Learning Compliant Stiffness by Impedance Control-Aware Task Segmentation and Multi-objective Bayesian Optimization with Priors

Rather than traditional position control, impedance control is preferred to ensure the safe operation of industrial robots programmed from demonstrations. However, variable stiffness learning studies have focused on task performance rather than safety (or compliance). Thus, this paper proposes a novel stiffness learning method to satisfy both task performance and compliance requirements. The proposed method optimizes the task and compliance objectives (T/C objectives) simultaneously via multi-objective Bayesian optimization. We define the stiffness search space by segmenting a demonstration into task phases, each with constant responsible stiffness. The segmentation is performed by identifying impedance control-aware switching linear dynamics (IC-SLD) from the demonstration. We also utilize the stiffness obtained by proposed IC-SLD as priors for efficient optimization. Experiments on simulated tasks and a real robot demonstrate that IC-SLD-based segmentation and the use of priors improve the optimization efficiency compared to existing baseline methods.Comment: Accepted to IROS202

Configuration-based compliance control of kinematically redundant robot arm Part I: Theoretical framework

Kada je popustljivost vrha robota dominantno određena popustljivošću njegovih zglobova, generalizovana matrica krutosti robota može se preslikati iz prostora radnog zadatka u prostor unutrašnjih koordinata robota primenom kongruentne transformacije. Generisana na ovaj način, matrica krutosti u unutrašnjim koordinatama je u opštem slučaju nedijagonalna. Nedijagonalni elementi se mogu generisati samo redundantnom aktuacijom (poliartikulacioni aktuatori). Mada je ova vrsta aktuatora široko rasprostranjena kod bioloških sistema, njena praktična primena kod robota i sličnih veštačkih sistema je ekstremno problematična. Da bi se prevazišao ovaj problem, predlaže se rešenje bazirano na kinematskoj redundansi. U okviru ovog rada koji se sastoji iz dva dela, prikazuje se novi pristup upravljanja popustljivošću vrha robota, odnosno elastomehaničkom interakcijom vrha robota i njegovog okruženja, primenom kinematske redundanse umesto aktuacione. U prvom delu ovaj pristup je prikazan kroz koncipiranje metode upravljanja krutošću promenom konfiguracije (CSC) za slučaj kinetosatičke konzistentnosti, primenom projekcije gradijenta optimizacione funkcije koja minimizira Euklidovu normu nedijagonalnih elemenata matrice krutosti robota izražene u unutrašnjim koordinatama.When the robot endpoint compliance is dominantly influenced by the flexibility of its joints, the robot taskspace generalized stiffness matrix can be mapped onto jointspace using appropriate congruence transformation. Thus produced, the jointspace stiffness matrix is generally nondiagonal. Off-diagonal elements can be generated by redundant actuation only (polyarticular actuators). Although this kind of actuation is widely present in biological systems, its practical implementation in engineering systems is very difficult. To overcome this problem, use of kinematic redundancy is proposed. This two-part paper presents an approach to the control of robot endpoint compliance, i.e., elasto-mechanical interaction between a robot and its environment using kinematic redundancy instead of actuation redundancy. In Part I this approach is developed by proposing the Configuration-based Stiffness Control (CSC) method for kinetostatically consistent control of robot compliant behaviour, based on the gradient projection of the cost function which minimizes the norm of off-diagonal elements of the jointspace matrix

Compliant behaviour of redundant robot arm: Experiments with null-space

This paper presents theoretical and experimental aspects of Jacobian nullspace use in kinematically redundant robots for achieving kinetostatically consistent control of their compliant behavior. When the stiffness of the robot endpoint is dominantly influenced by the compliance of the robot joints, generalized stiffness matrix can be mapped into joint space using appropriate congruent transformation. Actuation stiffness matrix achieved by this transformation is generally nondiagonal. Off-diagonal elements of the actuation matrix can be generated by redundant actuation only (polyarticular actuators), but such kind of actuation is very difficult to realize practically in technical systems. The approach of solving this problem which is proposed in this paper is based on the use of kinematic redundancy and nullspace of the Jacobian matrix. Evaluation of the developed analytical model was done numerically by a minimal redundant robot with one redundant d.o.f. and experimentally by a 7 d.o.f. Yaskawa SIA 10F robot arm

Application of the Rotation Matrix Natural Invariants to Impedance Control of Rotational Parallel Robots

Force control of parallel robots with rotational degrees of freedom through impedance algorithms is considerably influenced by the representation method of the end-effector orientation. Using the natural invariants of the rotation matrix and the angular velocity vector in the impedance control law has some theoretical advantages, which derive from the Euclidean-geometric meaning of these entities. These benefits are particularly evident in case of robotic architectures with three rotational degrees of freedom (serial or parallel wrists with spherical motion). The behaviour of a 3-CPU parallel robot controlled by an impedance algorithm based on this concepts is assessed through multibody simulations, and the results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach

Application of Half-Derivative Damping to Cartesian Space Position Control of a SCARA-like Manipulator

In classical Cartesian space position control, KD, the end-effector follows the set-point trajectory with a stiffness expressed in the directions of the external coordinates through the stiffness matrix, K, and with a damping proportional to the first-order derivatives of errors of the external coordinates through the damping matrix, D. This work deals with a fractional-order extension of the Cartesian space position control, KDHD, which is characterized by an additional damping term, proportional to the half-order derivatives of the errors of the external coordinates through a second damping matrix, HD. The proposed Cartesian position control scheme is applied to a SCARA-like serial manipulator with elastic compensation of gravity. Multibody simulation results show that the proposed scheme was able to reduce the tracking error, in terms of mean absolute value of the end-effector position error and Integral Square Error, with the same amount of Integral Control Effort and comparable maximum actuation torques

Robot Control based on Motor Primitives -- A Comparison of Two Approaches

Motor primitives are fundamental building blocks of a controller which enable dynamic robot behavior with minimal high-level intervention. By treating motor primitives as basic "modules," different modules can be sequenced or superimposed to generate a rich repertoire of motor behavior. In robotics, two distinct approaches have been proposed: Dynamic Movement Primitives (DMPs) and Elementary Dynamic Actions (EDAs). While both approaches instantiate similar ideas, significant differences also exist. This paper attempts to clarify the distinction and provide a unifying view by delineating the similarities and differences between DMPs and EDAs. We provide eight robot control examples, including sequencing or superimposing movements, managing kinematic redundancy and singularity, obstacle avoidance, and managing physical interaction. We show that the two approaches clearly diverge in their implementation. We also discuss how DMPs and EDAs might be combined to get the best of both approaches. With this detailed comparison, we enable researchers to make informed decisions to select the most suitable approach for specific robot tasks and applications.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figure

Force control of heavy lift manipulators for high precision insertion tasks

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, June 2005."May 2005." Leaf 81 blank.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-70).The inherent strength of robotic manipulators can be used to assist humans in performing heavy lifting tasks. These robots reduce manpower, reduce fatigue, and increase productivity. This thesis deals with the development of a control system for a robot being built for this purpose. The task for this robot is to lift heavy payloads while performing complex insertion tasks. This task must be completed on the deck of a naval vessel where possible disturbances include wind, rain, poor visibility, and dynamic loads induced by a swaying deck. The primary objective of the controller being designed here is to allow for insertion of the payload despite tight positioning tolerances and disturbances like surface friction, joint friction, and dynamic loads from ship motions. A control structure designed for intuitive interaction between the robot and operator is analyzed and shown to be stable using an established environment interaction model. The controller is shown to perform within established specifications via numerical simulation based on simple user inputs. An additional objective of this controller design is to prevent part jamming during the insertion task. With a large, powerful manipulator, the chances of a jam occurring is high. Without the use of bilateral force feedback, it will be difficult for the operator feel when these jams will occur and there will be no information about how to prevent them. This thesis analyzes the geometry and mechanics of the jamming problem and derives a control system to assist the user in preventing these jams. These methods can be extended to other insertion tasks simply by specifying the appropriate geometry.by Matthew A. DiCicco.S.M

Passive Decoupled Multi-Task Controller for Redundant Robots

Kinematic redundancy in robots makes it possible to execute several control tasks simultaneously. As some tasks are usually more important than others, it is reasonable to dynamically decouple them in order to ensure their execution in a hierarchical way or even without any interference at all. The most widely used technique is to decouple the system by feedback linearization. However, that requires actively shaping the inertia and consequently modifying the natural dynamics of the robot. Here we propose a passivity-based multi-task tracking controller that preserves these inertial properties but fully compensates for task-space cross-couplings using external force feedback. Additionally, three formal proofs are provided: uniform exponential stability for trajectory tracking, passivity during physical interaction, and input-to-state-stability. The controller is validated in simulations and experiments and directly compared with the hierarchical PD+ approach and the feedback linearization. The proposed approach is well suited for safe physical human-robot interaction and dynamic trajectory tracking if measurements or estimations of the external forces are available

From underactuation to quasi-full actuation: Aiming at a unifying control framework for articulated soft robots

We establish a structure preserving state and input transformation that allows a class of underactuated Euler Lagrange systems to be treated as “quasi-fully” actuated. In this equivalent quasi-fully actuated form, the system is characterized by the same Lagrangian structure as the original one. This facilitates the design of control approaches that take into account the underlying physics of the system and that shape the system dynamics to a minimum extent. Due to smoothness constraints on the new input vector that acts directly on the noncollocated coordinates, we coin the term quasi-fully actuated. The class of Euler–Lagrange systems we consider is the class of articulated soft robots with nonlinear spring characteristics that are modeled with a block diagonal inertia matrix. We illustrate how the quasi-fully actuated form enables the direct transfer of control concepts that have been derived for fully actuated manipulators. We adopt the popular energy-shaping and two passivity-based concepts. The exemplary adoptions of the PD+ and Slotine and Li controllers allow us to solve the task-space tracking problem for highly elastic joint robots with nonlinear spring characteristics. These control schemes allow compliant behavior of the robot's TCP to be specified with respect to a reference trajectory. A key aspect of the presented framework is that it enables the adoption of rigid joint controllers as well as concepts underlying the original stability analysis. We believe that our framework presents an important step toward unifying the control design for rigid and articulated soft robots