2,064 research outputs found
Intelligent manipulation technique for multi-branch robotic systems
New analytical development in kinematics planning is reported. The INtelligent KInematics Planner (INKIP) consists of the kinematics spline theory and the adaptive logic annealing process. Also, a novel framework of robot learning mechanism is introduced. The FUzzy LOgic Self Organized Neural Networks (FULOSONN) integrates fuzzy logic in commands, control, searching, and reasoning, the embedded expert system for nominal robotics knowledge implementation, and the self organized neural networks for the dynamic knowledge evolutionary process. Progress on the mechanical construction of SRA Advanced Robotic System (SRAARS) and the real time robot vision system is also reported. A decision was made to incorporate the Local Area Network (LAN) technology in the overall communication system
A Dynamics and Stability Framework for Avian Jumping Take-off
Jumping take-off in birds is an explosive behaviour with the goal of
providing a rapid transition from ground to airborne locomotion. An effective
jump is predicated on the need to maintain dynamic stability through the
acceleration phase. The present study concerns understanding how birds retain
control of body attitude and trajectory during take-off. Cursory observation
suggests that stability is achieved with relatively little cost. However,
analysis of the problem shows that the stability margins during jumping are
actually very small and that stability considerations play a significant role
in selection of appropriate jumping kinematics. We use theoretical models to
understand stability in prehensile take-off (from a perch) and also in
non-prehensile take-off (from the ground). The primary instability is tipping,
defined as rotation of the centre of gravity about the ground contact point.
Tipping occurs when the centre of pressure falls outside the functional foot. A
contribution of the paper is the development of graphical tipping stability
margins for both centre of gravity location and acceleration angle. We show
that the nose-up angular acceleration extends stability bounds forward and is
hence helpful in achieving shallow take-offs. The stability margins are used to
interrogate simulated take-offs of real birds using published experimental
kinematic data from a guinea fowl (ground take-off) and a diamond dove (perch
take-off). For the guinea fowl the initial part of the jump is stable, however
simulations exhibit a stuttering instability not observed experimentally that
is probably due to absence of compliance in the idealised joints. The diamond
dove model confirms that the foot provides an active torque reaction during
take-off, extending the range of stable jump angles by around 45{\deg}.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures; supplementary material:
https://figshare.com/s/86b12868d64828db0d5d; DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.721056
Real-time trajectory generation for dynamic systems with nonholonomic constraints using Player/Stage and NTG.
This thesis will present various methods of trajectory generation for various types of mobile robots. Then it will progress to evaluating Robot Operating Systems (ROS’s) that can be used to control and simulate mobile robots, and it will explain why Player/Stage was chosen as the ROS for this thesis. It will then discuss Nonlinear Trajectory Generation as the main method for producing a path for mobile robots with dynamic and kinematic constraints. Finally, it will combine Player, Stage, and NTG into a system that produces a trajectory in real-time for a mobile robot and simulates a differential drive robot being driven from the initial state to the goal state in the presence of obstacles. Experiments will include the following: Blobfinding for physical and simulated camera systems, position control of physical and simulated differential drive robots, wall following using simulated range sensors, trajectory generation for omnidirectional and differential drive robots, and a combination of blobfinding, position control, and trajectory generation. Each experiment was a success, to varying degrees. The culmination of the thesis will present a real-time trajectory generation and position control method for a differential drive robot in the presence of obstacles
Trajectory Replanning for Quadrotors Using Kinodynamic Search and Elastic Optimization
We focus on a replanning scenario for quadrotors where considering time
efficiency, non-static initial state and dynamical feasibility is of great
significance. We propose a real-time B-spline based kinodynamic (RBK) search
algorithm, which transforms a position-only shortest path search (such as A*
and Dijkstra) into an efficient kinodynamic search, by exploring the properties
of B-spline parameterization. The RBK search is greedy and produces a
dynamically feasible time-parameterized trajectory efficiently, which
facilitates non-static initial state of the quadrotor. To cope with the
limitation of the greedy search and the discretization induced by a grid
structure, we adopt an elastic optimization (EO) approach as a
post-optimization process, to refine the control point placement provided by
the RBK search. The EO approach finds the optimal control point placement
inside an expanded elastic tube which represents the free space, by solving a
Quadratically Constrained Quadratic Programming (QCQP) problem. We design a
receding horizon replanner based on the local control property of B-spline. A
systematic comparison of our method against two state-of-the-art methods is
provided. We integrate our replanning system with a monocular vision-based
quadrotor and validate our performance onboard.Comment: 8 pages. Published in International Conference on Robotics and
Automation (ICRA) 2018. IEEE copyrigh
A Hierarchal Planning Framework for AUV Mission Management in a Spatio-Temporal Varying Ocean
The purpose of this paper is to provide a hierarchical dynamic mission
planning framework for a single autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to
accomplish task-assign process in a limited time interval while operating in an
uncertain undersea environment, where spatio-temporal variability of the
operating field is taken into account. To this end, a high level reactive
mission planner and a low level motion planning system are constructed. The
high level system is responsible for task priority assignment and guiding the
vehicle toward a target of interest considering on-time termination of the
mission. The lower layer is in charge of generating optimal trajectories based
on sequence of tasks and dynamicity of operating terrain. The mission planner
is able to reactively re-arrange the tasks based on mission/terrain updates
while the low level planner is capable of coping unexpected changes of the
terrain by correcting the old path and re-generating a new trajectory. As a
result, the vehicle is able to undertake the maximum number of tasks with
certain degree of maneuverability having situational awareness of the operating
field. The computational engine of the mentioned framework is based on the
biogeography based optimization (BBO) algorithm that is capable of providing
efficient solutions. To evaluate the performance of the proposed framework,
firstly, a realistic model of undersea environment is provided based on
realistic map data, and then several scenarios, treated as real experiments,
are designed through the simulation study. Additionally, to show the robustness
and reliability of the framework, Monte-Carlo simulation is carried out and
statistical analysis is performed. The results of simulations indicate the
significant potential of the two-level hierarchical mission planning system in
mission success and its applicability for real-time implementation
Beating-time gestures imitation learning for humanoid robots
Beating-time gestures are movement patterns of the hand swaying along with music, thereby indicating accented musical pulses. The spatiotemporal configuration of these patterns makes it diÿcult to analyse and model them. In this paper we present an innovative modelling approach that is based upon imitation learning or Programming by Demonstration (PbD). Our approach - based on Dirichlet Process Mixture Models, Hidden Markov Models, Dynamic Time Warping, and non-uniform cubic spline regression - is particularly innovative as it handles spatial and temporal variability by the generation of a generalised trajectory from a set of periodically repeated movements. Although not within the scope of our study, our procedures may be implemented for the sake of controlling movement behaviour of robots and avatar animations in response to music
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