Deformable linear objects (DLOs), such as rods, cables, and ropes, play
important roles in daily life. However, manipulation of DLOs is challenging as
large geometrically nonlinear deformations may occur during the manipulation
process. This problem is made even more difficult as the different deformation
modes (e.g., stretching, bending, and twisting) may result in elastic
instabilities during manipulation. In this paper, we formulate a physics-guided
data-driven method to solve a challenging manipulation task -- accurately
deploying a DLO (an elastic rod) onto a rigid substrate along various
prescribed patterns. Our framework combines machine learning, scaling analysis,
and physical simulations to develop a physics-based neural controller for
deployment. We explore the complex interplay between the gravitational and
elastic energies of the manipulated DLO and obtain a control method for DLO
deployment that is robust against friction and material properties. Out of the
numerous geometrical and material properties of the rod and substrate, we show
that only three non-dimensional parameters are needed to describe the
deployment process with physical analysis. Therefore, the essence of the
controlling law for the manipulation task can be constructed with a
low-dimensional model, drastically increasing the computation speed. The
effectiveness of our optimal control scheme is shown through a comprehensive
robotic case study comparing against a heuristic control method for deploying
rods for a wide variety of patterns. In addition to this, we also showcase the
practicality of our control scheme by having a robot accomplish challenging
high-level tasks such as mimicking human handwriting, cable placement, and
tying knots.Comment: YouTube video: https://youtu.be/OSD6dhOgyMA?feature=share