Locomotion and steering aspects in automation of colonoscopy. I. Aliterature review

Automation of colonoscopy can be broken down into two aspects: locomotion and steerable distal end. The problems of locomotion are concerned with activation systems and the control sequencing of actuator elements within an environment that is slippery and has a highly varied anatomy. Steerable tips have difficulties associated with the need for remote activation and the need to negotiate tight radii without penetrating the colon wall. This literature survey gives a critical review of research in these areas. The results of some of the researchers seem very promising. In vitro and in vivo experimentations have been carried out to prove the possibilities of a robot moving along a patient's colon, treating polyps as they are encountered. The authors believe that conventional colonoscopy will shortly be revolutionized     

Automation of colonoscopy. II. Visual control aspects

During a conventional colonoscopy examination, the endoscopist watches a video monitor that displays the real-time images being captured by a CCD camera at the distal end of the colonoscope. Some researchers believe that a computer can be used to interpret these images and be trained to recognize and correctly locate the position of the lumen. This information will then be processed and used to control and maneuver the colonoscope automatically into the colon. It can also be used to identify abnormalities of the large intestine. This article presents a literature survey that gives a critical review of research in the area of visual control in automated colonoscopy. It is concluded that, generally, the idea of using computer vision to aid in the automation of colonoscopy is meritorious. However, it is important for one to realize the vast differences in physical attributes of the colon. No two colons are similar. Even within the same colon, one section may portray very different characteristics from another. Since technology is not yet at the stage where computers can think in the same way as do human beings, computerized visual control in colonoscopy may not be realized for some time     

连续型结肠镜机器人多电机控制系统设计

连续型结肠镜机器人在结构上分为5节,每节各具有2个自由度,分别由2个直流伺服电机实现.在分析了连续型结肠镜机器人机械结构的基础上,设计了采用两级分布式结构的控制系统,其上层结构为PC机,采用由VC ++6.0与OPGL联合开发的基于Windows平台的软件系统;下层结构由基于DSP芯片的电机运动控制器和以LMD 18200为核心的电机驱动器组成;上、下层结构之间通过CAN总线进行通讯.最后进行了原理样机弯曲实验,以验证了控制系统的可行性.     

Light Puncture Robot for CT and MRI Interventions

The new robot named light puncture robot (LPR), has an original compact body-supported architecture, which is naturally able to follow the patient's body surface respiratory movements for abdominal and thoracic percutaneous procedures, which is compatible with CT, open MRI, and closed MRI. It is entirely made of plastic and uses MR-compatible pneumatic actuators powered by compressed air. It is localized via an image-based control using a localization device that is totally integrated to the robot. The physician is also included in the control loop, since he/she selects the target and the entry point and supervises the whole process.     

配电网架空线路绝缘包覆机器人设计

配电网架空线路高度低,导线表面和绞线缝隙间易积聚污垢杂物,容易引发意外跳闸等事故。为提高安全性,对配电网架空线路进行绝缘化改造势在必行。对配电网架空线路绝缘包覆技术进行研究,设计了一种架空线路绝缘包覆机器人。构建基于地面站系统的图传遥操作控制模型,实现对架空线路裸导线自主、均匀包覆功能。对绝缘包覆机器人整体结构和控制系统的设计进行介绍,并通过试验证明,针对8~24 mm导线线径,机器人以3 m/min速度实施包覆作业,绝缘涂层厚度可稳定在2.5~3 mm之间,能够均匀包覆导线,且未出现流挂现象。架空线路绝缘包覆机器人可为配电网架空线路的绝缘化提供可靠的解决方案。     

Functionalization of tactile sensation for robot based on haptograph and model decomposition

In the real world, robots should be able to recognize the environment in order to be of help to humans. A video camera and a laser range finder are devices that can help robots recognize the environment. However, these devices cannot obtain tactile information from environments. Future human‐assisting robots should have the ability to recognize haptic signals, and a disturbance observer can possibly be used to provide the robot with this ability. In this study, a disturbance observer is employed in a mobile robot to functionalize the tactile sensation. This paper proposes a method that involves the use of the haptograph and modal decomposition for the haptic recognition of road environments. The haptograph presents a graphic view of the tactile information. It is possible to classify road conditions intuitively. The robot controller is designed by considering the decoupled modal coordinate system, which consists of translational and rotational modes. Modal decomposition is performed by using a quarry matrix. Once the robot is provided with the ability to recognize tactile sensations, its usefulness to humans will increase. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 177(2): 49–57, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21169     

基于任务空间双模式结合的遥操作机器人系统

遥操作技术是空间、深海以及遥远距离等特殊环境下机器人完成作业任务的关键技术。构建了基于PHANTOM手控器及MOTOMAN机器人的遥操作机器人系统平台,能够实现对象的主从抓取、自主抓取以及两者结合抓取等几种抓取任务,并完成人性化用户界面的设计。针对遥操作机器人主从双边存在的时延问题,设计了基于任务空间检测的自主模式和主从模式相结合的遥操作机器人系统工作模式,相比于传统的遥操作机器人系统所采用的工作模式更加省时高效。实验结果表明所提出的工作模式能够满足存在通信时延情况下遥操作机器人完成任务的需要。     

特高压铁塔高空作业辅助机器人攀登系统

高空作业是生产工作当中安全风险较大的一个环节。中国电网系统的杆塔数量庞大,高空作业过程和杆塔攀登过程中的安全问题已成为电力行业亟须解决的重点之一。针对特高压输电线路高度的杆塔攀爬问题,提出一种基于机器人辅助的加强安全防护方案,并设计一种运动灵活性高、能够跨越较大障碍物的铁塔攀爬系统。通过伸缩式3足仿生蚕结构的主体结构和电磁吸附/夹持混合功能手爪满足所需求的功能。在实验室测试中,系统可以完成铁塔上的竖直攀爬、转向及横向,并在攀爬过程当中实现180 mm高和400 mm长的障碍物跨越。该攀爬系统结构非常适合于进行电力杆塔的攀爬,能够完成各项高空作业辅助工作。     

Development and Control of Multi‐Degree‐of‐Freedom Mobile Robot for Acquisition of Road Environmental Modes

The acquisition of information about the environment around a mobile robot is important for purposes such as controlling the robot from a remote location and in situations such as that when the robot is running autonomously. In some research, audiovisual information has been used. However, the acquisition of information about force sensation, which is included in environmental information, has not been well investigated. The mobile‐hapto, which is a remote control system with force information, has been proposed, but the robot used for the system can acquire only the horizontal components of forces. For this reason, in this research a three‐wheeled mobile robot consisting of seven actuators was developed and a control system was created for it. The robot can acquire information about horizontal and vertical forces without using force sensors. By using this robot, detailed information on the forces in the environment can be acquired and the operability of the robot and its ability to adjust to the environment are expected to improve.     

特高压铁塔高空作业辅助机器人攀登系统

高空作业是生产工作当中安全风险较大的一个环节。中国电网系统的杆塔数量庞大,高空作业过程和杆塔攀登过程中的安全问题已成为电力行业亟须解决的重点之一。针对特高压输电线路高度的杆塔攀爬问题,提出一种基于机器人辅助的加强安全防护方案,并设计一种运动灵活性高、能够跨越较大障碍物的铁塔攀爬系统。通过伸缩式3足仿生蚕结构的主体结构和电磁吸附/夹持混合功能手爪满足所需求的功能。在实验室测试中,系统可以完成铁塔上的竖直攀爬、转向及横向,并在攀爬过程当中实现180 mm高和400 mm长的障碍物跨越。该攀爬系统结构非常适合于进行电力杆塔的攀爬,能够完成各项高空作业辅助工作。     

融合超宽带方位和距离的移动机器人定位

可靠定位是机器人完成导航和路径规划的前提,机器人通过多个超宽带(ultra-wideband, UWB)基站的测距信息实现定 位,但基站数量不足时定位精度受限。 针对这一问题,提出融合超宽带距离和方位的移动机器人定位方法。 根据方位标准差区 分信号来自基站前方(视场)或背后(非视场),消除方位的前后奇异性。 在此基础上,利用 UWB 距离和方位测量值构建约束函 数,通过图优化算法融合里程计和 UWB 测量数据实现全局位姿优化。 实验结果表明,该方法在 13 m×6 m 的室内环境中,移动 机器人无规则运动能够达到 0. 093 m 的定位精度,比传统的基于测距 UWB 和里程计融合方法定位性能提升了 46%,且具有较 强的鲁棒性。     

A graphics simulator for a robotic arm

A graphics robot simulator designed for an IBM PC/XT/AT or PS/2 personal computer is presented. The simulator is a terminate-and-stay resident (TSR) program that runs in the background and intercepts commands that would normally go to the robot controller through the COM1 serial communication device. With the use of the simulator, students can develop and test robot control programs offline without a physical robot present, using the language of their choice. The status of the simulated robot is available through a 3-D graphics display and a one-line text window, each of which can be activated from the keyboard or from within a user program. Data files are used to specify the robot to be simulated and the environment or workcell within which it is to operate. Currently supported robots include the Rhino XR-3 educational robot and the Adept One and Inteledex 660 industrial robots. The workcell features an overhead camera and objects that can be sensed by the camera and manipulated by the robot.<>     

A rehabilitation robot with force-position hybrid fuzzy controller: hybrid fuzzy control of rehabilitation robot.

The goal of this study was to design a robot system for assisting in the rehabilitation of patients with neuromuscular disorders by performing various facilitation movements. The robot should be able to guide patient's wrist to move along planned linear or circular trajectories. A hybrid position/force controller incorporating fuzzy logic was developed to constrain the movement in the desired direction and to maintain a constant force along the moving direction. The controller was stable in the application range of movements and forces. Offline analyses of data were used to quantitatively assess the progress of rehabilitation. The results show that the robot could guide the upper limbs of subjects in linear and circular movements under predefined external force levels and apply a desired force along the tangential direction of the movements.     

管道检测机器人乒乓供电管理系统设计

油气输运管道内部探伤的管道机器人是工业特种机器人研究领域中热点,机器人在管道内作业过程中续航能力取决于机器人能量的如何获取和供电管理系统。本文针对此类问题设计并实现了管道机器人的自主发电,双电池组乒乓储能和供电的的管理机制,在两块电池一供一备的模式中,能够有效解决两块高能量锂离子电池之间充电、供电和电量检测自动切换,实现了双电池组的高效管理模式。     

基于迁移学习卷积神经网络的电缆隧道锈蚀识别算法

随着电力行业的不断发展,高压电缆的铺排以及地下电缆隧道的建设与维护逐渐成为该领域中的热点问题之一。将迁移学习的核心思想与经典的卷积神经网络（LeNet5）相结合,提出了一种基于迁移学习卷积神经网络的电缆隧道锈蚀识别算法,实现了电缆隧道内部电源箱、风机等设备的锈蚀识别。该算法基于Tensorflow框架,能够有效地解决训练样本不足、训练时间冗长以及识别精度不高的问题。通过引入4种经典的目标识别算法进行对比实验,进一步验证了所提方案在网络训练时间以及识别精确度上的优势,为后续电缆隧道巡检机器人系统的构建提供了坚实的理论基础与实验支撑。     

An approach to absolute position control based on object coordinate

This paper describes accurate position control in an object coordinate system. When motion control of an industrial robot placed in a global coordinate system is taken to be in an object coordinate system, it is preferable and convenient to decide its motion by having the operator teach the robot. However, the teaching procedure requires considerable time and effort. Moreover, whenever the relative position between the robot and the object is changed, the operator needs to teach the operation again. To improve the above issue, a strategy that decides the robot motion without the teaching must be developed. This paper proposes a control strategy that does not require teaching and enables the creation of the desired motion without affecting the relative position error between the robot and the target object in object coordinate space defined by a PSD (Position Sensor Detector). In the proposed approach, the estimation algorithm of the kinetic transformation between the global and the object coordinates is introduced by using PSD output, and the error of coordinate transformation estimated by the proposed approach is compensated for in the global coordinate system. The validity of the proposed method is shown using simulations and experiments. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 155(3): 53–61, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20354     

分体式绝缘子检测机器人的电场分析及测试试验

超、特高压输电线路绝缘子串较长,采用绝缘子检测机器人检测更为方便和有效。但目前的绝缘子检测机器人主要为攀爬方式,体积大、结构复杂,需要进行改进。为此设计了一种适用于悬垂绝缘子串检测的轻便型分体式绝缘子检测机器人,对绝缘子机器人周围的电场分布进行了仿真计算与分析,并进行了220 kV绝缘子串的测试试验,结果表明：所设计的检测机器人本体最大电场强度为1 753 kV/m,不会发生起晕;绝缘子检测机器人的测量电压值小于绝缘子原始电压分布值,可通过补偿修正得到实际的绝缘子电压分布,并进行低、零值绝缘子检测。     

Teaching introductory autonomous robotics with JavaScript simulations and actual robots

This paper describes a flexible method of teaching introductory robotics. Students program an autonomous mobile robot to complete a set of tasks of increasing complexity, including multirobot tracking. Two proximity detectors (1 b each) and a pair of photosensors (2 b each) provide six sensory inputs to logic circuits, which control two drive motors and two internal memory flip-flops. The robot brain is a digital logic circuit programmed by loading an AS CH code that specifies the logic circuit configuration, similar in approach to a field-programmable gate array. The logic circuit design evolves with task complexity. Two internal set/reset flip-flops can be used to design a finite-state machine to implement a memory. One novelty of the method is that students develop and test their logic circuits on a Web-based graphic simulation before downloading the code to an actual robot. The simulation is written in JavaScript to acquire sensor readings and control robot motors to interact with the environment in a flexible manner. The simulation is downloaded with the Web page and runs smoothly on the client's machine, eliminating the need for high-speed connections. The ASCII code producing successful simulation performance is downloaded to an actual robot through a printer port on a PC in the robot laboratory. A microcontroller on the actual robot interprets the ASCII code in the same manner as the simulation. Classroom experience indicates that evolving a robot brain is an effective teaching tool and students enjoy applying logic circuit design to program a robot.     

全方位移动机器人的运动预测控制

针对全方位移动机器人在应用中由于延时造成控制不精确的问题,提出在机器人的运动控制中引入广义预测控制法.在基于四轮全方位移动机器人运动模型建立预测模型与运动预测控制方程中,提出了通过合理减少预测模型中的输入变量,以及将多输入多输出线性模型分解为单输入单输出线性模型,来降低其控制难度.仿真和实际应用验证了该算法能够有效地消除全方位移动机器人实时控制中延时的影响.     

无轨道式水轮机叶片坑内修复机器人

介绍了一种多功能的水轮机叶片坑内修复机器人方案和研究进展。机器人本体由可全位置行走的无导轨磁吸附移动平台和多自由度作业机械臂组成,移动平台吸附于待修复的叶片表面,机械臂安装在移动平台上,机械臂可携带检测及各类可更换的作业工具,机器人可以直接在机坑内对叶片受损情况进行自主检测和修复作业（如气刨清理、焊接、打磨等）,操作人员也可通过远端监控系统时机器人的运行状况进行监控,在出现紧急情况时可以直接对机器人进行手动控制。对水轮机叶片坑内修复机器人系统涉及的关键技术进行了研究,仿真及试验结果表明本文提出的水轮机叶片坑内修复机器人方案是可行的,且利用本文研究的关键技术及究成果,可组成水轮机叶片坑内修复机器人系统,为最终实现水轮机叶片坑内修复的自动化提供了技术条件和基础。