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Sensing characteristics of an optical three-axis tactile sensor under combined loading

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 April 2004

Masahiro Ohka
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Information Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 (Japan).
Yasunaga Mitsuya
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 (Japan).
Yasuaki Matsunaga
Affiliation:
Denso, Co.(Japan).
Shuichi Takeuchi
Affiliation:
Tokai Rika Denki Co. Ltd. (Japan).

Abstract

This paper describes precision enhancement of an optical three-axis tactile sensor capable of detecting both normal force and tangential force. The sensor's single cell consists of a columnar feeler and 2-by-2 conical feelers. We have derived equations to precisely estimate the three-axis force from the area-sum and area-difference of the conical feelers' contact areas by taking into account wrench-length shrinkage caused by a vertical force. To evaluate the equations and determine constants included in the equations, we performed a series of calibration experiments using a manipulator-mounted tactile sensor and a combined load-testing machine. Subsequently. to evaluate the tactile sensor's practicality. it was mounted on the end of a robotic manipulator which rubbed flat specimens such as brass plates with step-heights of δ=0.05, 0.1, 0.2 mm and a brass plate with no step-height. We showed from the experimental data that the optical three-axis tactile sensor can detect not only the step-heights but also the distribution of the coefficient of friction, and that the sensor can detect fine plate inclination with accuracy to about ±0.4°.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press

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