Toward Dynamic Control of Tendon-driven Continuum Robots using Clarke Transform

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Muhmann, Christian, Grassmann, Reinhard M., Bartholdt, Max, Burgner-Kahrs, Jessica
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Muhmann, Christian
Grassmann, Reinhard M.
Bartholdt, Max
Burgner-Kahrs, Jessica
author_facet Muhmann, Christian
Grassmann, Reinhard M.
Bartholdt, Max
Burgner-Kahrs, Jessica
contents In this paper, we propose a dynamic model and control framework for tendon-driven continuum robots (TDCRs) with multiple segments and an arbitrary number of tendons per segment. Our approach leverages the Clarke transform, the Euler-Lagrange formalism, and the piecewise constant curvature assumption to formulate a dynamic model on a two-dimensional manifold embedded in the joint space that inherently satisfies tendon constraints. We present linear and constraint-informed controllers that operate directly on this manifold, along with practical methods for preventing negative tendon forces without compromising control fidelity. This opens up new design possibilities for overactuated TDCRs with improved force distribution and stiffness without increasing controller complexity. We validate these approaches in simulation and on a physical prototype with one segment and five tendons, demonstrating accurate dynamic behavior and robust trajectory tracking under real-time conditions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_20693
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Toward Dynamic Control of Tendon-driven Continuum Robots using Clarke Transform
Muhmann, Christian
Grassmann, Reinhard M.
Bartholdt, Max
Burgner-Kahrs, Jessica
Robotics
In this paper, we propose a dynamic model and control framework for tendon-driven continuum robots (TDCRs) with multiple segments and an arbitrary number of tendons per segment. Our approach leverages the Clarke transform, the Euler-Lagrange formalism, and the piecewise constant curvature assumption to formulate a dynamic model on a two-dimensional manifold embedded in the joint space that inherently satisfies tendon constraints. We present linear and constraint-informed controllers that operate directly on this manifold, along with practical methods for preventing negative tendon forces without compromising control fidelity. This opens up new design possibilities for overactuated TDCRs with improved force distribution and stiffness without increasing controller complexity. We validate these approaches in simulation and on a physical prototype with one segment and five tendons, demonstrating accurate dynamic behavior and robust trajectory tracking under real-time conditions.
title Toward Dynamic Control of Tendon-driven Continuum Robots using Clarke Transform
topic Robotics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.20693