A general methodology and associated computational algorithm for predicting postures of the digital human upper body is presented. The basic plot for this effort is an optimization-based approach, where we believe that different human performance measures govern different tasks. The underlying problem is characterized by the calculation (or prediction) of the human performance measure in such a way as to accomplish a specified task. In this work, we have not limited the number of degrees of freedom associated with the model. Each task has been defined by a number of human performance measures that are mathematically represented by cost functions that evaluate to a real number. Cost functions are then optimized, i.e., minimized or maximized, subject to a number of constraints, including joint limits. The formulation is demonstrated and validated. We present this computational formulation as a broadly applicable algorithm for predicting postures using one or more human performance measures.

A novel 4-dof 2SPS+SPR parallel kinematic machine is proposed, and its kinematics, statics, and workspace are studied systematically. First, the geometric constrained equations are established, and the inverse displacement kinematics is analyzed. Second, the poses of active/constrained forces are determined, and the formulae for solving inverse/forward velocities are derived. Third, the formulae for solving inverse/forward accelerations are derived. Finally, a workspace is constructed and its active/constrained forces are solved. The analytic results are verified by its simulation mechanism to be consistent with the calculated ones.

This paper deals with the position workspace, orientation workspace, and singularity of a 3-degree-of-freedom (DOF) planar parallel manipulator with actuation redundancy, which is created by introducing a redundant link with active actuator to a 3-DOF nonredundant parallel manipulator. Based on the kinematic analysis, the position workspace and orientation workspace of the redundantly actuated parallel manipulator and its corresponding nonredundant parallel manipulator are analyzed, respectively. In the singularity analysis phase, the relationship between the generalized input velocity and the generalized output velocity is researched on the basis of the theory of singular value decomposition. Then a method to investigate the singularity of parallel manipulators is presented, which is used to determine the singularity of the redundantly actuated parallel manipulator. In contrast to the corresponding nonredundant parallel manipulator, the redundant one has larger orientation workspace and less singular configurations. The redundantly actuated parallel manipulator is incorporated into a 4-DOF hybrid machine tool which also includes a feed worktable to demonstrate its applicability.

Screw theory has demonstrated its wide applications in robot kinematics and statics. We aim to propose an intuitive geometrical approach to obtain the reciprocal screws for a given screw system. Compared with the traditional Plücker coordinate method, the new approach is free from algebraic manipulation and can be used to obtain the reciprocal screws just by inspecting the structure of manipulator. The approach is based on three observations that describe the geometrical relation for zero pitch screw and infinite pitch screw. Based on the observations, the reciprocal screw systems of several common kinematic elements are analyzed, including usual kinematic pairs and chains. We also demonstrate usefulness of the geometrical approach by a variety of applications in mobility analysis, Jacobian formulation, and singularity analysis for parallel manipulator. This new approach can facilitate the parallel manipulator design process and provide sufficient insights for existing manipulators.

This paper describes a complete laser-based approach for tracking the pose of a robot in a dynamic environment. The main novelty of this approach is that the matching between consecutively acquired scans is achieved using their associated curvature-based representations. The proposed scan matching algorithm consists of three stages. Firstly, the whole raw laser data is segmented into groups of consecutive range readings using a distance-based criterion and the curvature function for each group is computed. Then, this set of curvature functions is matched to the set of curvature functions associated to the previously acquired laser scan. Finally, characteristic points of pairwise curvature functions are matched and used to correctly obtain the best local alignment between consecutive scans. A closed form solution is employed for computing the optimal transformation and minimizing the robot pose shift error without iterations. Thus, the system is outstanding in terms of accuracy and computation time. The implemented algorithm is evaluated and compared to three state of the art scan matching approaches.

This paper presents an architecture for the navigation of an autonomous mobile robot evolving in environments with obstacles. Instead of addressing the motion planning and control problems in different contexts, these issues are described in connected modules with performance requirement considerations. The path planning problem is formulated as a constrained receding horizon planning problem and is solved in real time with an efficient computational method that combines non-linear control theory, B-spline basis function and non-linear programming. An integral sliding mode controller is used for trajectory tracking. The closed-loop stability of the tracking errors is guaranteed in spite of unknown disturbances. It is also shown that this strategy is particularly useful if integral sliding mode control is combined with other methods to further robustify against perturbations. The effectiveness, perfect performance of obstacle avoidance, real time and high robustness properties are demonstrated by experimental results.

SciSys has been involved in the development of Planetary Aerobots (arial robots) funded by the European Space Agency for use on Mars and has developed image-based localisation technology as part of the activity. However, it is possible to use Aerobots in a different environment to investigate issues regarding robotics behaviour, such as data handling, limited processing power, and limited sensors. This paper summarises the activity where an Aerobot platform was used to investigate the use of multiple autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) by simulating their movement and behaviour. It reports on the computer simulations and the real-world tests carried out and the lessons learned from these experiments.

The purpose of our research is to study the effects of circular arc feet on the biped walk with a geometric tracking control. The biped studied is planar and is composed of five links and four actuators located at each hip and each knee thus the biped is underactuated in single support phase. A geometric evolution of the biped configuration is controlled, instead of a temporal evolution. The input-output linearization with a PD control law and a feed forward compensation is used for geometric tracking. The controller virtually constrains 4 degrees of freedom (DoF) of the biped, and 1 DoF (the absolute orientation of the biped) remained. The temporal evolution of the remained system with impact events is analyzed using Poincaré map. The map is given by an analytic expression based on the angular momentum about the contact point. The effect of the radii of the circular arc feet on the stability is studied. As a result, the speed of convergence decreases when the radii increases, if the radius is larger than the leg length the cyclic motion is not more stable. Among the stable cyclic motion, larger radius broadens the basin of attraction. Our results agree with those obtained for passive dynamic walking on stability, even if the biped is controlled through the geometric tracking.

This paper presents a novel model of snake-like robots based on a spatial linkage mechanism. The reasonable structural parameters of the mechanism are obtained by performing a kinematic simulation. Then the kinematics of the spatial linkage mechanism is developed and the motor angles of the robot for performing lateral undulation are analyzed based on the Serpenoid curve. The torque of servomotors at each moment is also obtained. The experiments detailed in this paper confirm that the robot is of the ability to realize several motion modes, including lateral undulation, left and right turning motions, and uplifting of the head.

This work presents an analysis of the mechanics of biped running with a heuristic control strategy for stable running. A tractable model of the mechanics is presented through principles, measures, and a time-distributed perspective. This model motivates the control strategy and provides a basis for extending the strategy to more general systems. The control strategy consists of a simple set of four rules, where the key rule considers the leg length upon liftoff. The Steady-State Index is proposed as a characterization of biped running. It identifies and relates the parameters affecting running and has broad applicability to both biological and robotic systems.

In this paper, we propose a decentralized robust control algorithm for modular and reconfigurable robots (MRRs) based on Lyapunov's stability analysis and backstepping techniques. In using decentralized control schemes with robot manipulators, each joint is considered as an independent subsystem, and the dynamical effects from the other links and joints are treated as disturbance. However, there exist many uncertainties due to unmodeled dynamics, varying payloads, harmonic drive (HD) compliance, HD complex gear meshing mechanisms, etc. Also, while the reconfigurability of MRRs is advantageous, modifying the configuration will result in changes to the robot dynamics parameters, thereby making it challenging to tune the control system. All of the above mentioned disturbances in addition to reconfigurability present a challenge in controlling MRRs. The proposed controller is well suited for MRR applications because of its simple structure that does not require the exact knowledge of the dynamic parameters of the configurations. Desired tracking performance can be achieved via tuning a limited set of parameters of the robust controller. If the numbers of degrees of freedom are held constant, these parameters are shown to be relatively independent of the configuration, and can be held constant between changes in configuration. This strategy is novel compared to existing MRR control methods. In order to validate the controller performance, experimental setup and results are also presented.

Stochastic resonance (SR) is one of the basic principles intrinsically possessed by any living thing to highly adapt to complicated environments including various disturbances. Although a noise is inevitably mixed by contact with an object and a sensor's movement on it in tactile sensing, a human being can evaluate the several micrometers of unevenness on the object surface by means of SR. We intend to apply SR to tactile sensing and to develop a tactile sensing system capable of measuring an object surface with high precision in not only a controlled environment like a precision measurement room but also in a living environment. First, we investigate the SR characteristic possessed by a Hodgkin–Huxley model capable of emulating squid's neuron activities. According to the simulation results, we develop a new electronic circuit capable of generating the SR. We perform the object surface scan using a linear stage equipped with a tactile sensor and the circuit. A series of object surface scanning tests is repeated while changing the intensity of applied noise, and the signal to noise ratio (SNR, hereafter) is calculated from the obtained measurement data to check the effect of the SR. In the experiment, striped textures with a height of δ = 5 ~ 30 μm are used as specimens. The SNR changes depending on the noise intensity, and the local maximum appears under a proper noise. It is found that the sensing accuracy is improved according to the aforementioned SR theory. Therefore, SR, which is usually applied to noisy environments, is effective for a tactile sensing system.

A robot has been developed to maintain boiler water-cooling tubes. This robot has a double tracked moving mechanism, an ash cleaning device, a slag purging device, a tubes' thickness measurement device, a marking device, and a control system. This robot can climb up and down the tube wall. A method for the robot to complete many tasks for boiler maintenance in one process cycle is presented. The mechanism of the robot is described. Especially, a kind of special magnetic block structure is designed to obtain strong adhering force using permanent magnets. Experiments in laboratory and real thermal power station have verified that the robot cannot only climb on the surface of the tube wall smoothly, but also take heavy payloads for boiler maintenance operation.