NASA Center for Intelligent Robotic Systems for Space Exploration

NASA's program for the civilian exploration of space is a challenge to scientists and engineers to help maintain and further develop the United States' position of leadership in a focused sphere of space activity. Such an ambitious plan requires the contribution and further development of many scientific and technological fields. One research area essential for the success of these space exploration programs is Intelligent Robotic Systems. These systems represent a class of autonomous and semi-autonomous machines that can perform human-like functions with or without human interaction. They are fundamental for activities too hazardous for humans or too distant or complex for remote telemanipulation. To meet this challenge, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has established an Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Robotic Systems for Space Exploration (CIRSSE). The Center was created with a five year $5.5 million grant from NASA submitted by a team of the Robotics and Automation Laboratories. The Robotics and Automation Laboratories of RPI are the result of the merger of the Robotics and Automation Laboratory of the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering (ECSE) and the Research Laboratory for Kinematics and Robotic Mechanisms of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, and Mechanics (ME,AE,&M), in 1987. This report is an examination of the activities that are centered at CIRSSE

Kinematic analysis and dimensional optimization of a 2R2T parallel manipulator

International audienceThe need of a device providing two translational (2T) and two rotational (2R) movements led us to the design a 3UPS-1RPU parallel manipulator. The manipulator consisted on a mobile platform connected to a base through four legs. That is, the manipulator layout has one central leg and three external legs at the same radial distance. By studying different locations of the legs anchoring point, we improved the first layout design, yet not the optimal one. On this basis, this paper focus on the optimal dimensional design of the manipulator. To this end, we put forward the kinematics equations of the manipulator in accordance to the anchoring points coordinates. Through a numerical approach, the equations enable to find the manipulator workspace. Also, we find a global manipulability index using a local dexterity measure. The latter index serves as optimal function. The optimization process considers joint constraints. Thus, we built a nonlinear optimization problem solved through sequential quadratic programming algorithms. We start by optimizing only a small set of parameters rather than the entire set, which gives us insights on the initial guess to optimize using the entire set. The optimal design layout varies from the original layout. Findings suggest that a task-oriented reconfiguration strategy can improve manipulator performance

Multi-Task Policy Search for Robotics

© 2014 IEEE.Learning policies that generalize across multiple tasks is an important and challenging research topic in reinforcement learning and robotics. Training individual policies for every single potential task is often impractical, especially for continuous task variations, requiring more principled approaches to share and transfer knowledge among similar tasks. We present a novel approach for learning a nonlinear feedback policy that generalizes across multiple tasks. The key idea is to define a parametrized policy as a function of both the state and the task, which allows learning a single policy that generalizes across multiple known and unknown tasks. Applications of our novel approach to reinforcement and imitation learning in realrobot experiments are shown

Quantum Algorithm of Imperfect KB Self-organization. Pt II: Robotic Control with Remote Knowledge Base Exchange

The technology of knowledge base remote design of the smart fuzzy controllers with the application of the "Soft / quantum computing optimizer" toolkit software developed. The possibility of the transmission and communication the knowledge base using remote connection to the control object considered. Transmission and communication of the fuzzy controller’s knowledge bases implemented through the remote connection with the control object in the online mode apply the Bluetooth or WiFi technologies. Remote transmission of knowledge bases allows designing many different built-in intelligent controllers to implement a variety of control strategies under conditions of uncertainty and risk. As examples, two different models of robots described (mobile manipulator and (“cart-pole” system) inverted pendulum). A comparison of the control quality between fuzzy controllers and quantum fuzzy controller in various control modes is presented. The ability to connect and work with a physical model of control object without using than mathematical model demonstrated. The implemented technology of knowledge base design sharing in a swarm of intelligent robots with quantum controllers. It allows to achieve the goal of control and to gain additional knowledge by creating a new quantum hidden information source based on the synergetic effect of combining knowledge. Development and implementation of intelligent robust controller’s prototype for the intelligent quantum control system of mega-science project NICA (at the first stage for the cooling system of superconducted magnets) is discussed. The results of the experiments demonstrate the possibility of the ensured achievement of the control goal of a group of robots using soft / quantum computing technologies in the design of knowledge bases of smart fuzzy controllers in quantum intelligent control systems. The developed software toolkit allows to design and setup complex ill-defined and weakly formalized technical systems on line

Human-Robot Collaboration in Automotive Assembly

In the past decades, automation in the automobile production line has significantly increased the efficiency and quality of automotive manufacturing. However, in the automotive assembly stage, most tasks are still accomplished manually by human workers because of the complexity and flexibility of the tasks and the high dynamic unconstructed workspace. This dissertation is proposed to improve the level of automation in automotive assembly by human-robot collaboration (HRC). The challenges that eluded the automation in automotive assembly including lack of suitable collaborative robotic systems for the HRC, especially the compact-size high-payload mobile manipulators; teaching and learning frameworks to enable robots to learn the assembly tasks, and how to assist humans to accomplish assembly tasks from human demonstration; task-driving high-level robot motion planning framework to make the trained robot intelligently and adaptively assist human in automotive assembly tasks. The technical research toward this goal has resulted in several peer-reviewed publications. Achievements include: 1) A novel collaborative lift-assist robot for automotive assembly; 2) Approaches of vision-based robot learning of placing tasks from human demonstrations in assembly; 3) Robot learning of assembly tasks and assistance from human demonstrations using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN); 4) Robot learning of assembly tasks and assistance from human demonstrations using Task Constraint-Guided Inverse Reinforcement Learning (TC-IRL); 5) Robot learning of assembly tasks from non-expert demonstrations via Functional Objective-Oriented Network (FOON); 6) Multi-model sampling-based motion planning for trajectory optimization with execution consistency in manufacturing contexts. The research demonstrates the feasibility of a parallel mobile manipulator, which introduces novel conceptions to industrial mobile manipulators for smart manufacturing. By exploring the Robot Learning from Demonstration (RLfD) with both AI-based and model-based approaches, the research also improves robots’ learning capabilities on collaborative assembly tasks for both expert and non-expert users. The research on robot motion planning and control in the dissertation facilitates the safety and human trust in industrial robots in HRC

Review of Intelligent Control Systems with Robotics

Interactive between human and robot assumes a significant job in improving the productivity of the instrument in mechanical technology. Numerous intricate undertakings are cultivated continuously via self-sufficient versatile robots. Current automated control frameworks have upset the creation business, making them very adaptable and simple to utilize. This paper examines current and up and coming sorts of control frameworks and their execution in mechanical technology, and the job of AI in apply autonomy. It additionally expects to reveal insight into the different issues around the control frameworks and the various approaches to fix them. It additionally proposes the basics of apply autonomy control frameworks and various kinds of mechanical technology control frameworks. Each kind of control framework has its upsides and downsides which are talked about in this paper. Another kind of robot control framework that upgrades and difficulties the pursuit stage is man-made brainpower. A portion of the speculations utilized in man-made reasoning, for example, Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as fuzzy logic, neural network and genetic algorithm, are itemized in this paper. At long last, a portion of the joint efforts between mechanical autonomy, people, and innovation were referenced. Human coordinated effort, for example, Kinect signal acknowledgment utilized in games and versatile upper-arm-based robots utilized in the clinical field for individuals with inabilities. Later on, it is normal that the significance of different sensors will build, accordingly expanding the knowledge and activity of the robot in a modern domai

Industrial Robotics

This book covers a wide range of topics relating to advanced industrial robotics, sensors and automation technologies. Although being highly technical and complex in nature, the papers presented in this book represent some of the latest cutting edge technologies and advancements in industrial robotics technology. This book covers topics such as networking, properties of manipulators, forward and inverse robot arm kinematics, motion path-planning, machine vision and many other practical topics too numerous to list here. The authors and editor of this book wish to inspire people, especially young ones, to get involved with robotic and mechatronic engineering technology and to develop new and exciting practical applications, perhaps using the ideas and concepts presented herein

Analysis of the Dynamic Performance of Serial 3R Orthogonal Manipulators

International audienceSerial 3R orthogonal manipulators have been studied recently and it has been proved that they can exhibit good performances in term of workspace size and kinematic properties. The aim of this work is to analyze their dynamic performances, and compare them with anthropomorphic manipulators, which are very popular in industry. Static and dynamic analyses based on the evaluation of the maximal input torques required for moving the manipulator are achieved. It is shown that, as in kinematics, the dynamic performances of the serial 3R orthogonal manipulators are better

6th International congress of the Serbian society of mechanics: Review

Ovaj rad prikazuje najvažnije informacije o 6. kongresu Srpskog društva za mehaniku, koji je održan na Tari od 19. do 21. juna 2017. Kongres je organizovan od strane Srpskog društva za mehaniku. Dat je kratak prikaz najznačajnijih radova predstavljenih na ovom kongresu, a koji se bave teorijskom i primenjenom mehanikom.This paper presents the most important information and describes the activities of the 6th Congress of the Serbian Society of Mechanics which was held on mountain Tara, on 19- 21 June, 2017. The Congress was organized by the Serbian Society of Mechanics. Brief summaries of the plenary lectures and some of 99 accepted papers, which admittedly attracted the most interest were shown as well