{"title":"A ball-jointed tendon-driven continuum robot with multi-directional operability for grasping objects","authors":"Ryo Onose, Hideyuki Sawada","doi":"10.1186/s40648-024-00272-4","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"A continuum robot, inspired by biological features, flexibly bends its body and conforms to various shapes. The high compliance and low stiffness, however, causes low rigidity and ambiguity in control when it is applied to grasping and manipulating an object. In this study, we develop a ball-jointed tendon-driven continuum robot that can bend to arbitrary directions for manipulating and grasping an object. Discs are connected by ball joints, together with coil springs coupled with tendon threads, and form a backbone of the robotic body. The continuum robot is operated to bend to an arbitrary direction by pulling the tendons using three servomotors, and returns to the original straight shape by releasing the pulling force of the contracted coil springs. The robot is constructed by using 3D-printed parts. In the experiment, the ability of the multi-directional operation was tested by bending the continuum body to specific directions, and then performing arc-following motion. Furthermore, the manipulator's grasping performance was demonstrated by preparing five objects that have various shapes, sizes, and softness. The robot successfully grasped all the objects by wrapping around them and adapting its shape to the object's shapes. The experiments verified the satisfactory operability of the continuum robot.","PeriodicalId":37462,"journal":{"name":"ROBOMECH Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5000,"publicationDate":"2024-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"ROBOMECH Journal","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40648-024-00272-4","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"INSTRUMENTS & INSTRUMENTATION","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
A continuum robot, inspired by biological features, flexibly bends its body and conforms to various shapes. The high compliance and low stiffness, however, causes low rigidity and ambiguity in control when it is applied to grasping and manipulating an object. In this study, we develop a ball-jointed tendon-driven continuum robot that can bend to arbitrary directions for manipulating and grasping an object. Discs are connected by ball joints, together with coil springs coupled with tendon threads, and form a backbone of the robotic body. The continuum robot is operated to bend to an arbitrary direction by pulling the tendons using three servomotors, and returns to the original straight shape by releasing the pulling force of the contracted coil springs. The robot is constructed by using 3D-printed parts. In the experiment, the ability of the multi-directional operation was tested by bending the continuum body to specific directions, and then performing arc-following motion. Furthermore, the manipulator's grasping performance was demonstrated by preparing five objects that have various shapes, sizes, and softness. The robot successfully grasped all the objects by wrapping around them and adapting its shape to the object's shapes. The experiments verified the satisfactory operability of the continuum robot.
期刊介绍:
ROBOMECH Journal focuses on advanced technologies and practical applications in the field of Robotics and Mechatronics. This field is driven by the steadily growing research, development and consumer demand for robots and systems. Advanced robots have been working in medical and hazardous environments, such as space and the deep sea as well as in the manufacturing environment. The scope of the journal includes but is not limited to: 1. Modeling and design 2. System integration 3. Actuators and sensors 4. Intelligent control 5. Artificial intelligence 6. Machine learning 7. Robotics 8. Manufacturing 9. Motion control 10. Vibration and noise control 11. Micro/nano devices and optoelectronics systems 12. Automotive systems 13. Applications for extreme and/or hazardous environments 14. Other applications