A Soft-Robotic End-Effector for Independently Actuating Endoscopic Catheters

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. P. Ashwin ◽  
Ashitava Ghosal
Keyword(s):  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Kinematic Model ◽  
Maximum Error ◽  
Artificial Muscles ◽  
Design Development ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Kinematics Model ◽  
Catheter Tip ◽  
Soft Actuators ◽  
Forward Kinematic

Abstract This paper deals with the design, development, modeling, and experimental validation of a prototype endoscopic attachment that can be actuated independently by soft actuators to position an endoscopic catheter tip to a desired location. The soft actuators are miniaturized pneumatic artificial muscles (MPAMs), and by applying 137–827 kPa pressure to one or more MPAMs, the tip of the endoscopic catheter can be positioned in an approximately hemispherical region of 45 mm radius. An optimization-based forward kinematic model to predict the profile of the actuated end-effector is developed. Experiments conducted on the prototype show that the kinematics model can predict the deformation profile of the end-effector with a maximum error of 2 mm. An inverse-kinematics model to estimate the pressure required in the MPAMs to position the tip of the catheter at a specified point is also developed. The pressures in the MPAMs are controlled using an ATmel ATMega 2560 micro-controller with the inputs generated with a thumb-stick to show that real-time actuation is possible. Finally, ex-vivo experiments were conducted to show that the developed prototype end-effector can be successfully used to independently actuate endoscopic catheters.

Development of Three-Fingered End-Effector Using Pneumatic Soft Actuators

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shunya Ohkura ◽  
Daisuke Shinohira ◽  
Tatsuya Yoshida ◽  
Takahiro Kanno ◽  
Tetsuro Miyazaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
End Effector ◽  
Soft Actuators

Cooperation and Null-Space Control of Networked Omni-Directional Mobile Manipulators

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael John Chua ◽  
Yen-Chen Liu
Keyword(s):  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Null Space ◽  
Kinematic Model ◽  
Mobile Manipulator ◽  
Main Task ◽  
Mobile Manipulators ◽  
Robot Arm ◽  
Task Space ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Mobile Base

Abstract This paper presents cooperation and null-space control for networked mobile manipulators with high degrees of freedom (DOFs). First, kinematic model and Euler-Lagrange dynamic model of the mobile manipulator, which has an articulated robot arm mounted on a mobile base with omni-directional wheels, have been presented. Then, the dynamic decoupling has been considered so that the task-space and the null-space can be controlled separately to accomplish different missions. The motion of the end-effector is controlled in the task-space, and the force control is implemented to make sure the cooperation of the mobile manipulators, as well as the transportation tasks. Also, the null-space control for the manipulator has been combined into the decoupling control. For the mobile base, it is controlled in the null-space to track the velocity of the end-effector, avoid other agents, avoid the obstacles, and move in a defined range based on the length of the manipulator without affecting the main task. Numerical simulations have been addressed to demonstrate the proposed methods.

Design, Development and Characterization of Linear, Soft Actuators via Additive Manufacturing

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfonso Costas ◽  
Daniel E. Davis ◽  
Yixian Niu ◽  
Sadegh Dabiri ◽  
Jose Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Initial Attempt ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Piston Cylinder ◽  
Compact Size ◽  
Soft Actuators

Additive manufacturing has emerged as an alternative to traditional manufacturing technologies. In particular, industries like fluid power, aviation and robotics have the potential to benefit greatly from this technology, due to the design flexibility, weight reduction and compact size that can be achieved. In this work, the design process and advantages of using 3D printing to make soft linear actuators were studied and highlighted. This work explored the limitations of current additive manufacturing tolerances to fabricate a typical piston-cylinder assembly, and how enclosed bellow actuators could be used to overcome high leakage and friction issues experienced with a piston-cylinder type actuator. To do that, different 3D printing technologies were studied and evaluated (stereolithorgraphy and fused deposition modeling) in the pursuit of high-fidelity, cost-effective 3D printing. The initial attempt consisted of printing the soft actuators directly using flexible materials in a stereolithography-type 3D printer. However, these actuators showed low durability and poor performance. The lack of a reliable resin resulted in the replacement of this material by EcoFlex® 00-30 silicone and the use of a 3D printed mold to cast the actuators. These molds included a 3-D printed dissolvable core inside the cast actuator in order to finish the manufacturing process in one single step. An experimental setup to evaluate the capabilities of these actuators was developed. Results are shown to assess the steady-state and the dynamic characteristics of these actuators. These tests resulted into the stroke-pressure and stroke-time responses for a specific load given different proportional valve inputs.

scholarly journals Implementation of Soft-Lithography Techniques for Fabrication of Bio-Inspired Multi-Layer Dielectric Elastomer Actuators with Interdigitated Mechanically Compliant Electrodes

Actuators ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mert Corbaci ◽  
Wayne Walter ◽  
Kathleen Lamkin-Kennard
Keyword(s):  
Soft Lithography ◽  
Skeletal Muscles ◽  
Actuation Voltage ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Humanoid Robots ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Industrial Robots ◽  
Artificial Muscles ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer Actuators ◽  
Soft Actuators

Advancements in software engineering have enabled the robotics industry to transition from the use of giant industrial robots to more friendly humanoid robots. Soft robotics is one of the key elements needed to advance the transition process by providing a safer way for robots to interact with the environment. Electroactive polymers (EAPs) are one of the best candidate materials for the next generation of soft robotic actuators and artificial muscles. Lightweight dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) provide optimal properties such as high elasticity, rapid response rates, mechanical robustness and compliance. However, for DEAs to become widely used as artificial muscles or soft actuators, there are current limitations, such as high actuation voltage requirements, control of actuation direction, and scaling, that need to be addressed. The authors’ approach to overcome the drawbacks of conventional DEAs is inspired by the natural skeletal muscles. Instead of fabricating a large DEA device, smaller sub-units can be fabricated and bundled together to form larger actuators, similar to the way myofibrils form myocytes in skeletal muscles. The current study presents a novel fabrication approach, utilizing soft lithography and other microfabrication techniques, to allow fabrication of multilayer stacked DEA structures, composed of hundreds of micro-sized DEA units.

scholarly journals Graphene/silver nanoflower hybrid coating for improved cycle performance of thermally-operated soft actuators

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengxu Piao ◽  
Ji Won Suk
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Hybrid Coating ◽  
Cycle Performance ◽  
Artificial Muscles ◽  
Pristine Graphene ◽  
Pulsed Current ◽  
Enhanced Heat Transfer ◽  
Graphene Flakes ◽  
Sewing Threads ◽  
Soft Actuators

Abstract Twisted and coiled actuators (TCAs), fabricated by twisting cheap nylon sewing threads, have attracted a great deal of attention for their use as artificial muscles or soft actuators. Since the dynamic behavior of a thermally-operated TCA is governed by its thermal properties, graphene and silver nanoflowers (AgNFs) were spray-coated onto the surface of an actuator to achieve enhanced heat transfer. Addition of AgNFs improves interfacial thermal contacts between graphene flakes, while pristine graphene flakes have extremely high in-plane thermal conductivity. Thus, the synergistic effect of graphene and AgNFs reduced the total cycle time of the TCA by up to 38%. Furthermore, when a pulsed current with a 40% duty cycle was applied to the TCA, the graphene/AgNF-coated TCA exhibited a threefold larger peak-to-peak amplitude of the displacement oscillation of the actuator, as compared to that of the non-coated TCA, which demonstrates that the combination of graphene and AgNFs effectively reduced a cooling time of the TCA. This work shows great potential for a simple coating of graphene and AgNFs to produce high-performance thermally-operated soft actuators.

scholarly journals Design of a High-Speed Prosthetic Finger Driven by Peano-HASEL Actuators

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Yoder ◽  
Nicholas Kellaris ◽  
Christina Chase-Markopoulou ◽  
Devon Ricken ◽  
Shane K. Mitchell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Kinematic Model ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Dc Motor ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Force Output ◽  
Prosthetic Limbs ◽  
Neuromuscular Systems ◽  
Soft Actuators ◽  
Prosthetic Finger

Current designs of powered prosthetic limbs are limited by the nearly exclusive use of DC motor technology. Soft actuators promise new design freedom to create prosthetic limbs which more closely mimic intact neuromuscular systems and improve the capabilities of prosthetic users. This work evaluates the performance of a hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) soft actuator for use in a prosthetic hand. We compare a linearly-contracting HASEL actuator, termed a Peano-HASEL, to an existing actuator (DC motor) when driving a prosthetic finger like those utilized in multi-functional prosthetic hands. A kinematic model of the prosthetic finger is developed and validated, and is used to customize a prosthetic finger that is tuned to complement the force-strain characteristics of the Peano-HASEL actuators. An analytical model is used to inform the design of an improved Peano-HASEL actuator with the goal of increasing the fingertip pinch force of the prosthetic finger. When compared to a weight-matched DC motor actuator, the Peano-HASEL and custom finger is 10.6 times faster, has 11.1 times higher bandwidth, and consumes 8.7 times less electrical energy to grasp. It reaches 91% of the maximum range of motion of the original finger. However, the DC motor actuator produces 10 times the fingertip force at a relevant grip position. In this body of work, we present ways to further increase the force output of the Peano-HASEL driven prosthetic finger system, and discuss the significance of the unique properties of Peano-HASELs when applied to the field of upper-limb prosthetic design. This approach toward clinically-relevant actuator performance paired with a substantially different form-factor compared to DC motors presents new opportunities to advance the field of prosthetic limb design.

Catheter Balloon-trauma: Design, Development, and Ex-vivo Studies Using Intact Human Penis Specimens

Urology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 146 ◽  
pp. 287-292
Author(s):  
Hanson Zhao ◽  
David S Aaronson ◽  
Andrew Chen ◽  
Maurice M. Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Design Development

Analyses of Error and Precision of 6-DOF Platform

2012 ◽  
Vol 591-593 ◽  
pp. 2081-2086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Ren ◽  
Chang Chun Ye ◽  
Guo Bin Fan
Keyword(s):  
Inverse Kinematics ◽  
Newton Iteration ◽  
Forward Kinematics ◽  
Parallel Mechanisms ◽  
End Effector ◽  
C Programming Language ◽  
C Programming ◽  
Manufacturing Tolerances ◽  
Parallel Robotics ◽  
Forward Kinematic

A particular subset of 6-DOF parallel mechanisms is known as Stewart platforms (or hexapod). Stewart platform characteristic analyzed in this paper is the effect of small errors within its elements (strut lengths, joint placement) which can be caused by manufacturing tolerances or setting up errors or other even unknown sources to end effector. The biggest kinematics problem is parallel robotics which is the forward kinematics. On the basis of forward kinematic of 6-DOF platform, the algorithm model was built by Newton iteration, several computer programs were written in the MATLAB and Visual C++ programming language. The model is effective and real-time approved by forwards kinematics, inverse kinematics iteration and practical experiment. Analyzing the resource of error, get some related spectra map, top plat position and posture error corresponding every error resource respectively. By researching and comparing the error spectra map, some general results is concluded.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document