Backlash-free motion control of robotic manipulators driven by tensegrity motor networks Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • Tensegrity robots with backlash free motion control functionality are considered. Without introducing any link-tolink motors, the proposed system achieves controllability by a motorized-pulley tendon actuation network. Due to the mechanical coupling between two motorized-tendons and two robotic manipulators, the proposed actuation system maintains a surjective mapping from the space of admissible tendon forces to the space of singularity-free maneuvers of the individual serial-chain manipulators (provided the links remain non-contacting). For this new class of snakelike robots, a position-feedback motion control law is developed that minimizes the maximum motor torque while ensuring that the tendons do not go slack at any point along a given robot trajectory. Numerical simulations illustrate the method and demonstrate tensegrity's superior maneuvering and backlash avoidance capabilities. 2006 IEEE.

name of conference

  • Proceedings of the 45th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control

published proceedings

  • Proceedings of the 45th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control
  • Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Decision and Control

author list (cited authors)

  • Aldrich, J. B., & Skelton*, R. E.

citation count

  • 13

complete list of authors

  • Aldrich, JB||Skelton*, RE

publication date

  • December 2006