Suppress vibration on robotic polishing with impedance matching

Installing force-controlled end-effectors on the end of industrial robots has become the mainstream method for robot force control. Additionally, during the polishing process, contact force stability has an important impact on polishing quality. However, due to the difference between the robot structure and the force-controlled end-effector, in the polishing operation, direct force control will have impact during the transition from noncontact to contact between the tool and the workpiece. Although impedance control can solve this problem, industrial robots still produce vibrations with high inertia and low stiffness. Therefore, this research proposes an impedance matching control strategy based on traditional direct force control and impedance control methods to improve this problem. This method's primary purpose is to avoid force vibration in the contact phase and maintain force-tracking performance during the dynamic tracking phase. Simulation and experimental results show that this method can smoothly track the contact force and reduce vibration compared with traditional force control and impedance control

Reaction Null Space of a multibody system with applications in robotics

This paper provides an overview of implementation examples based on the Reaction Null Space formalism, developed initially to tackle the problem of satellite-base disturbance of a free-floating space robot, when the robot arm is activated. The method has been applied throughout the years to other unfixed-base systems, e.g. flexible-base and macro/mini robot systems, as well as to the balance control problem of humanoid robots. The paper also includes most recent results about complete dynamical decoupling of the end-link of a fixed-base robot, wherein the end-link is regarded as the unfixed-base. This interpretation is shown to be useful with regard to motion/force control scenarios. Respective implementation results are provided

Aerial Manipulation: A Literature Review

Aerial manipulation aims at combining the versatil- ity and the agility of some aerial platforms with the manipulation capabilities of robotic arms. This letter tries to collect the results reached by the research community so far within the field of aerial manipulation, especially from the technological and control point of view. A brief literature review of general aerial robotics and space manipulation is carried out as well

Improving force control through end-effector vibration reduction and variable stiffness joint design

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Multi-Point Impedance Control for Redundant Manipulators

The present paper proposes an impedance controlmethod called the Multi-Point Impedance Control (MPIC) forredundant manipulators. The method can not only control endeffectorimpedance,but also regulate impedances of several pointson the links of the manipulator, which are called virtual endpointimpedances, utilizing arm redundancy. Two approachesfor realizing the MPIC are presented. In the first approach,controlling the end-effector impedance and the virtual end-pointimpedances are considered as the tasks with the same level, andthe joint control law developed in this approach can realize theclosest impedances of the multiple points, including the endeffectorand the virtual end-points to the desired ones in theleast squared sense. On the other hand, in the second approach,controlling the end-effector impedance is considered the mostimportant task, and regulating the impedances of the virtual endpointsis considered as a sub-task. Under the second approach,the desired end-effector impedance can be always realized sincethe joint control torque for the regulation of the virtual end-pointimpedances is designed in such a way that it has no effect on theend-effector motion of the manipulator. Simulation experimentsare performed to confirm the validity and to show the advantagesof the proposed method

Commande d'un robot collaboratif redondant en interaction avec des humains dans un contexte de manipulation et d'assemblage

Cette thèse présente deux nouvelles architectures de commande pour les interactions physiques humain-robot (pHRIs). Ces architectures sont spéciquement développées dans une vision d'implantation en industrie pour les manipulations d'assemblage. En effet, deux types de robots collaboratifs adaptés à dfférentes contraintes de l'industrie et ayant des interfaces d'interactions physiques différentes sont étudiés en utilisant chacun leur propre architecture de commande. Le premier robot collaboratif développé est un manipulateur entièrement actionné permettant des pHRIs dans son espace libre, c.-à-d., des interactions unilatérales, et des pHRIs lorsque ses mouvements sont contraints par un environnement quelconque, c.-à-d., des interactions bilatérales. Les interactions de l'humain peuvent s'effectuer sur n'importe quelles parties du robot grâce aux capteurs de couples dans les articulations. Cependant, si une amplication des forces de l'humain sur l'environnement est désirée, alors il est nécessaire d'utiliser le capteur d'efforts supplémentaire attaché au robot. Ceci permet à la commande, en combinant les lectures du capteur d'efforts à l'effecteur, d'utiliser le ratio des forces appliquées indépendamment par l'opérateur et par l'environnement an de générer l'amplication désirée. Cette loi de commande est basée sur l'admittance variable qui a déjà démontré ses bénéces pour les interactions unilatérales. Ici, l'admittance variable est adaptée aux interactions bilatérales an d'obtenir un seul algorithme de commande pour tous les états. Une loi de transition continue peut alors être dénie an d'atteindre les performances optimales pour chaque mode d'interaction qui, en fait, nécessitent chacun des valeurs de paramètres spéciques. Le cheminement et les résultats pour arriver à cette première architecture de commande sont présentés en trois étapes. Premièrement, la loi de commande est implémentée sur un prototype à un degré de liberté (ddl) an de tester le potentiel d'amplication et de transition, ainsi que la stabilité de l'interaction. Deuxièmement, un algorithme d'optimisation du régulateur pour les interactions bilatérales avec un robot à plusieurs ddls est développé. Cet algorithme vérie la stabilité robuste du système en utilisant l'approche des valeurs singulières structurées (- analysis), pour ensuite faire une optimisation des régulateurs stables en fonction d'une variable liée à la conguration du manipulateur. Ceci permet d'obtenir une loi de commande variable qui rend le système stable de façon robuste en atteignant des performances optimales peu iii importe la conguration des articulations du robot. La loi de commande trouvée utilise un séquencement de gain pour les paramètres du régulateur par admittance durant les interactions bilatérales. La stabilité et la performance du système sont validées avec des tests d'impact sur différents environnements. Finalement, la loi de commande en admittance variable optimale est implémentée et validée sur un robot manipulateur à plusieurs ddls (Kuka LWR 4) à l'aide de suivis de trajectoire pour des interactions unilatérales et bilatérales. Le deuxième robot collaboratif développé est un manipulateur partiellement actif et partiellement passif. L'architecture mécanique du robot est appelée macro-mini. Tous les degrés de liberté actionnés faisant partie du macro manipulateur sont doublés par les articulations passives du mini manipulateur. Le robot est alors sous-actionné. L'opérateur humain interagit uniquement avec le mini manipulateur, et donc, avec les articulations passives ce qui élimine tous délais dans la dynamique d'interaction. Ce robot collaboratif permet de dénir une loi de commande qui génère une très faible impédance lors des interactions de l'opérateur, et ce, même pour des charges utiles élevées. Malgré que des amplications de force ne peuvent être produites, les interactions bilatérales ont une stabilité assurée peu importe la situation. Aussi, les modes coopératif et autonome du robot utilisent les mêmes valeurs de paramètres de commande ce qui permet une transition imperceptible d'un à l'autre. La nouvelle loi de commande est comparée sur plusieurs aspects avec la commande en admittance variable précé- demment développée. Les résultats démontrent que cette nouvelle loi de commande combinée à l'architecture active-passive du macro-mini manipulateur, appelé uMan, permet des interactions intuitives et sécuritaires bien supérieures à ce qu'un système entièrement actionné peut générer. De plus, pour l'assistance autonome, une détection de collision avancée et une plani cation de trajectoire adaptée à l'architecture du robot sont développées. Des validations expérimentales sont présentées an d'évaluer la facilité à produire des manipulations nes, de démontrer la sécurité du système et d'établir la viabilité du concept en industrie.This thesis presents two novel control architectures for physical human-robot interactions (pHRIs) which are specically designed for the assembly industry. Indeed, two types of pHRI manipulators, each adapted to different industrial constraints and with different physical interaction interfaces, are studied each with their own control architecture. The rst pHRI manipulator designed is fully actuated and allows pHRIs in its free space, i.e., unilateral interactions, as well as pHRIs when its motion is constrained by the environment, i.e., bilateral interactions. The human force input can be applied on any of the manipulator's links because of the torque sensors in the robot joints. However, if a human force amplication is desired on the environment, then it is required to use the additional force sensor appended to the robot. Using this approach, combined with the signal of the force sensor at the end effector, it is then possible to use the ratio between the human and environment forces in order to generate the desired amplication. This control law is based on the concept of variable admittance control which has already demonstrated its great benets for unilateral interactions. Here, this concept is extended to bilateral interactions in order to obtain a single control algorithm for both states. A continuous transition can thus be implemented between both interaction modes which require different parameter values in order to achieve their optimal performance. The workow and results to achieve this rst control architecture are presented in three steps. Firstly, the control law is implemented on a single-degree-of-freedom (dof) prototype in order to test the amplication and transition potential, as well as the stability of the interaction. Secondly, a control optimisation algorithm is developed for bilateral interactions with a multidof robot. This algorithm assesses the system's robust stability using the structured singular value approach (-analysis), to afterwards, optimize the stable controllers in relation to a manipulator's conguration-dependent variable. This approach leads to a variable control law yielding a robustly stable system that can reach optimal performances for any robot conguration. In fact, the admittance regulator parameters follow a gain scheduling paradigm for bilateral interactions. The stability and performance of the system are assessed using impact tests on different environments. Finally, the optimal variable admittance control law is implemented and validated on a multi-dof robot (Kuka LWR 4) using different trajectory v tracking tasks for unilateral and bilateral interactions. The second pHRI manipulator designed is partially active and partially passive. The robot's mechanical architecture is known as a macro-mini. All actuated dofs which are part of the macro manipulator are doubled with passive joints which are part of the mini manipulator. This robot is therefore underactuated. The human operator interacts solely with the mini manipulator and, thereby, solely with the passive joints which leads to an interaction dynamics free of any delay. It is possible with this pHRI manipulator to dene a control law that yields an extremely low interaction impedance, even for heavy payloads. Despite the fact that force amplication is impractical with this kind of mechanism, bilateral interactions are stable for all sorts of contact. Moreover, the robot's cooperative and autonomous modes use similar control parameter values which enables an imperceptible transition from one mode to the other. The new control law is compared on different aspects with the previously-dened variable admittance control law. Results show that this new control law combined with the active-passive macro-mini manipulator, also known as uMan, leads to intuitive and safe interactions that are considerably superior to any interaction using a fully actuated manipulator. Furthermore, for the autonomous mode, an advanced collision detection and a specicallyadapted trajectory planning are developed. Experimental validations are presented in order to assess the ease of ne manipulation, to demonstrate the system's safety, and to establish the viability of the concept for the industry

Workshop on "Robotic assembly of 3D MEMS".

Proceedings of a workshop proposed in IEEE IROS'2007.The increase of MEMS' functionalities often requires the integration of various technologies used for mechanical, optical and electronic subsystems in order to achieve a unique system. These different technologies have usually process incompatibilities and the whole microsystem can not be obtained monolithically and then requires microassembly steps. Microassembly of MEMS based on micrometric components is one of the most promising approaches to achieve high-performance MEMS. Moreover, microassembly also permits to develop suitable MEMS packaging as well as 3D components although microfabrication technologies are usually able to create 2D and "2.5D" components. The study of microassembly methods is consequently a high stake for MEMS technologies growth. Two approaches are currently developped for microassembly: self-assembly and robotic microassembly. In the first one, the assembly is highly parallel but the efficiency and the flexibility still stay low. The robotic approach has the potential to reach precise and reliable assembly with high flexibility. The proposed workshop focuses on this second approach and will take a bearing of the corresponding microrobotic issues. Beyond the microfabrication technologies, performing MEMS microassembly requires, micromanipulation strategies, microworld dynamics and attachment technologies. The design and the fabrication of the microrobot end-effectors as well as the assembled micro-parts require the use of microfabrication technologies. Moreover new micromanipulation strategies are necessary to handle and position micro-parts with sufficiently high accuracy during assembly. The dynamic behaviour of micrometric objects has also to be studied and controlled. Finally, after positioning the micro-part, attachment technologies are necessary

Development of Object-Based Teleoperator Control for Unstructured Applications

For multi-fingered end effectors in unstructured applications, the main issues are control in the presence of uncertainties and providing grasp stability and object manipulability. The suggested concept in this thesis is object based teleoperator control which provides an intuitive way to control the robot in terms of the grasped object and reduces the operator\u27s conceptual constraints. The general control law is developed using a hierarchical control structure, i.e., human interface I gross motion control level in teleoperation control and fine motion control/object grasp stability in autonomous control. The gross motion control is required to provide the position/orientation of the Super Object (SO), and the sufficient grasping force to the fine motion control. Impedance control is applied to the gross motion control to respond to the environmental forces. The fine motion control consists of serially connecting the finger in position control and the Fingertip Actuation System (FAS) in force control. The FAS has a higher bandwidth response than does the finger actuation system and operates near the center of its joint range. The finger motion controller attempts not only to track the displacement of the FAS but also to provide an FAS centering action. Simulation experiments in both gross and fine motion control are performed. The integrated gross / flue motion control is implemented using the planar configuration of PUMA 560. The results show that the desired contact force can be maintained in the direction of FAS motion. The mathematical proof of system stability and the extension to spatial systems are required to complete the research

Working together: a review on safe human-robot collaboration in industrial environments

After many years of rigid conventional procedures of production, industrial manufacturing is going through a process of change toward flexible and intelligent manufacturing, the so-called Industry 4.0. In this paper, human-robot collaboration has an important role in smart factories since it contributes to the achievement of higher productivity and greater efficiency. However, this evolution means breaking with the established safety procedures as the separation of workspaces between robot and human is removed. These changes are reflected in safety standards related to industrial robotics since the last decade, and have led to the development of a wide field of research focusing on the prevention of human-robot impacts and/or the minimization of related risks or their consequences. This paper presents a review of the main safety systems that have been proposed and applied in industrial robotic environments that contribute to the achievement of safe collaborative human-robot work. Additionally, a review is provided of the current regulations along with new concepts that have been introduced in them. The discussion presented in this paper includes multidisciplinary approaches, such as techniques for estimation and the evaluation of injuries in human-robot collisions, mechanical and software devices designed to minimize the consequences of human-robot impact, impact detection systems, and strategies to prevent collisions or minimize their consequences when they occur