Type Design and Behavior Control for Six Legged Robots

The research on legged robots attracted much attention both from the academia and industry. Legged robots are multi-input multi-output with multiple end-e ector systems. Therefore,the mechanical design and control framework are challenging issues. This paper reviews the development of type synthesis and behavior control on legged robots; introduces the hexapod robots developed in our research group based on the proposed type synthesis method. The control framework for legged robots includes data driven layer,robot behavior layer and robot execution layer. Each layer consists several components which are explained in details. Finally,various experiments were conducted on several hexapod robots. The summarization of the type synthesis and behavior control design constructed in this paper would provide a unified platform for communications and references for future advancement for legged robots.

Medial Longitudinal Arch Pad Influences Landing Control of the Lower Limbs during Single-Leg Jump-Landing

Background: Arch support has the effect of maintaining arch and correcting alignment, and it is broadly used for the prevention of sports impediment and treatment of athletes with lowered MLA and foot problems. The fact that the morphological change of MLA damages balance sense and postural control, it was reported that the insole supporting the arch of MLA improved postural balance. There are several studies regarding the effects of arch support;however, its effects on landing control have not been clarified. Therefore, in our research, we discussed the effect of MLA support for landing control, using lower limb dynamic alignment and the moment during landing as indexes. Methods: This study measured the landing motion to be evaluated was to jump from a platform with a height of 30 cm by taking-off with a single foot, and landing on a single foot on a floor reaction force gauge placed ahead and stay still for three seconds for the subjects were 13 healthy females. A soft 6 mm Boron sheet cut in the size of 9 × 3.5 cm, applied with double-sided tape (MLA pad) was used for arch support (hereafter referred to as “pad”). For the lower limb evaluation, an 8-camera with a three-dimensional behavioral analyzer (CORTEX, NAC product, sampling frequency: 120 Hz) and a floor reaction force gauge (AMTI product, sampling frequency: 1000 Hz) were used. Ten successful jump-landing tests for each limb were used for further analyses using Visual 3D software (Cmotion Inc., Kingston, Canada). Analysis objects were knee joint bending angle and valgus angle during landing;knee joint maximum bending angle;bending knee joint valgus angle, hip joint bending angle, adduction angle, ankle joint plantar flexion angle, varus angle at the time of knee joint maximum bending angle;and each joint moment. For statistical processing, the average value of three trials out of five trials was regarded as a representative value. Results: Regarding joint angles, significant differences were observed in maximum knee joint bending angle, knee joint bending angle during maximum valgus knee joint and ankle joint varus angle during knee joint maximum bending angle between before and after intervention. No significant differences were observed in other joint angles. Regarding joint moments, no significant difference was observed in each joint moment before and after the intervention. Significance: The decrease of knee joint valgus angle during landing by the use of MLA pad suggests the possibility of decreasing the risk of ACL injury. As the incidence of ACL injury in females is higher than that of males, and the evaluation for females had proceeded, it can be useful information for the prevention of ACL injury.

Trajectory tracking control of the bionic joint of the musculoskeletal leg mechanism

Pneumatic artificial muscles(PAMs) have properties similar to biological muscles,which are widely used in robotics as actuators.It is difficult to achieve high-precision position control for robotics system driven by PAMs.A 3-DOF musculoskeletal bionic leg mechanism is presented,which is driven by PAMs for quadruped robots.PAM is used to simulate the compliance of biological muscle.The kinematics of the leg swing is derived,and the foot desired trajectory is planned as the sinusoidal functions.The swing experiments of the musculoskeletal leg mechanism are conducted to analyse the extension and flexion of joints.A proportional integral derivative(PID) algorithm is presented for controlling the flexion/extension of the joint.The trajectory tracking results of joints and the PAM gas pressure are obtained.Experimental results show that the developed leg mechanism exhibits good biological properties.

基于前馈补偿的轮腿式平台多任务复合运动解耦控制

轮腿式平台在执行复杂作战环境载运任务时,由于其动态协调腿部与车轮运动是复杂耦合的,其行驶速度的稳定性、位姿控制的精确性都十分困难.文中基于轮腿式平台通过有限高度场景的动态协调任务,提出了一种基于前馈补偿的多任务优先级复合运动解耦控制框架.首先,分别建立了关节和车轮动力学模型,降低模型复杂度;然后,搭建了基于任务优先级的前馈关节力矩解算,叠加轮端前馈交互力和反馈控制力矩降低实时位姿调整对质心速度的影响;最后,采用转速闭环PI控制器,并引入车轮滚动阻力实现车轮速度到质心速度的有效传递.仿真结果表明,所提出控制方法在受限场景运动过程中平台质心速度最大跟踪误差小于3%,为轮腿式平台复杂环境下执行任务提供了可行控制框架.

Human-Tracking Strategies for a Six-legged Rescue Robot Based on Distance and View

Human tracking is an important issue for intelligent robotic control and can be used in many scenarios, such as robotic services and human-robot cooperation. Most of current human-tracking methods are targeted for mobile/tracked robots, but few of them can be used for legged robots. Two novel human-tracking strategies, view priority strategy and distance priority strategy, are proposed specially for legged robots, which enable them to track humans in various complex terrains. View priority strategy focuses on keeping humans in its view angle arrange with priority, while its counterpart, distance priority strategy, focuses on keeping human at a reasonable distance with priority. To evaluate these strategies, two indexes（average and minimum tracking capability） are defined. With the help of these indexes, the view priority strategy shows advantages compared with distance priority strategy. The optimization is done in terms of these indexes, which let the robot has maximum tracking capability. The simulation results show that the robot can track humans with different curves like square, circular, sine and screw paths. Two novel control strategies are proposed which specially concerning legged robot characteristics to solve human tracking problems more efficiently in rescue circumstances.

Underground ground control monitoring and interpretation,and numerical modeling, and shield capacity design

Mine or longwall panel layout is a 3D structure with highly non-uniform stress distribution. Recognition of such fact will facilitate underground problem identification/investigation and solving by numerical modeling through proper model construction. Due to its versatility, numerical modeling is the most popular method for ground control design and problem solving. However numerical modeling results require highly experienced professionals to interpret its validity/applicability to actual mining operations due to complicated mining and geological conditions. Underground ground control monitoring is routinely performed to predict roof behavior such as weighting and weighting interval without matching observation of face mining condition while the mining pressures are being monitored, resulting in unrealistic interpretation of the obtained data on mining pressure. The importance of ground control pressure monitoring and simultaneous observation of mining and geological conditions is illustrated by an example of shield leg pressure monitoring and interpretation in an U.S. longwall coal mine: it was found that the roof strata act like a plate, not an individual block of the size of a shield dimension, as commonly assumed by all researchers and shield capacity is not a fixed property for a longwall panel or a mine or a coal seam. A new mechanism on the interaction between shield's hydraulic leg pressure and roof strata for shield loading is proposed.

Balance control during gait initiation: State-of-the-art and research perspectives

It is well known that balance control is affected by aging, neurological and orthopedic conditions. Poor balance control during gait and postural maintenance are associated with disability, falls and increased mortality. Gait initiation-the transient period between the quiet standing posture and steady state walking-is a functional task that is classically used in the literature to investigate how the central nervous system(CNS) controls balance during a whole-body movement involving change in the base of support dimensions and center of mass progression. Understanding how the CNS in able-bodied subjects exerts this control during such a challenging task is a prerequisite to identifying motor disorders in populations with specific impairments of the postural system. It may also provide clinicians with objective measures to assess the efficiency of rehabilitation programs and better target interventions according to individual impairments. The present review thus proposes a state-of-the-art analysis on:(1) the balance control mechanisms in play during gait initiation in able bodied subjects and in the case of some frail populations; and(2) the biomechanical parameters used in the literature to quantify dynamic stability during gait initiation. Balance control mechanisms reviewed in this article included anticipatory postural adjustments, stance leg stiffness, foot placement, lateral ankle strategy, swing foot strike pattern and vertical center of mass braking. Based on this review, the following viewpoints were put forward:(1) dynamic stability during gait initiation may share a principle of homeostatic regulation similar to most physiological variables, where separate mechanisms need to be coordinated to ensure stabilization of vital variables, and consequently; and(2) rehabilitation interventions which focus on separate or isolated components of posture, balance, or gait may limit the effectiveness of current clinical practices.

两桥臂交叉解耦不平衡控制策略研究

由于非不平衡控制策略中没有考虑线电压和相电流的相角差,造成三相电网的有功、无功电流无法完全补偿。为了解决这一问题,根据电压电流相角差,推导出单相补偿器中无功参考补偿电流与负载电流的关系,提出一种两桥臂交叉解耦不平衡控制策略,利用多变量滤波器和交叉解耦双复系数滤波器优化锁相环,精确锁定三相不平衡电网的电压频率和相位,对2个单相背靠背变换器的无功电流分别控制,进而利用两桥臂变换器补偿三相不平衡无功。实验结果验证了所提两桥臂交叉解耦不平衡控制策略,可抑制三相有功不平衡及补偿三相不平衡无功,将三相电流的不平衡度从150.0%降低至2.6%,三相电网功率因数从0.257提升至0.997,减少了三相无功补偿器的开关管个数。

电网不对称故障下MMC自适应相功率均衡控制策略

交流电网不对称故障工况下模块化多电平换流器(modular multilevel converter,MMC)存在相功率不均衡的问题,常规的基于直流环流注入的调控方法会引起桥臂电流不对称,导致各相电流应力不相等;而基于零序电压注入的方法可能导致系统过调制,危害系统安全稳定运行。针对传统相功率均衡控制策略的局限性,提出一种交流电网不对称故障下MMC自适应相功率均衡控制策略。首先,分析基于零序电压和直流环流注入的MMC相间功率调控原理,指出不同方法单独进行相间功率均衡的局限性。其次,研究零序电压注入方法的过调制边界,引入相功率分配系数,给出不同故障下相功率系数优化方法,提出基于零序电压和直流环流注入协调的MMC自适应相功率均衡控制策略。最后,通过仿真验证了机理分析与所提控制策略的正确性和有效性。

经颅直流电刺激对人体单腿落地稳定性的影响

背景:经颅直流电刺激作为一种非侵入脑刺激技术可即时提高人体肌肉力量,或可即时提升人体单腿落地稳定性,但尚未有相关研究进行论证。目的:验证经颅直流电刺激对人体单腿落地稳定性的影响。方法:选择武汉体育学院男性大学生为受试者,按随机数字表法分为A组(n=6)和B组(n=5),A组受试者先接受假刺激,随后经过3 d的清洗期,再接受经颅直流电刺激;B组受试者先接受经颅直流电刺激,随后经过3 d的清洗期,再接受假刺激,刺激后即刻进行单腿落地测试,采集并分析受试者单腿落地时的生物力学参数。将经颅直流电刺激干预的数据汇总为试验组数据,假刺激干预的数据汇总为对照组数据。结果与结论:①核心稳定性:经颅直流电刺激干预与落地高度对躯干最大屈曲角具有交互效应(P<0.05),在30 cm落地高度条件下,相较于假刺激,经颅直流电刺激后受试者躯干最大屈曲角显著降低;经颅直流电刺激干预对躯干最大侧屈角、躯干侧屈角速度具有主效应(P<0.05),相较于假刺激,经颅直流电刺激后受试者躯干最大侧屈角、躯干侧屈角速度显著降低;②下肢关节稳定性:经颅直流电刺激干预对踝关节最大外翻角具有主效应(P<0.05),相较于假刺激,经颅直流电刺激后受试者踝关节最大外翻角显著降低;经颅直流电刺激干预对腓肠肌外侧头的峰值激活水平具有主效应(P<0.05),相较于假刺激,真刺激后腓肠肌外侧头的峰值激活水平显著提升;经颅直流电刺激干预与落地高度对胫骨前肌的峰值激活水平具有交互效应(P<0.05),在60 cm落地高度条件下,相较于假刺激,经颅直流电刺激后受试者胫骨前肌峰值激活水平显著升高;③压力中心稳定性:经颅直流电刺激干预与落地高度对压力中心横向平均位移距离、压力中心横向平均位移速度、压力中心纵向平均位移距离、压力中心纵向平均位移速度等指标均无交互作用(P>0.05),经颅直流电刺激干预对各压力中心指标均无主效应(P>0.05);④结果表明:经颅直流电刺激可即刻改善人体单腿落地时的核心稳定性与下肢关节稳定性,可将其作为运动前的重要热身手段,提高人体单腿落地稳定性、降低下肢损伤风险。

足式机器人SLIP模型向上跳跃台阶的运动控制

由于存在地势起伏,台阶对足式机器人运动稳定性会带来较大挑战.弹簧负载倒立摆模型(SLIP)作为研究足式机器人的优良模板,能否完成向上跳跃台阶的动作与其腿部摆角,起跳位置和跳跃高度都有密切的关系.由于调整模型腿部摆角规律容易引发运动失效,故本文在算法中引入虚拟弹簧腿,根据虚拟弹簧腿的运行规律确定合理起跳位置,根据起跳位置来控制系统跳跃高度进而完成跳跃台阶的动作.最后利用仿真软件进行多组仿真,结果表明本文算法对起跳区间划分合理,对起跳高度控制精准,能够实现SLIP模型跳跃台阶前后的稳定运动.

运动控制训练对女大学生髌股关节痛的影响研究

目的:评价运动控制训练(MCE)对女大学生髌股关节痛(PFP)的疗效。为PFP的治疗提供理论依据。方法:将36名受试者随机分为实验组(MCE组)和对照组,各18人。对照组进行假干预。实验组进行MCE。每周训练3次,共6周。分别在干预前和干预后记录单腿深蹲(SLS)时的臀中肌和臀大肌肌电均方根以及动态膝外翻角(DKV)数据,评估膝关节Lysholm量表、视觉模拟评分(VAS)及Y平衡。结果:干预6周后,对照组各项指标均无显著性变化(P>0.05);MCE组各项指标除Y平衡的后外侧、后内侧最大伸展距离无统计学变化,其余各指标均有显著性改善(P<0.05);MCE组除Y平衡外,各项指标均优于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:MCE可以增强PFP女大学生臀部肌肉激活、降低DKV角,改善下肢姿势控制、减轻疼痛和提高膝关节功能。

基于变腿长的弹性无缘轮动力学与行走控制

研究弹性无缘轮沿斜面半被动行走的动力学建模和控制问题.首先基于弹簧负载倒立摆模型,利用拉格朗日方法建立弹性无缘轮的动力学模型;其次采用反馈线性化的思想设计控制器,通过控制弹性腿的长度,缩小弹性无缘轮行走误差,实现稳定的周期行走;最后,在理论研究的基础上进行了仿真实验,验证了基于变腿长的控制策略在外部干扰和自身参数误差的情况下的控制效果,同时在仿真实验中发现,相同的外部扰动作用在单、双支撑不同阶段会产生不同的影响,分析了产生这种差异的原因.仿真结果表明:基于变腿长设计的控制器能够实现弹性无缘轮沿斜坡的稳定行走,同时能对来自外界的干扰进行有效抑制,使弹性无缘轮迅速恢复到周期性稳定行走状态,并且在弹性无缘轮自身参数有误差时仍具有相当的鲁棒性.

轮腿式爬楼轮椅前腿机构的控制策略研究

针对爬楼轮椅前腿的位姿调节机构在工作时不能同时触地及受力失衡等问题,文中提出基于模糊比例-积分-微分(Proportional Integral Derivative, PID)的前腿同步位姿调节控制策略。首先,建立了前腿位姿调节机构驱动装置的数学模型。其次,根据爬楼轮椅工作要求设定合适的阈值,通过偏差大小来选用最优的控制算法,建立了基于模糊控制策略与模糊自适应PID控制策略。最后,结合模糊PID复合控制模型,实现前腿机构在复杂工况下的有效控制。实验结果表明:采用模糊PID的前腿同步控制系统超调量较小,达到稳态的时间更少,具有较高的稳定性。

基于模糊逼近的轮腿机器人模型预测跟踪控制

为了同时保证轮腿机器人的轨迹跟踪精度和重载稳定运行,这里提出了一种基于模糊逼近的轮腿机器人模型预测跟踪控制方法。首先对一种四轮腿机器人的并联结构进行系统建模,从模型上提升机器人的负载能力。然后提出了一种基于神经模糊逼近的模型预测跟踪方法,用于评估不确定性动力学和外部干扰,提高轨迹跟踪精度,包括机械结构自适应、重载条件和外部负载干扰。最后通过轮腿机器人平台实验证明了提出方法能够在重载条件下实现高精度的跟踪控制,并且具有较好的鲁棒性。

复杂地形下仿生轮腿式机器人位姿控制研究

丘陵山地地势复杂、地形多变,农机装备作业环境以倾斜角度较大的斜坡为主,传统农机装备在丘陵山区复杂地形下作业时效率低、稳定性差,甚至会出现侧倾、翻车等现象。本文从仿生机械设计角度出发,提出一种在丘陵山地复杂地形下能够自主实现位姿调平控制的轮腿式机器人平台,提升复杂地形下的作业稳定性和安全性。以昆虫后足为仿生机械设计对象,并结合多连杆机构原理,完成新型变行程轮腿机构及机器人平台的整体架构设计。采用D-H参数法分析了轮腿机构运动学特性,结果显示轮腿式机器人离地间隙最大调整量为574mm,具备较强的越障能力。在空间坐标系上定义轮腿式机器人空间姿态参数,推导得到机身姿态角与轮腿伸缩量之间的空间姿态模型,并设计了基于NSGA-Ⅱ的机身空间姿态逆解算法。基于空间姿态逆解算法构建了轮腿式机器人全向位姿调平位姿控制系统,包含机身调平控制器、“虚腿”补偿控制器和质心高度控制器,在复杂地形下行驶时能够控制轮腿式机器人俯仰角、侧倾角、接地力、质心高度等空间姿态参数,然后通过搭建的轮腿式机器人ADAMS-Matlab联合仿真模型完成了位姿控制系统算法仿真验证。在机器人样机上开展了离地间隙自动调整和机身全向位姿调平试验,试验结果表明,试验样机离地间隙最大调整量为574mm,同时在复杂地形下能够实现机身位姿全向自动调平,调平平均时间约为1.2s,调平平均误差为0.8°,位姿控制响应速度与调平精度能够满足实际工作要求。

双腿轮式机器人运动控制研究

双腿轮式机器人融合了足式与轮式机器人的优势,展现出灵活性和高速高效特性。然而,精确控制这类机器人需要对运动学和动力学模型进行深入研究。此外,欠驱动、强耦合和非线性等控制难点也进一步加剧了机器人运动与自平衡控制的挑战。为应对这一挑战,本文提出一种分布式动力学建模策略,分别对机器人的躯干及腿轮子系统进行了精确建模,保留了机器人的所有动力学特性,并据此设计出以腿轮末端输出力矩为控制目标的力矩解算器。随后,基于该模型创新性地提出一种全身力矩控制框架,旨在实现双腿轮式机器人的运动控制和动态平衡。为进一步提升其运动性能,还规划了多运动模式,并成功地集成到全身力矩控制系统中。在MATLAB环境下搭建了双腿轮式机器人仿真实验平台,设计了两种行走实验方案和3种不同跳跃高度的仿真实验。实验结果表明,行走速度误差小于0.09 m/s,跳跃高度误差控制在0.02 m以内,验证了控制策略的可行性。最后,搭建了腿轮融接型复合结构的双腿轮式机器人,成功开展了机器人多运动模式实验,进一步证实了机器人在运动控制作业中的高精度表现,其躯干高度误差在3.38 mm以内,俯仰角误差不超过0.04 rad。研究结果充分验证了分布式全身动力学建模的精确性以及全身力矩控制系统的有效性,为双腿轮式机器人的运动控制研究提供了新的理论框架和实践指导。

自升式钻井平台升降控制系统设计与优化研究

本文探究了自升式钻井平台升降控制系统的设计方法,并对钻井平台的水平控制和桩腿电机的同步控制进行了优化分析。该系统由动力传动、升降控制和传感器三个模块构成,采用DCS分布式结构,以中央工控机作为上位机,PLC控制箱作为下位机。前端传感器采集载荷、速度、水平度等信号后,上传至工控机并完成分析处理,然后生成相应的调控指令并发送给下位机。利用下位机控制桩腿上的电机完成升降操作,保证了钻井平台的水平与稳定。在钻井平台上布置水平仪,将水平方向上的位移偏差转化为速度偏差,对桩腿进行独立调控,达到水平控制优化的目的;对桩腿电机使用耦合控制模式,保证了电机在和均衡、同步运行,达到了同步控制优化的目的。

基于三相四桥臂电机系统架构的车载锂电池自加热系统

为解决锂电池在低温环境下输出功率降低与放电容量衰减的问题,提出了一种基于三相四桥臂电机系统架构的车载锂电池自加热系统,通过加热电池使其脱离低温状态。在逆变器中引入第四桥臂,并与车载驱动电机三相星型绕组中性点连接,形成三相四桥臂电机系统架构。结合上述电机系统架构,建立电池、电机系统及电池自加热系统等效数学模型。分析电池发热机理及开关频率对电池温升速率的影响,并结合零序电压矢量设计高频电流滞环控制策略。实验结果证明,该系统能够实现锂电池在低温环境下的快速自加热功能,脱离低温状态。

面向移动作业的腿足机器人数字孪生系统

针对移动作业中的腿足机器人,结合数字孪生技术,设计整机系统的体系结构、模块结构、硬件框架和软件框架,通过集成多个传感器输入和数据源,可在移动场景下获得可靠准确的环境状态和机器人状态.基于点线特征匹配理论,优化腿足机器人的自主定位精度和鲁棒性,结合环境建模数据实现高效里程计和实时移动建图.提出建立数字孪生模型的通用方法,并通过误差补偿保证机器人数字孪生体的运动状态与实际机器人的运动状态高度一致.在数据集和真实机器人上进行实验,结果表明所提出的数字孪生系统不仅能够在不同的腿足机器人平台上稳定高效运行,而且能够保证实时状态反馈和里程计定位精度.与ORB-SLAM3相比,内存开销降低约68.7%,CPU使用率降低约17.8%.硬件实验表明,通信延迟与网络延迟基本一致,约为30 ms,有助于提高任务执行效率.