Cable-driven Robot Research Articles

Modeling and Experimental Validation of a Cable-Driven Robot for 3D Printing Construction

Abstract Cable-driven robots are characterized by a large workspace, high speed and load-to-weight ratio, providing a new technology approach for large-scale autonomous 3D construction of lunar surface shelters. A novel deployable cable-driven construction 3D printer (CDCP) is developed in this study. Guiding pulleys and cable sagging are considered and modeled to improve the accuracy of the system. A fuzzy adaptive differential evolution PID (FDEPID) control is proposed to reduce end-effector motion errors in Cartesian space and thus improve printing quality and stability. Concentric and zigzag infill strategies are compared to optimize printing efficiency and infill effectiveness in path planning. Finally, experiments are carried out to validate the proposed FDEPID control and path planning strategies which demonstrate the great potential of the developed cable-driven printer in the construction of lunar architecture.

Performance of a Cable-Driven Robot Used for Cyber–Physical Testing of Floating Wind Turbines

Cyber–physical testing has been applied for a decade in hydrodynamic laboratories to assess the dynamic performance of floating wind turbines (FWTs) in realistic wind and wave conditions. Aerodynamic loads, computed by a numerical simulator fed with model test measurements, are applied in real time on the physical model using actuators. The present paper proposes a set of short and targeted benchmark tests that aim to quantify the performance of actuators used in cyber–physical FWT testing. They aim at ensuring good load tracking over all frequencies of interest and satisfactory disturbance rejection for large motions to provide a realistic test setup. These benchmark tests are exemplified on two radically different 15 MW FWT models tested at SINTEF Ocean using a cable-driven robot.

Low-Cost Cable-Driven Robot Arm with Low-Inertia Movement and Long-Term Cable Durability

Our study presents a novel design for a cable-driven robotic arm, emphasizing low cost, low inertia movement, and long-term cable durability. The robotic arm shares similar specifications with the UR5 robotic arm, featuring a total of six degrees of freedom (DOF) distributed in a 1:1:1:3 ratio at the arm base, shoulder, elbow, and wrist, respectively. The three DOF at the wrist joints are driven by a cable system, with heavy motors relocated from the end-effector to the shoulder base. This repositioning results in a lighter cable-actuated wrist (weighing 0.8 kg), which enhances safety during human interaction and reduces the torque requirements for the elbow and shoulder motors. Consequently, the overall cost and weight of the robotic arm are reduced, achieving a payload-to-body weight ratio of 5:8.4 kg. To ensure good positional repeatability, the shoulder and elbow joints, which influence longer moment arms, are designed with a direct-drive structure. To evaluate the design’s performance, tests were conducted on loading capability, cable durability, position repeatability, and manipulation. The tests demonstrated that the arm could manipulate a 5 kg payload with a positional repeatability error of less than 0.1 mm. Additionally, a novel cable tightener design was introduced, which served dual functions: conveniently tightening the cable and reducing the high-stress concentration near the cable locking end to minimize cable loosening. When subjected to an initial cable tension of 100 kg, this design retained approximately 80% of the load after 10 years at a room temperature of 24 °C.

Design and workspace analysis of a cable-driven space capture robot for noncooperative targets

Capturing noncooperative targets in space has garnered continuous research interest in aerospace applications. This study addresses the demands of large-scale, multifaceted activities and varied working conditions for space capture missions by designing a space capture robot composed of multiple cable-driven manipulators operating in parallel. First, single- and multi-segment cable-driven robot models were designed, and a geometric model was subsequently built. The optimal number of segments was determined by analysing the condition number of a Jacobian matrix using the Monte Carlo method. Subsequently, based on the constant-curvature assumption, a kinematic model of the cable-driven space capture robot was formulated, and capture methods for different capture targets were designed using the Monte Carlo method. Finally, an eight-segment cable-driven robot prototype was developed, and compliance and driving experiments were conducted. This robot exhibits promising application potential for space noncooperative target capture and can be feasibly manufactured using on-orbit 3D machining technology.

Amplify Gait to Improve Locomotor Engagement in Spinal Cord Injury (AGILE SCI) trial: study protocol for an assessor blinded randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAmong ambulatory people with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), balance deficits are a primary factor limiting participation in walking activities. There is broad recognition that effective interventions are needed to enhance walking balance following iSCI. Interventions that amplify self-generated movements (e.g., error augmentation) can accelerate motor learning by intensifying sensorimotor feedback and facilitating exploration of motor control strategies. These features may be beneficial for retraining walking balance after iSCI. We have developed a cable-driven robot that creates a movement amplification environment during treadmill walking. The robot applies a continuous, laterally-directed, force to the pelvis that is proportional in magnitude to real-time lateral velocity. Our purpose is to investigate the effects of locomotor training in this movement amplification environment on walking balance. We hypothesize that for ambulatory people with iSCI, locomotor training in a movement amplification environment will be more effective for improving walking balance and participation in walking activities than locomotor training in a natural environment (no applied external forces).MethodsWe are conducting a two-arm parallel-assignment intervention. We will enroll 36 ambulatory participants with chronic iSCI. Participants will be randomized into either a control or experimental group. Each group will receive 20 locomotor training sessions. Training will be performed in either a traditional treadmill environment (control) or in a movement amplification environment (experimental). We will assess changes using measures that span the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework including 1) clinical outcome measures of gait, balance, and quality of life, 2) biomechanical assessments of walking balance, and 3) participation in walking activities quantified by number of steps taken per day.DiscussionTraining walking balance in people with iSCI by amplifying the individual’s own movement during walking is a radical departure from current practice and may result in new strategies for addressing balance impairments. Knowledge gained from this study will expand our understanding of how people with iSCI improve walking balance and how an intervention targeting walking balance affects participation in walking activities. Successful outcomes could motivate development of clinically feasible tools to replicate the movement amplification environment within clinical settings.Trial registrationNCT04340063.

Whole-body control of redundant hybrid cable-driven robot with manipulator: hierarchical quadratic programming approach

Whole-body control of redundant hybrid cable-driven robot with manipulator: hierarchical quadratic programming approach

Structural design and control strategy of a cable-driven robot under high-altitude facade conditions with large span and multiple constraints

Purpose This paper explores the challenges of using cable-driven parallel robots on high-altitude, large-span facades, where redundancy in multicable systems and the elastic deformation of the cables are significant issues. This study aims to improve the accuracy and stability of the work platform through enhanced control strategies. These strategies address the redundancy in multicable systems and reduce the risks associated with cable deformation and mechanical failures during large-span movements. Design/methodology/approach The paper proposes a dynamic model for a four-rope parallel robot designed explicitly for large-span applications. The study introduces a position–force control strategy incorporating kinematic inverse solutions and a rope dynamics model to account for rope elasticity and its effects. This approach increases the number of system equations to match the unknowns, effectively solving the redundancy problem inherent in multicable systems. In addition, the tension changes of ropes and the stability of the working platform are examined under different motion distances (X = 50 m and X = 100 m) and varying Young’s modulus values (K = 5000 MPa and K = 8000 MPa). Findings This study’s large-span rope force–position control strategy successfully resolves the typical nonlinear characteristics and external disturbances in multicable parallel systems. By continuously monitoring and adjusting cable tension and end positions, this strategy ensures precise control over each cable’s tension, optimizes the distribution of cable tensions and maintains the system’s stability and response speed. The analysis in this paper indicates that this control strategy significantly improves the motion accuracy of robots operating on large-span high-altitude facades. Practical implications Industry adoption: The design and control strategies developed for the four-cable-driven parallel robot can be adopted by companies specializing in facade maintenance, construction or inspection. This could lead to safer, more efficient and cost-effective operations, especially in challenging environments like high-rise buildings. Innovation in robotic solutions: The research can inspire innovation within the field of robotics, particularly in developing robots for specific applications such as large surface maintenance. It showcases how adaptive control and stability can be achieved in complex operational scenarios. Safety improvements: By demonstrating a more stable and precise control mechanism for navigating large facades, the study could contribute to significant safety improvements, reducing the risk of accidents associated with manual facade maintenance and inspection tasks. Originality/value This paper combines the force/position hybrid control method with actual robotic applications, offering a novel solution to the complex issue of controlling cable-driven parallel robots in challenging environments. Thus, it contributes to the field. The proposed method significantly enhances the precision and stability of such systems and provides robust technical support for high-precision tasks in complex mechanical settings.

Utilizing Reinforcement Learning to Drive Redundant Constrained Cable-Driven Robots with Unknown Parameters

Cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs) offer significant advantages, such as the lightweight design, large workspace, and easy reconfiguration, making them essential for various spatial applications and extreme environments. However, despite their benefits, CDPRs face challenges, notably the uncertainty in terms of the post-reconstruction parameters, complicating cable coordination and impeding mechanism parameter identification. This is especially notable in CDPRs with redundant constraints, leading to cable relaxation or breakage. To tackle this challenge, this paper introduces a novel approach using reinforcement learning to drive redundant constrained cable-driven robots with uncertain parameters. Kinematic and dynamic models are established and applied in simulations and practical experiments, creating a conducive training environment for reinforcement learning. With trained agents, the mechanism is driven across 100 randomly selected parameters, resulting in a distinct directional distribution of the trajectories. Notably, the rope tension corresponding to 98% of the trajectory points is within the specified tension range. Experiments are carried out on a physical cable-driven device utilizing trained intelligent agents. The results indicate that the rope tension remained within the specified range throughout the driving process, with the end platform successfully maneuvered in close proximity to the designated target point. The consistency between the simulation and experimental results validates the efficacy of reinforcement learning in driving unknown parameters in redundant constraint-driven robots. Furthermore, the method’s applicability extends to mechanisms with diverse configurations of redundant constraints, broadening its scope. Therefore, reinforcement learning emerges as a potent tool for acquiring motion data in cable-driven mechanisms with unknown parameters and redundant constraints, effectively aiding in the reconstruction process of such mechanisms.

A six degrees-of-freedom cable-driven robotic platform for head-neck movement.

This paper introduces a novel cable-driven robotic platform that enables six degrees-of-freedom (DoF) natural head-neck movements. Poor postural control of the head-neck can be a debilitating symptom of neurological disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and cerebral palsy. Current treatments using static neck collars are inadequate, and there is a need to develop new devices to empower movements and facilitate physical rehabilitation of the head-neck. State-of-the-art neck exoskeletons using lower DoF mechanisms with rigid linkages are limited by their hard motion constraints imposed on head-neck movements. By contrast, the cable-driven robot presented in this paper does not constrain motion and enables wide-range, 6-DoF control of the head-neck. We present the mechatronic design, validation, and control implementations of this robot, as well as a human experiment to demonstrate a potential use case of this versatile robot for rehabilitation. Participants were engaged in a target reaching task while the robot applied both assistive and resistive moments on the head during the task. Our results show that neck muscle activation increased by 19% when moving the head against resistance and decreased by 28-43% when assisted by the robot. Overall, these results provide a scientific justification for further research in enabling movement and identifying personalized rehabilitation for motor training. Beyond rehabilitation, other applications such as applying force perturbations on the head to study sensory integration and applying traction to achieve pain relief may benefit from the innovation of this robotic platform which is capable of applying controlled 6-DoF forces/moments on the head.

Adaptive Position Feedback Control of Parallel Robots in the Presence of Kinematics and Dynamics Uncertainties

Uncertainties in the kinematic and dynamic parameters of a parallel robot are unavoidable. The problem is more crucial in the cases where the manipulator interacts with the environment and when it is large–scale or deployable. Furthermore, precise measurement of the velocity of the end-effector is almost inaccessible in practice. This paper addresses the above shortcomings by designing of an adaptive trajectory tracking controller with merely position feedback of joint and task space variables. Simplicity of implementation, separation of adaptation laws of dynamic and kinematic parameters, and reduction of the number of adaptation laws such that in some cases, e.g., cable-driven robots, it is identically equivalent to the number of unknown parameters are some advantages of the proposed controller. The method’s efficiency is shown via implementation on a cable-driven parallel manipulator and an intraocular surgery robot. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Note to Practitioners</i> —In order to achieve a suitable response in parallel robots with traditional controllers, a precise knowledge of kinematic and dynamic parameters, together with accurate measurement of velocity, is required. In practice, these values are usually derived by robot calibration and identification. Since the system’s parameters may alter or depend on external factors such as temperature, these time-consuming methods should be implemented repeatedly while the robot is out of duty. Additionally, precise velocity measurement is a prohibitive task and requires expensive instruments. This article presents a controller to address the above shortcomings. By this means, a simple adaptive controller based on position feedback is designed such that via suitable estimation of kinematic and dynamic parameters, trajectory tracking is obtained without the need for accurate initial estimates of the parameters. The proposed method has a number of advantages, including separation of the adaptation laws of kinematic parameters and dynamic parameters, simple representation of the Jacobian matrix in regressor form, and there is no requirement for velocity feedback. Furthermore, a force distribution method is introduced for redundant robots. Hence, the proposed controller is an appropriate alternative to traditional controllers widely used in industries.

Compliant Tracking Control and Force Redistribution for a Portable Cable-Driven Robot

Compliant Tracking Control and Force Redistribution for a Portable Cable-Driven Robot

On the Problem of Tension Forces Distribution in Cable System of Cable-Driven Parallel Robot

The paper proposes a method for controlling tension forces in statically indeterminable cable-driven systems based on the non-negative least squares method with control of singular or near-singular solutions and a complete search of all possible cable configurations. For cable-driven parallel robots the problem of controlling the cable tension forces is critical, because in the absence of control the cable tension forces are distributed unevenly, which leads to reduced robustness of the system, increased energy consumption and increased deterioration. And in special cases of cable system configuration the tension forces become so great that they lead to cable breaks. At the same time, correction of cable tension force distribution should not lead to significant deviations from the specified position of the mobile platform or, formulating the problem in terms of forces, to violation of kinetostatic equations. Thus, the problem of controlling the tension forces in the cable parallel robot system is solved as a problem of optimizing the tension forces of the cables according to the criteria of minimizing the norm of their vector in the configuration space and minimizing the norm of incoherence of the vector of forces and moments in the operational space of the robot. The developed algorithm is based on the solution of underdetermined systems of linear algebraic equations with finding the minimum least squares norms and subsequent zeroing of negative components of the solution vector. The paper considers examples of the solution of the set problem for the lower cable group of a construction 3D printer based on a cable-driven robot and for a 12-cable system

Applying Screw Theory to Design the Turmell-Bot: A Cable-Driven, Reconfigurable Ankle Rehabilitation Parallel Robot

The ankle is a complex joint with a high injury incidence. Rehabilitation Robotics applied to the ankle is a very active research field. We present the kinematics and statics of a cable-driven reconfigurable ankle rehabilitation robot. First, we studied how the tendons pull mid-foot bones around the talocrural and subtalar axes. We proposed a hybrid serial-parallel mechanism analogous to the ankle. Then, using screw theory, we synthesized a cable-driven robot with the human ankle in the closed-loop kinematics. We incorporated a draw-wire sensor to measure the axes’ pose and compute the product of exponentials. We also reconfigured the cables to balance the tension and pressure forces using the axis projection on the base and platform planes. Furthermore, we computed the workspace to show that the reconfigurable design fits several sizes. The data used are from anthropometry and statistics. Finally, we validated the robot’s statics with MuJoCo for various cable length groups corresponding to the axes’ range of motion. We suggested a platform adjusting system and an alignment method. The design is lightweight, and the cable-driven robot has advantages over rigid parallel robots, such as Stewart platforms. We will use compliant actuators for enhancing human–robot interaction.

Stabilization of Robots With Actuator Constraints via Interconnection and Damping Assignment

Actuator limitations hinder high-performance control of robotic manipulators. The problem is particularly challenging in case of underactuated robots where the issue has received less attention. In this brief, we investigate stabilization of manipulators under input constraints via total energy shaping. For this purpose, we use interconnection and damping assignment passivity-based control (IDA-PBC) together with an optimization technique to keep actuator torque close to allowable limits. Using a subsequent technique, the actuator torques are ensured to stay within the specified bounds for special classes of manipulators. The results are verified through simulations on a 2 degree-of-freedom (DOF) SpiderCrane. Moreover, experiments on a cable-driven robot (CDR) demonstrate performance of the proposed method.

Tri-Space Operational Control of Redundant Multilink and Hybrid Cable-Driven Parallel Robots Using an Iterative-Learning-Based Reactive Approach

Cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs) are a type of parallel mechanism in which cables are used as actuators. Due to the two levels of redundancy and numerous constraints within the CDPR actuation, joint and operational spaces (together known as the tri-space), tracking a given trajectory in the operational space while satisfying constraints in tri-space simultaneously is challenging. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there does not exist any tri-space control framework, which is robust, effective, and directly applicable to several architectures of redundantly actuated CDPRs. This article proposes a tri-space control framework that combines reactive control (RC) and iterative-learning control (ILC) to perform repetitive tasks in the operational space. The framework allows the tracking of operational space trajectories online with feasible cable forces while avoiding undesirable situations such as cable-link interference, joint interference, and loss of manipulability. On the other hand, by finding an optimal parameter in the null space using a novel parameterization of a null-space vector, the performance can be improved through ILC when the task is repeatedly executed. Simulation and hardware results on various multilink cable-driven robots (MCDRs) and hybrid cable-driven robots (HCDRs) show that the proposed tri-space control framework can be conveniently and effectively applied to the real-time control of different CDPRs.

Design Cube Cable-Driven Robot for Versatile 3D Printing, Simple and Complex

In this article, we present a proposed design for a novel cube cable-driven parallel robot. The objective of this research is to utilize cables for end effector control, diverging from the traditional rigid sliders commonly found in 3D printers. Through this endeavor, we plan to conduct a qualitative experiment in the future, aiming to construct and test this robot in a laboratory setting using the requisite components. Upon successful experimentation, we envision further development of this robot, allowing for an extended workspace that enables 3D printing of large-sized objects. This proposed design incorporates an unstable base capable of translational movement along the z-axis, with four motors situated at the base's extremities. Each motor is equipped with a pulley around which the cable is wound, enabling manipulation and control of the end effector. our research work comprises three main objectives. Firstly, we present a comprehensive definition of the cube cable-driven parallel robot, outlining its key components and operational principles. Secondly, we develop both the geometric and kinetic models of the robot, enabling a detailed understanding of its motion and behavior. Lastly, to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed design, we conduct multiple simulation tests using the Matlab and Solidworks/ Software platform, enabling us to evaluate the robot's performance under various conditions and scenarios.

Research on the workspace and analytical stiffness method of a cable-driven robot intended to conduct lower limb rehabilitation therapies

Research on the workspace and analytical stiffness method of a cable-driven robot intended to conduct lower limb rehabilitation therapies

Design, modelling, implementation, and trajectory planning of a 3-DOF cable driven parallel robot

Cable tensions in cable robots make trajectory planning more complicated than in rigid-link robots. Since cables can only pull but not push, the cable tensions must be kept positive for a cable-driven system to maintain control. In this paper direct methods of trajectory planning including direct collocation and direct shooting are proposed to solve the two-point boundary value problem trajectory planning. Minimizing a robot's actuator force under cable constraints including positive forces and preventing severe changes in tensions are considered in this problem. The cable-driven robot consists of a 3-cable and a pneumatic cylinder, which betters robot tensionability. The direct methods are solved by the sequential quadratic programming algorithm and then compared with the GPOPS-II software package. The results designate that the direct methods of trajectory planning propose substantial benefits in satisfying essential continuity and smoothness of resulted profiles for a cable-driven robot with a multi-type actuation system. Experimental results confirm the numerical data, additional supporting the findings.

A novel pyramidal cable-driven robot for exercising and rehabilitation of writing tasks

AbstractThis paper presents a novel cable-driven parallel robot with the aim of rehabilitating/exercising young and disabled children in drawing and writing tasks. The pyramidal topology was identified as providing the required three active translational Degrees of Freedom with a redundant set of five cables in a compact portable shape. In addition, this robot was designed with new features, as it is inexpensive, easy to control, easy to move to any place at home or school as it is fitting a home desk or classroom table. In this paper, we present the main steps for designing the proposed cable-driven pyramidal parallel robot. Specific attention is addressed to the design of the structure and the end effector as well as to establishing proper simulation models. Several simulations are proposed by implementing both kinematic and dynamic models to demonstrate the feasibility of multiple writing/drawing tasks. A specific user interface is proposed allowing both continuous and intermittent trajectories. A sliding mode control is implemented to achieve suitable tracking accuracy on a desired path. Finally, an experimental validation is successfully carried out by considering multiple trajectories for demonstrating the engineering feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed design and simulation models.

A New Practical Robust Adaptive Control of Cable-driven Robots

A New Practical Robust Adaptive Control of Cable-driven Robots