can provide the force information to improve the efficiency and safety of MIS (minimally invastive surgery) and to realize the “doctor-assisted” catheter-based MIS procedure; (3) the kinetic model can provide accurate data for developing other simplified models for the steerable catheters in their corresponding work environments for realizing the robotic-based fully automated MIS procedure. (4) The kinetic model of the steerable catheter and the test-bed with the corresponding instruments and methods for the kinetic and kinematic measurements are a useful design validation in the steerable catheter technology as well as for the training of physicians to perform the catheter-based interventional procedure by adding more complex anatomic phantoms. In the field of continuum manipulator and continuum robots, the approach to develop the kinetic model is useful to model other manipulators and robots, such as snake-like robots