Kid-size robot humanoid walking with heel-contact and toe-off motion.

Abstract

Human-like features, like toe-off, heel-strike can enhance the performance of bipedal robots. However, few studies have considered the anthropomorphism of walking planning. Fewer studies have achieved their toe-off, heel-strike gait planning framework in a child-sized humanoid robot platform. This paper presents a human-like walking control framework based on the Divergent Component of Motion (DCM) com planning method that enables a child-sized humanoid robot to walk with a humanoid pattern with a speed of 0.6 s per step a strike of 30 cm. The control framework consists of three parts: the human-like gait generation of the center of mass (CoM) and swings foot trajectory, the dynamic replan in phase switch and the upper body stabilization controller. The dynamic replanning of the CoM and foot trajectory can efficiently decrease the vibration in the step-phase switch. The up-body stabilization controller can reduce the up-body swing in walking and increase the robot's stability while walking. The robot uses a mems-based inertial measurement unit (IMU) and joint position encoders to estimate the current state of the robot and use force-sensitive resistors (FSR) on the robot foot to identify the actual step phase of the robot. None of these solutions is high-cost or difficult to integrate with a child-size robot. Software simulations and walking experiments are using to verify the motion control algorithm. The effectiveness of the pattern generation and the controller can realize more human-like walking styles in a child-size robot are confirmed.