Analysis of a 6-DOF redundantly actuated 4-legged parallel mechanism

In this paper, we propose a new 4-legged 6-DOF redundantly actuated UPS parallel mechanism. Kinematics, singularity and dynamics analyses of the proposed mechanism are addressed. Inverse kinematics has a closed-form solution, whereas the forward kinematics has a semi-closed form solution. Also, the Jacobian matrix has been determined using the concept of reciprocal screws. Using the principle of virtual work and minimum norm method, a general formulation for the inverse dynamics of redundantly actuated parallel manipulator is presented. Moreover, the proposed redundant mechanism has been compared with a similar but nonredundant mechanism in three aspects: reachable points, and actuation forces under static and dynamic conditions. We show that the redundancy decreases singular points, and dramatically reduces the actuators’ forces and torques.     

Dynamic load-carrying capacity of a novel redundantly actuated parallel conveyor

Conveyors are important equipment in the painting shop. Conveyors with cantilever beams have low load-carrying capacity and can carry small cars. To solve this problem, this paper presents a novel conveyor that uses redundantly actuated parallel manipulators. A method is proposed to obtain the maximum dynamic load-carrying capacity of the conveyor by optimizing the internal forces of the redundantly actuated parallel manipulators. To improve the dynamic load-carrying capacity, approaches using counterweights are utilized and compared. Furthermore, the maximum dynamic load-carrying capacity of the redundant parallel manipulator is compared with that of its nonredundant counterpart.     

Calibration of encoder indexing of a redundantly actuated parallel mechanism to eliminate contradicting control forces

This paper presents the kinematic calibration of a two degree-of-freedom redundantly actuated parallel mechanism (RAPM), with the aim of eliminating contradicting control forces (CCF). The kinematic errors in the RAPM induce CCFs, especially in the case of decentralized individual position control, which is the standard control method used in industrial applications. The encoder indexing errors of the actuated joints are known to be of strong influence on the CCFs. Therefore, it is believed that the CCFs will be eliminated if the encoder indexing errors are corrected. We proved this through experiments. We performed the calibration using a projection technique, wherein we projected tracking error terms onto orthogonal complementary terms of the constraint Jacobian between the independent joints and actuated joints. Using this projection technique, the effect of tracking error terms from the joint stiffness and external force is eliminated. During the calibration process, the tracking errors in the actuated joints are measured. Using these errors, we derived the optimal values of the encoder indexing error by minimizing the objective function. We verified the calibration result by comparing the CCFs measured before calibration with those measured after calibration, for the case of individual PID position control. Our results confirmed that the calibration procedure of encoder indexing errors successfully reduces the average norm value of CCFs from 366 N to 13 N.     

Problems in the control of redundantly actuated parallel manipulators caused by geometric imperfections

Redundant actuation is considered as a way to improve the properties of parallel manipulators as it increases and homogenizes the kinematic dexterity and the stiffness, and eventually eliminates singularities. It further allows for a purposeful distribution of control forces, taking into account secondary tasks, such as optimal force distribution, stiffness control, and backlash avoiding control. The actual model-based control builds upon an exact model of the manipulator. In this paper the effect of kinematic uncertainties on the applicability of established model-based control schemes is analyzed. It is shown that kinematic model uncertainties lead to parasitic perturbation forces that cannot be compensated by the controls. To tackle this problem amended versions of the augmented PD and computed torque control schemes are proposed.     

Elastodynamics of a spatial redundantly actuated parallel mechanism constrained by two higher kinematic pairs

Meccanica - A spatial redundantly actuated parallel mechanism (RAPM) constrained by two point-contact higher kinematic pairs (HKPs) has been designed for food texture evaluation during the...     

Forward displacement analysis of a quadratic 4-DOF 3T1R parallel manipulator

A quadratic parallel manipulator refers to a parallel manipulator with a quadratic characteristic polynomial. This paper revisits the forward displacement analysis (FDA) and the Type II singularity analysis of a quadratic 4-DOF 3T1R (SCARA) parallel manipulator: the Quadrupteron. It will be proved that there exists a one-to-one correspondence between the two formulas, each producing one solution to the FDA, and the two singularity-free regions. Therefore, a unique solution to the FDA can be obtained in a straightforward way for such a parallel manipulator if the singularity-free region in which it works is specified. The Type II singularity analysis in the joint space will also be investigated in order to identify the conditions on the inputs to keep the Quadrupteron working in the same singularity-free region in its Cartesian workspace.     

Design and analysis of a novel 6-DOF redundant actuated parallel robot with compliant hinges for high precision positioning

This paper presents the design and modeling of a new 6-DOF 8-PSS/SPS compliant dual redundant parallel robot with wide-range flexure hinges. This robot can achieve either high accurate positioning or rough positioning as well as a 6-DOF active vibration isolation and excitation to the payload placed on the moving platform. Adopting a kind of wide-range flexure hinge, we establish the kinematics model of the macro parallel mechanism system via the stiffness model and Newton–Raphson method, then we build up the dynamics model using Kane’s method for the micro-motion system. The investigations of this paper will provide suggestions to improve the structure and control algorithm optimization for a novel compliant dual redundant parallel mechanism in order to achieve the feature of larger workspace, higher motion precision and better dynamic characteristics. The results will be helpful in modifying the structure of the prototype platform to enhance its high kinematics and dynamics properties.     

漂浮基柔性两杆空间机械臂的关节运动鲁棒控制与柔性振动最优控制Robust joint motion control and vibration optimal control for a free-floating two-flexible-link space manipulator

讨论了载体位置、姿态均不受控情况下,具有有界干扰及有界未知参数的漂浮基柔性两杆空间机械臂的具有鲁棒性的关节运动控制与柔性振动最优控制算法设计问题。首先选择合理的联体坐标系,利用拉格朗日方程并结合动量守恒原理得到漂浮基柔性两杆空间机械臂系统的动力学方程。通过合理选择联体坐标系与利用奇异摄动理论,实现了两个柔性杆柔性振动之间、关节运动与两柔性杆柔性振动的解耦,得到了柔性两杆空间机械臂的慢变子系统与柔性臂快变子系统。针对两个子系统设计相应的控制规律,即增广鲁棒慢变子系统控制律与柔性臂快变子系统最优控制律,这两个相应的子系统控制规律综合到一起构成飘浮基柔性两杆空间机械臂总的关节运动与臂柔性振动控制的组合控制律。系统的数值仿真证实了方法的有效性。该控制方案不需要直接测量漂浮基的位置、移动速度和移动加速度。     

Nonlinear adaptive control for quadrotor flying vehicle

In this work, we deal with autonomous tracking and disturbance rejection problem of quadrotor vehicle flying in uncertain environment. The vehicles kinematic and modeling error uncertainties are associated with external disturbance, inertia, mass, and nonlinear aerodynamic forces and moments. The proposed method integrate the techniques from adaptive control and robust control theory. Robust and adaptive control algorithms for translational and orientation tracking are derived using Lyapunov method. It is shown in our analysis that the altitude, position, and attitude tracking errors are bounded and their bounds asymptotically converge to zero in Lyapunov sense. Simulation results on a commercial quadrotor flying vehicle are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of theoretical arguments for real world application.     

Adaptive variable impedance control for a modular soft robot manipulator in configuration space

Meccanica - Compliance is a strong requirement for human–robot interactions. Soft-robots provide an opportunity to cover the lack of compliance in conventional actuation mechanisms, however,...     

Nonlinear adaptive neural network control for a model-scaled unmanned helicopter

In this paper, a nonlinear adaptive neural network control is proposed for trajectory tracking of a model-scaled helicopter. The purpose of this research is to reduce the ultimate bounds of tracking errors resulted from small coupling forces (or small parasitic body forces) and aerodynamic uncertainties. The proposed control is designed under backstepping framework, with neural network compensators being added. Updating laws of neural networks are designed through projection algorithm, so that adaptive parameters are bounded. Derivatives of virtual controls are obtained through command filters. It is proved that, by using neural network compensators, tracking errors of the closed-loop system can be restricted within very small ultimate bounds. Superiority of the proposed nonlinear adaptive neural network control over a backstepping control is demonstrated by simulation results.     

空间机械臂捕获卫星过程的碰撞动力学模拟及镇定运动的鲁棒控制

讨论了漂浮基空间机械臂捕获未知运动目标卫星的接触碰撞动力学建模和接触碰撞后系统镇定运动的控制问题。利用第二类拉格朗日方法和牛顿-欧拉法分别建立了接触碰撞前漂浮基空间机械臂和目标卫星两分体系统的动力学模型;以此为基础借助于空间机械臂与目标卫星接触点间的运动几何关系、力传递关系,计算了接触碰撞所产生的影响效应;捕获卫星后,联立空间机械臂与卫星接触碰撞前的动力学模型,建立了接触碰撞后两系统组合体动力学模型;并设计了增广鲁棒控制算法,以对受碰撞冲击后处于不稳定的组合体系统进行镇定运动控制。上述控制方法能应用于空间机械臂载体位置不受控情况,并能使组合体系统控制方程关于卫星不确定参数呈线性化关系。最后,利用数值仿真模拟捕获过程系统运动状态,验证了上述鲁棒控制镇定运动的效果。     

存在关节力矩输出死区及外部干扰的漂浮基空间机械臂积分滑模神经网络自适应控制

探讨了载体位置和姿态都不受控时,漂浮基空间机械臂在带有关节力矩输出死区及外部干扰情况下轨迹跟踪的控制算法设计问题。死区与外部干扰影响系统的跟踪精度与稳定性。为此引入积分型切换函数,减少外部干扰引起的稳态误差,并利用径向基函数神经网络逼近动力学方程的未知部分,设计了一种积分滑模神经网络控制方案。控制算法的优点是,在死区斜率与边界参数不确定及最优逼近误差上确界未知的条件下,可以利用最优逼近误差、死区及干扰的补偿项来消除影响。李亚普诺夫稳定性分析证明了闭环系统的稳定性,且轨迹跟踪误差将收敛到0的某个小邻域内。仿真算例证实了该控制算法的有效性,实现了空间机械臂的轨迹跟踪控制。     

Characterizing the configuration space of the 3-SPS-S spatial orientation parallel manipulator

In this paper, a complete analysis of configuration space entities of a three-degree-of-freedom spatial orientation manipulator is presented. In particular, the 3-SPS-S architecture with fixed joints located on an orthogonal frame is studied. At the design stage, the evaluation of the workspace of the manipulator constitutes an important issue. Besides, obtaining other entities such as joint space, in which the inputs are established, or the reduced configuration space, entity that relates inputs and outputs, gives an overall idea of the characteristics offered by each design. Comparison among different designs of the 3-SPS-S is carried out, analyzing the ability of transitioning between solutions and its influence on the resultant workspace.     

Terminal sliding mode control for coordinated motion of a space rigid manipulator with external disturbance

The control problem of coordinated motion of a free-floating space rigid manipulator with external disturbance is discussed. By combining linear momentum conversion and the Lagrangian approach, the full-control dynamic equation and the Jacobian relation of a free-floating space rigid manipulator are established and then inverted to the state equation for control design. Based on the terminal sliding mode control （SMC） technique, a mathematical expression of the terminal sliding surface is proposed. The terminal SMC scheme is then developed for coordinated motion between the base＇s attitude and the end-effector of the free-floating space manipulator with external disturbance. This proposed control scheme not only guarantees the existence of the sliding phase of the closed-loop system, but also ensures that the output tracking error converges to zero in finite time. In addition, because the initial system state is always at the terminal sliding surface, the control scheme can eliminate reaching phase of the SMC and guarantee global robustness and stability of the closed-loop system. A planar free-floating space rigid manipulator is simulated to verify the feasibility of the proposed control scheme.