Design, implementation and control of a deformable manipulator robot based on a compliant spine

International audienceThis paper presents the conception, the numerical modeling and the control of a dexterous, deformable manipulator bio-inspired by the skeletal spine found in vertebrate animals. Through the implementation of this new manipulator, we show a methodology based on numerical models and simulations, that goes from design to control of continuum and soft robots. The manipulator is modeled using Finite Element Method (FEM), using a set of beam elements that reproduce the lattice structure of the robot. The model is computed and inverted in real-time using optimisation methods. A closed-loop control strategy is implemented to account for the disparities between the model and the robot. This control strategy allows for accurate positioning, not only of the tip of the manipulator, but also the positioning of selected middle points along its backbone. In a scenario where the robot is piloted by a human operator, the command of the robot is enhanced by a haptic loop that renders the boundaries of its task space as well as the contact with its environment. The experimental validation of the model and control strategies is also presented in the form of an inspection task use case

Visual Servoing Control of Soft Robots based on Finite Element Model

International audienceIn this paper, we propose a strategy for the control of soft robots with visual tracking and simulation-based predictor. A kinematic model of soft robots is obtained thanks to the Finite Element Method (FEM) computed in real-time. The FEM allows to obtain a prediction of the Jacobian matrix of the robot. This allows a first control of the robot, in the actuator space. Then, a second control strategy based on the feedback of infrared cameras is developed to obtain a correction of the effector position. The robust stability of this closed-loop system is obtained based on Lyapunov stability theory. Otherwise, to deal with the problem of image features (the marker points placed on the end effector of soft robot) loss, a switched control strategy is proposed to combine both the open-loop controller and the closed-loop controller. Finally, experiments on a parallel soft robot driven by four cables are conducted and show the effectiveness of these methods for the real-time control of soft robots

Robust Fabrication of a Soft Mechanosensor based on Pneumatic Measurements

International audienceIn this extended abstract, we complement the work presented in a previous paper where we have shown the modeling of a novel soft pneumatic mechanosensor. With the objective of giving a demo at the RoboTac 2019 workshop, we discuss robust manufacturing techniques that enable us to fabricate such soft mechanosensors out of silicone with embedded cavities in a consistent manner

Finite element method-based kinematics and closed-loop control of soft, continuum manipulators

International audienceThis paper presents a modeling methodology and experimental validation for soft 1 manipulators to obtain forward and inverse kinematic models under quasistatic conditions. It offers a way to obtain the kinematic characteristics of this type of soft robots that is suitable for offline path planning and position control. The modeling methodology presented relies on continuum mechanics which does not provide analytic solutions in the general case. Our approach proposes a real-time numerical integration strategy based on Finite Element Method (FEM) with a numerical optimization based on Lagrangian Multipliers to obtain forward and inverse models. To reduce the dimension of the problem, at each step, a projection of the model to the constraint space (gathering actuators, sensors and end-effector) is performed to obtain the smallest number possible of mathematical equations to be solved. This methodology is applied to obtain the kinematics of two different manipulators with complex structural geometry. An experimental comparison is also performed in one of the robots, between two other geometric approaches and the approach that is showcased in this paper. A closed-loop controller based on a state estimator is proposed. The controller is experimentally validated and its robustness is evaluated using Lypunov stability method

Software toolkit for modeling, simulation and control of soft robots

International audienceThe technological differences between traditional robotics and soft robotics have an impact on all of the modeling tools generally in use, including direct kinematics and inverse models, Jacobians, and dynamics. Due to the lack of precise modeling and control methods for soft robots, the promising concepts of using such design for complex applications (medicine, assistance, domestic robotics...) cannot be practically implemented. This paper presents a first unified software framework dedicated to modeling, simulation and control of soft robots. The framework relies on continuum mechanics for modeling the robotic parts and boundary conditions like actuators or contacts using a unified representation based on Lagrange multipliers. It enables the digital robot to be simulated in its environment using a direct model. The model can also be inverted online using an optimization-based method which allows to control the physical robots in the task space. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach, we present various soft robots scenarios including ones where the robot is interacting with its environment. The software has been built on top of SOFA, an open-source framework for deformable online simulation and is available at https://project.inria.fr/softrobot

A Model-based Sensor Fusion Approach for Force and Shape Estimation in Soft Robotics

International audienceIn this paper, we address the challenge of sensor fusion in Soft Robotics for estimating forces and deformations. In the context of intrinsic sensing, we propose the use of a soft capacitive sensor to find a contact's location, and the use of pneumatic sensing to estimate the force intensity and the deformation. Using a FEM-based numerical approach, we integrate both sensing streams and model two Soft Robotics devices we have conceived. These devices are a Soft Pad and a Soft Finger. We show in an evaluation that external forces on the Soft Pad can be estimated and that the shape of the Soft Finger can be reconstructed

Contribution à la modélisation cinématique et au contrôle de manipulateurs déformables, fondée sur la mécanique numérique

This work provides new methods for the kinematic modeling and control of soft, continuum manipulators based on the Finite Element Method. Contrary to the case of rigid manipulators, soft and continuum manipulators generate their motion by deformation, therefore, the proposed methodology accounts for the deformation mechanics to better describe the kinematics of these type of robots. This methodology does not produce analytic solutions, instead, a numerical approximation is provided by methods derived from Computational Mechanics. The methodology is applied to a continuum manipulator, namely, the Compact Bionic Handling Assistant (CBHA). A closed-loop control scheme based on control allocation is also presented. The models and controller are validated experimentally.Ce travail apporte de nouvelles méthodes pour la modélisation cinématique et le contrôle de manipulateurs continus et déformables, fondées sur la méthodes des éléments finis. À la différence des manipulateurs rigides, les manipulateurs continus et déformables engendrent leurs mouvements en se déformant, c'est pourquoi la méthode proposée prend en compte les déformations mécaniques pour mieux décrire la cinématique de ce genre de robots. Cette méthode n'apporte pas de solution analytique, mais une approximation numérique, par des méthodes dérivées de la mécanique numérique. La méthodologie est appliquée à un manipulateur continu, appelé "Compact Bionic Handling Assistant (CBHA)". Une stratégie de commande en boucle fermée, fondée sur l'allocation du contrôle, est également présentée. Les modèles et contrôleurs sont validés expérimentalement

Contribution à la modélisation cinématique et au contrôle de manipulateurs déformables, fondée sur la mécanique numérique

This work provides new methods for the kinematic modeling and control of soft, continuum manipulators based on the Finite Element Method. Contrary to the case of rigid manipulators, soft and continuum manipulators generate their motion by deformation, therefore, the proposed methodology accounts for the deformation mechanics to better describe the kinematics of these type of robots. This methodology does not produce analytic solutions, instead, a numerical approximation is provided by methods derived from Computational Mechanics. The methodology is applied to a continuum manipulator, namely, the Compact Bionic Handling Assistant (CBHA). A closed-loop control scheme based on control allocation is also presented. The models and controller are validated experimentally.Ce travail apporte de nouvelles méthodes pour la modélisation cinématique et le contrôle de manipulateurs continus et déformables, fondées sur la méthodes des éléments finis. À la différence des manipulateurs rigides, les manipulateurs continus et déformables engendrent leurs mouvements en se déformant, c'est pourquoi la méthode proposée prend en compte les déformations mécaniques pour mieux décrire la cinématique de ce genre de robots. Cette méthode n'apporte pas de solution analytique, mais une approximation numérique, par des méthodes dérivées de la mécanique numérique. La méthodologie est appliquée à un manipulateur continu, appelé "Compact Bionic Handling Assistant (CBHA)". Une stratégie de commande en boucle fermée, fondée sur l'allocation du contrôle, est également présentée. Les modèles et contrôleurs sont validés expérimentalement

Soft robot modeling, simulation and control in real-time

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