Design of a Variable Stiffness Quasi-Direct Drive Cable-Actuated Tensegrity Robot

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Mi, Jonathan, Tong, Wenzhe, Ma, Yilin, Huang, Xiaonan
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2024
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author Mi, Jonathan
Tong, Wenzhe
Ma, Yilin
Huang, Xiaonan
author_facet Mi, Jonathan
Tong, Wenzhe
Ma, Yilin
Huang, Xiaonan
contents Tensegrity robots excel in tasks requiring extreme levels of deformability and robustness. However, there are challenges in state estimation and payload versatility due to their high number of degrees of freedom and unconventional shape. This paper introduces a modular three-bar tensegrity robot featuring a customizable payload design. Our tensegrity robot employs a novel Quasi-Direct Drive (QDD) cable actuator paired with low-stretch polymer cables to achieve accurate proprioception without the need for external force or torque sensors. The design allows for on-the-fly stiffness tuning for better environment and payload adaptability. In this paper, we present the design, fabrication, assembly, and experimental results of the robot. Experimental data demonstrates the high accuracy cable length estimation (<1% error relative to bar length) and variable stiffness control of the cable actuator up to 7 times the minimum stiffness for self support. The presented tensegrity robot serves as a platform for future advancements in autonomous operation and open-source module design.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2409_05751
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Design of a Variable Stiffness Quasi-Direct Drive Cable-Actuated Tensegrity Robot
Mi, Jonathan
Tong, Wenzhe
Ma, Yilin
Huang, Xiaonan
Robotics
Tensegrity robots excel in tasks requiring extreme levels of deformability and robustness. However, there are challenges in state estimation and payload versatility due to their high number of degrees of freedom and unconventional shape. This paper introduces a modular three-bar tensegrity robot featuring a customizable payload design. Our tensegrity robot employs a novel Quasi-Direct Drive (QDD) cable actuator paired with low-stretch polymer cables to achieve accurate proprioception without the need for external force or torque sensors. The design allows for on-the-fly stiffness tuning for better environment and payload adaptability. In this paper, we present the design, fabrication, assembly, and experimental results of the robot. Experimental data demonstrates the high accuracy cable length estimation (<1% error relative to bar length) and variable stiffness control of the cable actuator up to 7 times the minimum stiffness for self support. The presented tensegrity robot serves as a platform for future advancements in autonomous operation and open-source module design.
title Design of a Variable Stiffness Quasi-Direct Drive Cable-Actuated Tensegrity Robot
topic Robotics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.05751