关键词： Electrostatic layer jamming (ELJ)   jamming technology   soft robotics   variable stiffness  

摘要： A novel layer jamming variable stiffness technique for soft robotics is proposed in this paper, which we call electrostatic layer jamming (ELJ). The basic principle of the ELJ is using electrostatic attraction to squeeze material layers to generate friction and then engage jamming. Based on this technique, several specimens used in two common application scenarios including variable tensile stiffness and variable bending stiffness are fabricated, and their stiffness adjustment characteristics are investigated experimentally. Surprisingly, the test data are much larger than the theoretical prediction, which we think is because of the formation of local low air pressure regions between the contact surfaces. Also, the experimental results show that the ELJ technique possesses a large capability of stiffness changing and is space saving. The potential values of the ELJ have been shown by performing with a soft linear actuator for three representative practical applications in the soft robotic field. Finally, the existing problems and advantages of the ELJ technique are discussed, and we believe that this technique will inspire new ways and new opportunities for the soft robotic community.

关键词： Computation offloading   QoS   robot swarms   cloud robotics   game theory  

摘要： Computation offloading is a promising solution to extend the capacity of robot swarms for computation-intensive applications because it allows robot swarms to benefit from the powerful computing resources of modern data centers. However, the existing computation-offloading approaches still face challenges: 1) multi-hop cooperative computation offloading, 2) joint computation offloading and routing, and 3) task slicing. In this paper, we propose a quality of service (QoS)-aware cooperative computation-offloading scheme for robot swarms using game theory. We analyze the multi-hop cooperative communication model in robot swarms and investigate the computation offloading and routing decision-making problems with the goals of both latency minimization and energy efficiency. We formulate the joint optimization problem as a multi-hop cooperative computation-offloading game and show the existence of a Nash equilibrium (NE) of the game for both unsliceable and sliceable tasks. We further propose a QoS-aware distributed algorithm to attain an NE and provide an upper bound on the price of anarchy in the game. Finally, our simulated results show that our algorithm scales well as the swarm size increases and it has a stable performance gain in various parameter settings.

关键词： Swarm robotics   Multi-target search   Swarm intelligence optimization   Random walk   Probabilistic finite state machine  

摘要： As a distributed system, swarm robotics is well suited for the multi-target search task where a single robot is rather inefficient. In this paper, a model of the multi-target search problem in swarm robotics and its approximate mathematical representation are given, based on which a lower bound of the expected number of iterations is drawn. Two categories of behavior-based strategies for target search are introduced: one is inspired from swarm intelligence optimization while the other from random walk. A novel search strategy based on probabilistic finite state machine is put forward, showing the highest efficiency in all presented algorithms, which is very close to the optimal value in situations with a large number of robots. It has been demonstrated by extensive experiments that the novel strategy has excellent stability, striking a good balance between exploration and exploitation, as well as a good trade-off between parallelism and cooperative capability. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

摘要： Over the last decade, there has been increasing recognition and use of transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) as a safe and reliable method for resection of mid to low rectal malignancies [1]. The technique has been adopted in a structured and safe manner in Australasia [2]. Structured accreditation pathways for robotic colorectal competence also exist worldwide [3]. There is little in the literature describing the utilisation of these minimally invasive surgical (MIS) techniques for locally advanced rectal cancer. The authors present a novel application of taTME in the “beyond TME” era [4] to achieve an R0 resection to aid a posterior vaginectomy, with robotic assisted ultralow anterior resection, en bloc total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, retrieved transvaginally, in a patient with locally advanced rectal cancer.

关键词： Finite-time stability   output feedback stabilization   robotic systems  

摘要： The continuous finite-time stabilization of a broad class of lower-triangular nonlinear systems using output feedback is studied in this paper. The nonlinearities are only assumed to be Holder continuous. A constructive, continuous, finite-time, output-feedback stabilizer design is proposed based on a finite-time observer. Rigorous finite-time stability analysis is carried out for the closed-loop observer-controller system. The proposed design method is applied to a single-link robotic manipulator coupled to a dc motor.

摘要： The cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay has become a fully-validated and standardized method for radiation biodosimetry. The assay is typically performed using microscopy, which is labor intensive, time consuming and impractical after a large-scale radiological/nuclear event. Imaging flow cytometry (IFC), which combines the statistical power of traditional flow cytometry with the sensitivity and specificity of microscopy, has been recently used to perform the CBMN assay. Since this technology is capable of automated sample acquisition and multi-file analysis, we have integrated IFC into our Rapid Automated Biodosimetry Technology (RABiT-II). Assay development and optimization studies were designed to increase the yield of binucleated cells (BNCs), and improve data acquisition and analysis templates to increase the speed and accuracy of image analysis. Human peripheral blood samples were exposed ex vivo with up to 4 Gy of gamma rays at a dose rate of 0.73 Gy/min. After irradiation, samples were transferred to microtubes (total volume of 1 ml including blood and media) and organized into a standard 8 X 12 plate format. Sample processing methods were modified by increasing the blood-to-media ratio, adding hypotonic solution prior to cell fixation and optimizing nuclear DRAQ5 staining, leading to an increase of 81% in BNC yield. Modification of the imaging processing algorithms within IFC software also improved BNC and MN identification, and reduced the average time of image analysis by 78%. Finally, 50 mu l of irradiated whole blood was cultured with 200 mu l of media in 96-well plates. All sample processing steps were performed automatically using the RABiT-II cell::explorer robotic system adopting the optimized IFC-CBMN assay protocol. The results presented here detail a novel, high-throughput RABiT-IFC CBMN assay that possesses the potential to increase capacity for triage biodosimetry during a large-scale radiological/nuclear event. (C) 2019 by Radiation Re

关键词： Computationally efficient inverse dynamics   Dual quaternion   6-UPS   6-PUS  

摘要： Computationally efficient inverse dynamics is crucial to the real-time application of parallel robots. This paper provides a computationally more efficient solution to the inverse dynamics of a class of six-DOF parallel robots based on the dual quaternion approach under the principle of virtual power. A unit dual quaternion is selected as the generalized coordinates of the system. The equations of motion are then constructed by the principle of virtual power. The dual quaternion constraints are eliminated by the null space formulation to obtain the inverse dynamic solution. It is revealed that in the new solution, the Jacobian matrices and the orthogonal complement matrix are all linear with respect to the generalized coordinates. Additionally, the positions, velocities and accelerations of all bodies are quadratic with respect to the generalized coordinates, velocities and accelerations. Such succinct expressions render the new solution computationally more efficient. The execution time of the dual quaternion approach and the traditional one are compared under the same condition by two different six-DOF parallel robots: 6-UPS and 6-PUS. The results show that the new solution can save the computational cost by 43.45% and 38.45% respectively for the two robots, illustrating the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

关键词： Kinematic modeling   Parallel robot   Dynamic modeling   Constrained system equations   Virtual work  

摘要： In this paper, a type of parallel robot with three translational degrees of freedom is studied. Inverse and forward kinematic equations are extracted for position and velocity analyses. The dynamic model is derived by Lagrange's approach and the principle of virtual work and related computational algorithms implementing inverse and forward dynamics are presented. Furthermore, some numerical simulations are performed using the kinematic and dynamic models in which the results show good agreement with expected qualitative behavior of the mechanism. Comparisons with the results of work-energy and impulse-momentum methods quantitatively verify the validity of the derived equations of motion. Also, a relative computational effectiveness is observed in implementation of virtual work model via the simulations.

关键词： composite   microstructure   strength   actuator  

摘要： Robots and artificial machines have been captivating the public for centuries, depicted first as threats to humanity, then as subordinates and helpers. In the last decade, the booming exposure of humans to robots has fostered an increasing interest in soft robotics. By empowering robots with new physical properties, autonomous actuation, and sensing mechanisms, soft robots are making increasing impacts on areas such as health and medicine. At the same time, the public sympathy to robots is increasing. However, there is still a great need for innovation to push robotics toward more diverse applications. To overcome the major limitation of soft robots, which lies in their softness, strategies are being explored to combine the capabilities of soft robots with the performance of hard metallic ones by using composite materials in their structures. After reviewing the major specificities of hard and soft robots, paths to improve actuation speed, stress generation, self- sensing, and actuation will be proposed. Innovations in controlling systems, modeling, and simulation that will be required to use composite materials in robotics will be discussed. Finally, based on recently developed examples, the elements needed to progress toward a new form of artificial life will be described.

关键词： Flexible robots   Flexible robotic arms   Kinematics   Dynamics   Finite elements method  

摘要： If two adjacent links of a flexible robot are connected via a revolute joint or a fixed prismatic joint, the relative motion of the next link will depend on both the joint motion and the elastic displacement of the distal end of the previous link. However, if the two adjacent links are connected via a sliding prismatic joint, the relative motion of the next link will depend additionally on the elastic deformation distributed along the previous link. Therefore, formulation of the motion equations for a multi-link flexible robot consisting of the revolute joints, the fixed prismatic joints and the sliding prismatic joints is challenging. In this study, the finite element kinematic and dynamic formulation was successfully developed and validated for the flexible robot, in which a transformation matrix is proposed to describe the kinematics of both the joint motion and the link deformation. Additionally, a new recursive formulation of the dynamic equations is introduced. As compared with the previous methods, the time complexity of the formulation is reduced by O(2 eta), where eta is the number of finite elements on all links. The numerical examples and experiments were implemented to validate the proposed kinematic and dynamic modelling method. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.