Sharif Digital Repository

In this work, we introduce a category of dynamic manipulation processes, namely passive dynamic object manipulation, according to which an object is manipulated passively. Specifically, we study passive dynamic manipulation here. We define the main concept, discuss the challenges, and talk about the future directions. Like other passive robotic systems, there are no actuators in these systems. The object follows a path and travels along it under the effect of its own weight, as well as the interaction force applied by each manipulator on it. We select some simple examples to show the concept. For each example, dynamic equations of motion are derived and the stability of the process is taken... 

In this paper, we consider a control strategy of multi-robot systems, or simply, swarms, based on emotional control technique. First, we briefly discuss a "kinematic" swarm model in n-dimensional space introduced in an earlier paper. In that model, motion of every swarm member is governed by predefined inter-individual interactions. Limitations of every member's field of view are also considered in that model. After that, we consider a general model for vehicle dynamics of each swarm member, and use emotional control theory to force their motion to obey the dynamics of the kinematic model. Based on the kinematic model, stability (cohesion) analysis is performed and coordination controller.is... 

In this paper, the problem of obtaining the optimal trajectory of a Dual-Arm Cam-Lock (DACL) robot is addressed. The DACL robot is a reconfigurable manipulator consisting of two cooperative arms, which may act separately. These may also be cam-locked in each other in some links and thus lose some degrees of freedom while gaining higher structural stiffness. This will also decrease their workspace volume. It is aimed to obtain the optimal configuration of the robot and the optimal joint trajectories to minimize the consumed energy for following a specific task space path. The Pontryagin's Minimum Principle is utilized with a shooting method to resolve kinematic redundancy. Numerical examples... 

In this paper, a nonlinear adaptive impedance controller is proposed for UAVs equipped with a robot manipulator that interacts with environment. In this adaptive controller, by considering the nonlinear dynamics model of the UAV plus the robot manipulator in Cartesian coordinates, all of model parameters are considered to be completely uncertain and their estimation is updated using an adaptation law. The objective of the proposed adaptive controller is the control of manipulator's end-effector impedance in Cartesian coordinates to have a stable physical interaction. The adjustable Cartesian impedance is a desired dynamical relationship between the end-effector motion in Cartesian... 

Offline procedures for estimating parameters of robot dynamics are practically based on the parameterized inverse dynamic model. In this paper, we present a novel approach to parameter estimation of robot dynamics which removes the necessity of parameterization (i.e. finding the minimum number of parameters from which the dynamics can be calculated through a linear model with respect to these parameters). This offline approach is based on a simple and powerful swarm intelligence tool: the particle swarm optimization (PSO). In this paper, we discuss and validate the method through simulated experiments. In "Part Two" we analyze our method in terms of robustness and compare it to robust... 

With the increasing trend toward Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) procedures, the need to develop new robotic systems to facilitate such surgeries is more and more recognized. This paper describes the design and development of a 4 DOF force-reflective master robot (RoboMaster1) for haptic telesurgery applications. A two-double parallelogram robot is introduced including a novel mechanism at the base for producing and control of the end effector's linear motion. This eliminates the deficiencies caused due to suspending massive actuators at the end effector or cabling from the base. The kinematics and work space of the system were analyzed and a prototype was developed for primary practical... 

A robotic system was designed and developed to perform the camera handling task during laparoscopic surgery. The system employs an effective low cost mechanism, with a minimum number of actuated DOFs, enabling spherical movement around a remote centre of motion positioned at the the insertion point of the laparoscopic stem. Kinematic analysis showed a high manipulability measure for the system, with the left/right movements directly governed by rotation of the first rotary actuator, and zoom and up/down movements by the simultaneous motions of the linear and second rotary actuators. A prototype of the robot was developed for practical use in an operating room environment. Hands-free operator... 

Proper modeling of the human arm dynamic, as it interacts with telemanipulation and haptic systems, is important in enhancing the transparency of these systems. In this article, we introduced an adaptive identifier to estimate the impedance characteristic of a human operator as it interacts with a single translational degree of freedom mechanism. The five parameter model, including an extra spring and damper for a better approximation of the dynamic behavior of human arm, has been used. Since the impedance characteristic of human arm differs from one individual to another, it is important to estimate these parameters for each individual and update the controller to enhance the transparency... 

In this investigation, a systematic sequential intelligent system is proposed to provide the surgeon with an estimation of the state of the tool-tissue interaction force in laparoscopic surgery. To train the proposed intelligent system, a 3D model of an in vivo porcine liver was built for different probing tasks. To capture the required knowledge, three different geometric features, i.e. Y displacement of the nodes on the upper surface and slopes on the closest node to the deforming area of the upper edge in both X-. Y and Z-. Y planes, were extracted experimentally. The numerical simulations are conducted in three independent successive stages. At the first step, a well-known... 

In this paper, a new nonlinear robust adaptive impedance controller is addressed for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) equipped with a robot manipulator that physically interacts with environment. A UAV equipped with a robot manipulator is a novel system that can perform different tasks instead of human being in dangerous and/or inaccessible environments. The objective of the proposed robust adaptive controller is control of the UAV and its robotic manipulators end-effector impedance in Cartesian space in order to have a stable physical interaction with environment. The proposed controller is robust against parametric uncertainties in the nonlinear dynamics model of the UAV and the robot... 

In this work, we introduce a category of dynamic manipulation processes, namely passive dynamic object manipulation, according to which an object is manipulated passively. Specifically, we study passive dynamic manipulation here. We define the main concept, discuss the challenges, and talk about the future directions. Like other passive robotic systems, there are no actuators in these systems. The object follows a path and travels along it under the effect of its own weight, as well as the interaction force applied by each manipulator on it. We select some simple examples to show the concept. For each example, dynamic equations of motion are derived and the stability of the process is taken... 

Featuring a nonlinear novel design, Gimbal transmission, is a replacement for traditional robotic joints like gearboxes and revolute joints. This mechanism is one of the most recent types of nonlinear direct transmission (DT) methods in robots. As an alternative for traditional drive methodologies - herein called direct drive transmission (DD) methods, DT provides dynamic coupling and joint interaction attenuation while its capability to be adjusted for a desired task space point, smooth input-output characteristic, and varying reduction ratio lead to a desired force and motion behavior for the whole manipulator. In this paper, design optimization of a gimbal mechanism used as a replacement... 

The deployment of multi-agent systems in presence of obstacle deals with autonomous motion of agents toward a specified target by sensing each other and boundaries of obstacles. In this paper, asynchronous, scalable, distributed algorithm is used to deploy agents. Boundaries of obstacles are modeled by virtual agents. Algorithm was implemented by solving continuous n-median problem called generalized Fermat-Weber problem. It is shown that deployment is performed when position of real agents are the geometric median of their Voronoi cells. Simulation results show the validity of the proposed algorithm very well  

In the present study, an adaptive sliding mode control method was employed to control a fish robotic system using hardware in the loop methodology. Up to now, few researches have focused on autonomous control of fish robot in dynamic environments which may be the result of difficulties in modeling of hydrodynamic effects on fish robot. Therefore, following the introduction of the nonlinear model for the robot, elongated body theory, suggested by Lighthill, was used to analyze fish movements. Then, kinematics control to track desired trajectories was designed for under-actuated model of robot. Adaptive sliding mode controller, capable of adapting according to changes and uncertainties, was... 

Ignoring actuator dynamics in control of rigid manipulators can in practice result in performance degradation or loss of system stability. However, consideration of actuator dynamics usually requires measurement of robot joint torques. This paper addresses motion tracking control of an n-DOF rigid robot by taking into account its actuator dynamics. Joint torque measurement is avoided by using an adaptive observer. The backstepping technique is adopted to develop a dynamically smooth adaptive nonlinear controller dealing with uncertainties in manipulator and actuator dynamics. Semi-global convergence of motion tracking errors as well as torque estimation error are proven without any... 

Time-delay in sensor measurements can be a frequent cause of instability and performance degradation in a robotic system. In this paper, motion tracking of rigid manipulators in presence of constant and known delay in sensors is investigated. By using non-minimal model of a manipulator, a dynamically smooth controller based on the Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) approach is proposed which guarantees asymptotic tracking of desired joint angles and velocities in presence of delayed measurements. For a given controller the maximum amount of delay that preserves system stability is computed by solving an LMI optimization and also by numerical simulations, and the results are compared. Finally, a... 

Reliability of any model-based failure detection and isolation (FDI) method depends on the amount of uncertainty in a system model. Recently, it has been shown that the use of joint torque sensing results in a simplified manipulator model that excludes hardly identifiable link dynamics and other nonlinearities such as friction, backlash, and flexibilities. In this paper, we show that the application of the simplified model in a fault detection algorithm increases reliability of fault monitoring system against modeling uncertainty. The proposed FDI filter is based on a smooth velocity observer of degree 2n where n stands for the number of manipulator joints. No velocity measurement and... 

This work aims to propose a new technique that considerably helps enhance time and precision needed to identify "Inertia Parameters (IPs)" of a typical Autonomous Space-Robot (ASR). Operations might include, capturing an unknown Target Space-Object (TSO), "active space-debris removal" or "automated in-orbit assemblies". In these operations generating precise successive commands are essential to the success of the mission. We show how a generalized, repeatable estimation-process could play an effective role to manage the operation. With the help of the well-known Force-Based approach, a new "modular formulation" has been developed to simultaneously identify IPs of an ASR while it captures a... 

In this paper, the problem of obtaining the optimal trajectory of a Dual-Arm Cam-Lock (DACL) robot is addressed. The DACL robot is a reconfigurable manipulator consisting of two cooperative arms, which may act separately. These may also be cam-locked in each other in some links and thus lose some degrees of freedom while gaining higher structural stiffness. This will also decrease their workspace volume. It is aimed to obtain the optimal configuration of the robot and the optimal joint trajectories to minimize the consumed energy for following a specific task space path. The Pontryagin's Minimum Principle is utilized with a shooting method to resolve kinematic redundancy. Numerical examples...