Robotic Gripper for Payload Capture in Low Earth Orbit

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giancarlo Genta ◽  
Marco Dolci
Keyword(s):  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Robotic Manipulator ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Distal Phalanx ◽  
Study Phase ◽  
System Control ◽  
Robotic Hand ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Manipulator Design ◽  
Low Earth Orbits

The consensus to a study phase for an IXV (Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle) successor, a preoperational vehicle called PRIDE (Programme for Reusable In-orbit Demonstrator in Europe), has been recently enlarged, as approved during last EU Ministerial Council. One of the main project task consists in developing PRIDE to conduct on orbit servicing activity with no docking. PRIDE would be provided with a robotic manipulator system (arm and gripper) able to transfer payloads, such as scientific payloads, from low Earth orbiting platforms to PRIDE payload bay. The platform is a part of a space tug designed to move small satellites and other payloads from Low Earth Orbits (LEO) to Geostationary orbit (GEO) and viceversa. A study on this robotic technology is here presented. This research is carried out by Politecnico di Torino and Thales Alenia Space Italy (Grasping Manipulator Design), and by Thales Alenia Space Italy and Amet (PRIDE Robotics System Design). The system configuration of the robotic manipulator is first described in terms of volumes and masses. The assumed housing payload bay requirements in terms of volume (<100 l) and mass (<50 kg) combined with the required overall arm dimensions (4 m length), as defined following the stated mission scenario, and mass of the payload (5–30 kg) force to developing an innovative robotic manipulator with the task-oriented end effector. It results in a 7 degree-of-freedom arm to ensure a high degree of dexterity and a dedicate end-effector designed to grasp the payload interface. The gripper concept here developed consists in a multi-finger hand able to lock both translational and rotational payload degrees of freedom through an innovative under actuation strategy to limit its mass and volume. While in the literature in usual actuation architectures, underactuated systems have been realized where the first (nearest) phalanx closure led afterwards to the closure of the second (distal) one using the loading of a torsional springs and mechanical linkages, this system presents a new underactuation strategy. In this case the distal phalanx closes before the nearest one, allowing to grasp the handle side and limiting the handle length and volume. This concept will allow the distal phalanx to move independently from the nearest one. A configuration study on the payload handle interface has also been performed. Moreover, trade-off studies, computer aided design models, multibody and structural analysis of the whole system are shown to prove its feasibility. Finally, the concept of system control architecture, organized in three main blocks is defined: the Control Overall System Block, the Control Arm Block and the Control Robotic Hand Block.

New repetitive motion planning scheme with cube end-effector planning precision for redundant robotic manipulators

Robotica ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Limin Shen ◽  
Yuanmei Wen
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Analysis ◽  
Motion Planning ◽  
Robotic Manipulators ◽  
Robotic Manipulator ◽  
Repetitive Motion ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Difference Formula ◽  
Planning Scheme ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
The Difference

Abstract Repetitive motion planning (RMP) is important in operating redundant robotic manipulators. In this paper, a new RMP scheme that is based on the pseudoinverse formulation is proposed for redundant robotic manipulators. Such a scheme is derived from the discretization of an existing RMP scheme by utilizing the difference formula. Then, theoretical analysis and results are presented to show the characteristic of the proposed RMP scheme. That is, this scheme possesses the characteristic of cube pattern in the end-effector planning precision. The proposed RMP scheme is further extended and studied for redundant robotic manipulators under joint constraint. Based on a four-link robotic manipulator, simulation results substantiate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed RMP scheme and its extended one.

On-the-Fly Substrate Eccentricity Recognition for Robotized Manufacturing Systems

2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 206-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Hosek ◽  
Jan Prochazka
Keyword(s):  
Optical Sensors ◽  
Semiconductor Manufacturing ◽  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
Robotic Manipulator ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Transfer Path ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Manufacturing Applications ◽  
Actual Location

This paper describes a method for on-the-fly determination of eccentricity of a circular substrate, such as a silicon wafer in semiconductor manufacturing applications, carried by a robotic manipulator, where eccentricity refers to the difference between the actual location of the center of the substrate and its desired position on the end-effector of the robotic manipulator. The method utilizes a pair of external optical sensors located along the substrate transfer path. When moving a substrate along the transfer path, the robotic manipulator captures the positions and velocities of the end-effector at which the edges of the substrate are detected by the sensors. These data along with the expected radius of the substrate and the coordinates of the sensors are used to determine the eccentricity of the substrate. This information can be used by the robotic manipulator to compensate for eccentricity of the substrate when performing a place operation, resulting in the substrate being placed centered regardless of the amount and direction of the initial eccentricity. The method can also be employed to detect a defect, such as breakage, of a circular substrate and report an error condition which can abort or otherwise adjust operation of the robotic manipulator.

Development of Path Tracking Control Algorithm for a 4 DOF Spatial Manipulator Using PID Controller

2017 ◽  
pp. 314-327
Author(s):  
Pradeep Reddy Bonikila ◽  
Ravi Kumar Mandava ◽  
Pandu Ranga Vundavilli
Keyword(s):  
Pid Controller ◽  
Dynamic Models ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Robotic Manipulator ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Path Tracking ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Feedback Control Method ◽  
Manipulator Arm

The path tracking phenomenon of a robotic manipulator arm plays an important role, when the manipulators are used in continuous path industrial applications, such as welding, machining and painting etc. Nowadays, robotic manipulators are extensively used in performing the said tasks in industry. Therefore, it is essential for the manipulator end effector to track the path designed to perform the task in an effective way. In this chapter, an attempt is made to develop a feedback control method for a 4-DOF spatial manipulator to track a path with the help of a PID controller. In order to design the said controller, the kinematic and dynamic models of the robotic manipulator are derived. Further, the concept of inverse kinematics has been used to track different paths, namely a straight line and parabolic paths continuously. The effectiveness of the developed algorithm is tested on a four degree of freedom manipulator arm in simulations.

scholarly journals Inverse kinematics solution for robotic manipulator based on extreme learning machine and sequential mutation genetic algorithm

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 172988141879299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyu Zhou ◽  
Hanxuan Guo ◽  
Yaming Wang ◽  
Zefei Zhu ◽  
Jiang Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Extreme Learning Machine ◽  
Inverse Kinematics ◽  
Robotic Manipulator ◽  
Computational Time ◽  
Improved Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Intelligent Algorithm ◽  
End Effector ◽  
Training Time ◽  
Learning Machine

This article presents an intelligent algorithm based on extreme learning machine and sequential mutation genetic algorithm to determine the inverse kinematics solutions of a robotic manipulator with six degrees of freedom. This algorithm is developed to minimize the computational time without compromising the accuracy of the end effector. In the proposed algorithm, the preliminary inverse kinematics solution is first computed by extreme learning machine and the solution is then optimized by an improved genetic algorithm based on sequential mutation. Extreme learning machine randomly initializes the weights of the input layer and biases of the hidden layer, which greatly improves the training speed. Unlike classical genetic algorithms, sequential mutation genetic algorithm changes the order of the genetic codes from high to low, which reduces the randomness of mutation operation and improves the local search capability. Consequently, the convergence speed at the end of evolution is improved. The performance of the extreme learning machine and sequential mutation genetic algorithm is also compared with that of a hybrid intelligent algorithm, and the results showed that there is significant reduction in the training time and computational time while the solution accuracy is retained. Based on the experimental results, the proposed extreme learning machine and sequential mutation genetic algorithm can greatly improve the time efficiency while ensuring high accuracy of the end effector.

Space Environment Effect on Fluorinated Polymers

2003 ◽  
Vol 792 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Chipara ◽  
D. L. Edwards ◽  
J. Zaleski ◽  
B. Hoang ◽  
B. Przewoski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Oxygen ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Space Environment ◽  
Fluorinated Polymers ◽  
Space Applications ◽  
Environment Effect ◽  
Low Altitude ◽  
Low Earth Orbits ◽  
Degradation Of Materials ◽  
Earth Orbits

ABSTRACTThe effects of the space environment on polytetrafluorethylene and some fluorinated polymers, copolymers, and blends are critically reviewed. It is shown that in low altitude orbits such as Low Earth Orbit and Geostationary Orbit the presence of both ionizing radiation and atomic oxygen triggers a synergetic degradation of materials based on fluorinated polymers. The behavior is due to the lability of the in-chain alkyl radical to oxygen attack. It is concluded that fluorinated polymers should not be used as materials for space applications, as long as the mission implies low Earth orbits.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document