Stable adaptive controller design of robotic manipulators via neuro‐fuzzy dynamic inversion

In this paper, a stable adaptive control approach is developed for the trajectory tracking of a robotic manipulator via neuro‐fuzzy (NF) dynamic inversion, an inverse model constructed by the dynamic neuro‐fuzzy (DNF) model with desired dynamics. The robot neuro‐fuzzy model is initially built in the Takagi‐Sugeno (TS) fuzzy framework with both structure and parameters identified through input/output (I/O) data from the robot control process, and then employed to dynamically approximate the whole robot dynamics rather than its nonlinear components as is done by static neural networks (NNs) through parameter learning algorithm. Since the NF dynamic inversion comprises a cluster of reference trajectories connecting the initial state to the desired state of the robot, the dynamic performance in the initial control stage of robot trajectory tracking can be guaranteed by choosing the optimum reference trajectory. Furthermore, the assumption that the robot states should be on a compact set can be excluded by NF dynamic inversion design. The system stability and the convergence of tracking errors are guaranteed by Lyapunov stability theory, and the learning algorithm for the DNF system is obtained thereby. Finally, the viability and effectiveness of the proposed control approach are illustrated through comparing with the dynamic NN (DNN) based control approach. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

基于干扰观测器的机械臂广义模型预测轨迹跟踪控制

为实现对多自由度机械臂关节运动精确轨迹跟踪,提出一种基于非线性干扰观测器的广义模型预测轨迹跟踪控制方法。针对机械臂轨迹跟踪运动学子系统,采用广义预测控制（Generalized Predictive Control,GPC）方法设计期望的虚拟关节角速度。对于机械臂轨迹跟踪动力学子系统,考虑机械臂的参数不确定性和未知外界扰动,利用GPC方法设计关节力矩控制输入,基于非线性干扰观测器方法实时估计和补偿系统模型中的不确定性。在李雅普诺夫稳定性理论框架下证明了机械臂关节角位置和角速度的跟踪误差最终收敛于零的小邻域。数值仿真验证了所提出控制方法的有效性和优越性。     

Stability and control aspects of flexible link robot manipulators during constrained motion tasks

The effect of robotic manipulator structural compliance on system stability and trajectory tracking performance and the compensation of this structural compliance has been the subject of a number of publications for the case of robotic manipulator noncontact task execution. The subject of this article is the examination of dynamics and stability issues of a robotic manipulator modeled with link structural flexibility during execution of a task that requires the robot tip to contact fixed rigid objects in the work environment. The dynamic behavior of a general n degree of freedom flexible link manipulator is investigated with a previously proposed nonlinear computed torque constrained motion control applied, computed based on the rigid link equations of motion. Through the use of techniques from the theory of singular perturbations, the analysis of the system stability is investigated by examining the stability of the “slow” and “fast” subsystem dynamics. The conditions under which the fast subsystem dynamics exhibit a stable response are examined. It is shown that if certain conditions are satisfied a control based on only the rigid link equations of motion will lead to asymptotic trajectory tracking of the desired generalized position and force trajectories during constrained motion. Experiments reported here have been carried out to investigate the performance of the nonlinear computed torque control law during constrained motion of the manipulator. While based only on the rigid link equations of motion, experimental results confirm that high-frequency structural link modes, exhibited in the response of the robot, are asymptotically stable and do not destabilize the slow subsystem dynamics, leading to asymptotic trajectory tracking of the overall system. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

空间机器人抓捕目标后基于任务相容性的消旋策略

针对双臂空间机器人抓捕自旋目标后的镇定操作,在考虑机器人系统输入约束的条件下,提出了一种基于任务相容性的消旋规划与控制方法。首先,给出空间机器人抓捕目标后的组合系统的动力学模型,作为规划与控制的基础。然后,根据动力学可操作度和任务相容性设计了目标的快速消旋策略,其期望加速度的方向和大小分别取作速度的反方向和机器人系统输入约束允许的最大值。最后,基于所推导的运动学和动力学模型,通过对目标和机械臂末端分别建立柔顺度等式,提出了一种跟踪期望运动轨迹同时对末端接触力进行调节的柔顺控制方法。通过双臂7自由度空间机器人消除目标自旋运动的仿真结果,验证了所提方法的有效性。     

Kinematic path‐tracking of mobile robot using iterative learning control

This paper develops a kinematic path‐tracking algorithm for a nonholonomic mobile robot using an iterative learning control (ILC) technique. The proposed algorithm produces a robot velocity command, which is to be executed by the proper dynamic controller of the robot. The difference between the velocity command and the actual velocity acts as state disturbances in the kinematic model of the mobile robot. Given the kinematic model with state disturbances, we present an ILC‐based path‐tracking algorithm. An iterative learning rule with both predictive and current learning terms is used to overcome uncertainties and the disturbances in the system. It shows that the system states, outputs, and control inputs are guaranteed to converge to the desired trajectories with or without state disturbances, output disturbances, or initial state errors. Simulations and experiments using an actual mobile robot verify the feasibility and validity of the proposed learning algorithm. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Neuro-fuzzy and model-based motion control for mobile manipulator among dynamic obstacles

This paper focuses on autonomous motion control of a nonholonomic platform with a robotic arm, which is called mobile manipulator. It serves in transportation of loads in imperfectly known industrial environments with unknown dynamic obstacles. A union of both procedures is used to solve the general problems of collision-free motion. The problem of collision-free motion for mobile manipulators has been approached from two directions, Planning and Reactive Control. The dynamic path planning can be used to solve the problem of locomotion of mobile platform, and reactive approaches can be employed to solve the motion planning of the arm. The execution can generate the commands for the servo-systems of the robot so as to follow a given nominal trajectory while reacting in real-time to unexpected events. The execution can be designed as an Adaptive Fuzzy Neural Controller. In real world systems, sensor-based motion control becomes essential to deal with model uncertainties and unexpected obstacles.     

任意初态下的工业机器人迭代学习控制

对迭代初值为任意值的工业机器人轨迹跟踪控制系统,提出了一种基于滑模面的非线性迭代学习控制算法,使机器人轨迹能快速、精确跟踪上期望轨迹。基于有限时间收敛原理,构建了关于机器人轨迹跟踪误差的迭代滑模面,在滑模面内,机器人轨迹跟踪误差在预定时间内收敛到零。设计了基于滑模面的迭代学习控制算法,理论证明了随着迭代次数的增加,处于任意初态的轨迹将一致收敛到滑模面内,解决了迭代学习中的任意初值问题。数值仿真验证了该算法的有效性和抗干扰能力。     

A Non-Time Based Controller for Load Swing Damping and Path-Tracking in Robotic Cranes

This paper proposes the use of the non-time based control strategy named Delayed Reference Control (DRC) to the control of industrial robotic cranes. Such a control scheme has been developed to achieve two relevant objectives in the control of autonomous operated cranes: the active damping of undesired load swing, and the accurate tracking of the planned path through space, with the preservation of the coordinated Cartesian motion of the crane. A paramount advantage of the proposed scheme over traditional ones is its ease of implementation on industrial devices: it can be implemented by just adding an outer control loop (incorporating path planning) to standard position controllers. Experimental performance assessment of the proposed control strategy is provided by applying the DRC to the control of the oscillation of a cable-suspended load moved by a parallel robot mimicking a robotic crane. In order to implement the DRC scheme on such an industrial robot it has been just necessary to manage path planning and the DRC algorithm on a separate real-time hardware computing the delay in the execution of the desired trajectory suitable to reduce load swing. Load swing has been detected by processing the images from two off-the-shelf cameras with a dedicated vision system. No customization of the robot industrial controller has been necessary.     

Adaptive control of free-floating space robots in Cartesian coordinates

An adaptive control scheme is proposed for the end-effector trajectory tracking control of free-floating space robots. In order to cope with the nonlinear parameterization problem of the dynamic model of the free-floating space robot system, the system is modeled as an extended robot which is composed of a pseudo-arm representing the base motions and a real robot arm. An on-line estimation of the unknown parameters along with a computed-torque controller is used to track the desired trajectory. The proposed control scheme does not require measurement of the accelerations of the base and the real robot arm. A two-link planar space robot system is simulated to illustrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.     

The NTUA snake: Design,planar kinematics,and motion planning

A new kind of robotic mechanism is proposed to be used for inspection tasks in complex setups of industrial plants. We propose a multiarticulated snake‐like mobile robot, with a body consisting of repeating modules, capable of both efficiently moving and reaching points inside complicated or unstructured areas, where human personnel cannot reach or work properly. An analysis of the basic design along with most of the component specifications is presented. This mechanical system is subject to nonholonomic constraints. The kinematic model for motion on‐plane of the mobile robot is derived by taking into consideration these constraints. The nonholonomic motion planning is partially solved by converting the multiple‐input system to a multiple‐chain, single‐generator chained form via state feedback and a coordinate transformation. Stabilization and trajectory tracking issues are also considered. We also consider the general case of the n‐trailer (or n‐module) robotic snake. Simulation results are provided for various test cases. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Convergence and robustness of a discrete-time learning control scheme for constrained manipulators

The constrained motion control is one of the most common control tasks found in many industrial robot applications. The nonlinear and nonclassical nature of the dynamic model of constrained robots make designing a controller for accurate tracking of both motion and force a difficult problem. In this article, a discrete-time learning control problem for precise path tracking of motion and force for constrained robots is formulated and solved. The control system is able to reduce the tracking error iteratively in the presence of external disturbances and errors in initial condition as the robot repeats its action. Computer simulation result is presented to demonstrate the performance of the proposed learning controller. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Human-robot collaboration while sharing production activities in dynamic environment: SPADER system

Interactive robot doing collaborative work in hybrid work cell need adaptive trajectory planning strategy. Indeed, systems must be able to generate their own trajectories without colliding with dynamic obstacles like humans and assembly components moving inside the robot workspace. The aim of this paper is to improve collision-free motion planning in dynamic environment in order to insure human safety during collaborative tasks such as sharing production activities between human and robot. Our system proposes a trajectory generating method for an industrial manipulator in a shared workspace. A neural network using a supervised learning is applied to create the waypoints required for dynamic obstacles avoidance. These points are linked with a quintic polynomial function for smooth motion which is optimized using least-square to compute an optimal trajectory. Moreover, the evaluation of human motion forms has been taken into consideration in the proposed strategy. According to the results, the proposed approach is an effective solution for trajectories generation in a dynamic environment like a hybrid workspace.     

六自由度机械臂约束预测控制系统的设计

本文提出了一种基于约束预测控制的机械臂实时运动控制方法.该控制方法分为两层,分别设计了约束预测控制器和跟踪控制器.其中,约束预测控制器在考虑系统物理约束的条件下,在线为跟踪控制器生成参考轨迹;跟踪控制器采用最优反馈控制律,使机械臂沿参考轨迹运动.为了简化控制器的设计和在线求解,本文采用输入输出线性化的方式简化机械臂动力学模型.同时,为了克服扰动,在约束预测控制器中引入前馈策略,提出了带前馈一反馈控制结构的预测控制设计.因此,本文设计的控制器可以使机械臂在满足物理约束的条件下快速稳定地跟踪到目标位置.通过在PUMA560机理模型上进行仿真实验,验证了预测控制算法的可行性和有效性.     

考虑柔性关节的机械臂自适应运动控制策略研究

具有柔性关节的轻型机械臂因其自重轻、响应迅速、操作灵活等优点,取得了广泛应用;针对具有柔性关节的机械臂系统的关节空间轨迹跟踪控制系统动力学参数不精确的问题,提出一种结合滑模变结构设计的自适应控制器算法;通过自适应控制的思想对系统动力学参数进行在线辨识,并采用Lyapunov方法证明了闭环系统的稳定性;仿真结果表明,该控制策略保证了机械臂系统对期望轨迹的快速跟踪,具有良好的跟踪精度,系统具有稳定性。     

Indirect iterative learning control for a discrete visual servo without a camera-robot model.

This paper presents a discrete learning controller for vision-guided robot trajectory imitation with no prior knowledge of the camera-robot model. A teacher demonstrates a desired movement in front of a camera, and then, the robot is tasked to replay it by repetitive tracking. The imitation procedure is considered as a discrete tracking control problem in the image plane, with an unknown and time-varying image Jacobian matrix. Instead of updating the control signal directly, as is usually done in iterative learning control (ILC), a series of neural networks are used to approximate the unknown Jacobian matrix around every sample point in the demonstrated trajectory, and the time-varying weights of local neural networks are identified through repetitive tracking, i.e., indirect ILC. This makes repetitive segmented training possible, and a segmented training strategy is presented to retain the training trajectories solely within the effective region for neural network approximation. However, a singularity problem may occur if an unmodified neural-network-based Jacobian estimation is used to calculate the robot end-effector velocity. A new weight modification algorithm is proposed which ensures invertibility of the estimation, thus circumventing the problem. Stability is further discussed, and the relationship between the approximation capability of the neural network and the tracking accuracy is obtained. Simulations and experiments are carried out to illustrate the validity of the proposed controller for trajectory imitation of robot manipulators with unknown time-varying Jacobian matrices.     

A Ground Experiment System of Free-floating Robot For Capturing Space Target

Technology for the capturing of space target is very important for on-orbit servicing. In order to assure the task is accomplished successfully, ground experimentations are required for the verification of the planning and control algorithms of space robotic system before it is launched. In this paper, an experiment concept is used, which is a hybrid approach, i.e. it combines the mathematical model with the physical model. The key issues of the concept are dynamic emulation and kinematic equivalence, in which the behaviors of the space robotic system are calculated by its dynamic equations. The motion of its end-effector and the space target is realized by two industrial robots. According to different observation spots, two modes of capturing process are emulated: one is observed from the inertial frame, the other is from the space base. Based on the concept proposed above, a ground experiment system is set up, which is composed of two industrial robots, a set of global visual system and five industrial computers. Using the system, algorithms of space robot of any geometry and mass properties can be tested. As an example, the autonomous trajectory planning algorithm is verified by the experiment of capturing a moving target. Moreover, a real-time 3D simulation system is developed to emulate the capturing process in 3D space. Numeric simulation and experiment results show that the ground system is effective in evaluating the planning and control algorithms of space robot.     

基于反向迭代学习控制的工业机器人应用研究

针对一类具有对称期望轨迹跟踪的工业机器人系统,提出一种新的迭代学习控制方法,即反向型迭代学习控制方法。通过利用这类轨迹固有的特征,将其以中心点为界分解为前后两个独立的轨迹,利用两段轨迹的镜像对称特征,不断交替优化调整下次迭代周期的控制量,使得跟踪当前轨迹的工业机器人系统每次迭代时不必再从轨迹的初始点学习,从而有效加快了系统的学习速度。对具有镜像对称特征的期望轨迹进行交替利用控制信息,实现了工业机器人对期望轨迹的快速跟踪、减小系统的跟踪误差,从而达到了机器人跟踪效率的较大提升。收敛性分析和机器人的仿真实例验证了所提控制方法的有效性。     

Towards autonomous robotic servicing: Using an integrated hand-arm-eye system for manipulating unknown objects

Executing complex robotic tasks including dexterous grasping and manipulation requires a combination of dexterous robots, intelligent sensors and adequate object information processing. In this paper, vision has been integrated into a highly redundant robotic system consisting of a tiltable camera and a three-fingered dexterous gripper both mounted on a puma-type robot arm. In order to condense the image data of the robot working space acquired from the mobile camera, contour image processing is used for offline grasp and motion planning as well as for online supervision of manipulation tasks. The performance of the desired robot and object motions is controlled by a visual feedback system coordinating motions of hand, arm and eye according to the specific requirements of the respective situation. Experiences and results based on several experiments in the field of service robotics show the possibilities and limits of integrating vision and tactile sensors into a dexterous hand-arm-eye system being able to assist humans in industrial or servicing environments.     

Smooth trajectory planning for a parallel manipulator with joint friction and jerk constraints

In order to achieve better tracking accuracy effectively, a new smooth and near time-optimal trajectory planning approach is proposed for a parallel manipulator subject to kinematic and dynamic constraints. The complete dynamic model is constructed with consideration of all joint frictions. The presented planning problem can be solved efficiently by formulating a new limitation curve for dynamic constraints and a reduced form for jerk constraints. The motion trajectory is planned with quartic and quintic polynomial splines in Cartesian space and septuple polynomial splines in joint space. Experimental results show that smaller tracking error can be obtained. The developed method can be applied to any robots with analytical inverse kinematic and dynamic solutions.