Tools for quantifying teleoperation system performance and stability when communication delays are present are provided A general multivariable system architecture is utilized which includes all four-types of data transmission between master and slave: force and velocity in both directions It is shown that a proper use of an four channels is of critical importance in achieving high performance telepresence in the sense of accurate transmission of task impedances to the operator It is also shown that transparency and robust stability (passivity) are conflicting design goals in teleoperation systems The analysis is illustrated by comparing transparency and stability in two common architectures, as well as a recent passivated approach and a new transparency-optimized architecture, using simplified one-degree-of-freedom examples >

Stability and transparency in bilateral teleoperation

We survey progress over the past 25 years in the development of microscale devices for pumping fluids. We attempt to provide both a reference for micropump researchers and a resource for those outside the field who wish to identify the best micropump for a particular application. Reciprocating displacement micropumps have been the subject of extensive research in both academia and the private sector and have been produced with a wide range of actuators, valve configurations and materials. Aperiodic displacement micropumps based on mechanisms such as localized phase change have been shown to be suitable for specialized applications. Electroosmotic micropumps exhibit favorable scaling and are promising for a variety of applications requiring high flow rates and pressures. Dynamic micropumps based on electrohydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic effects have also been developed. Much progress has been made, but with micropumps suitable for important applications still not available, this remains a fertile area for future research.

https://microfluidics.stanford.edu/Publications/Micropumps_Cooling/Laser%20Review%20of%20Micropumps%20in%20JMM.pdf

A review of micropumps

Bilateral teleoperation: An historical survey

A system for performing minimally invasive cardiac procedures. The system includes a pair of surgical instruments that are coupled to a pair of robotic arms. The instruments have end effectors that can be manipulated to hold and suture tissue. The robotic arms are coupled to a pair of master handles by a controller. The handles can be moved by the surgeon to produce a corresponding movement of the end effectors. The movement of the handles is scaled so that the end effectors have a corresponding movement that is different, typically smaller, than the movement performed by the hands of the surgeon. The scale factor is adjustable so that the surgeon can control the resolution of the end effector movement. The movement of the end effector can be controlled by an input button, so that the end effector only moves when the button is depressed by the surgeon. The input button allows the surgeon to adjust the position of the handles without moving the end effector, so that the handles can be moved to a more comfortable position. The system may also have a robotically controlled endoscope which allows the surgeon to remotely view the surgical site. A cardiac procedure can be performed by making small incisions in the patient's skin and inserting the instruments and endoscope into the patient. The surgeon manipulates the handles and moves the end effectors to perform a cardiac procedure such as a coronary artery bypass graft.

Method and apparatus for performing minimally invasive cardiac procedures

Reports the completion of four fundamental fluidic operations considered essential to build digital microfluidic circuits, which can be used for lab-on-a-chip or micro total analysis system (/spl mu/TAS): 1) creating, 2) transporting, 3) cutting, and 4) merging liquid droplets, all by electrowetting, i.e., controlling the wetting property of the surface through electric potential. The surface used in this report is, more specifically, an electrode covered with dielectrics, hence, called electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD). All the fluidic movement is confined between two plates, which we call parallel-plate channel, rather than through closed channels or on open surfaces. While transporting and merging droplets are easily verified, we discover that there exists a design criterion for a given set of materials beyond which the droplet simply cannot be cut by EWOD mechanism. The condition for successful cutting is theoretically analyzed by examining the channel gap, the droplet size and the degree of contact angle change by electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD). A series of experiments is run and verifies the criterion.

Creating, transporting, cutting, and merging liquid droplets by electrowetting-based actuation for digital microfluidic circuits

A haptic device is provided having a substrate with a touch surface and one or more actuators for vibrating the substrate in a multiplicity of higher resonant modes, each of which has a high enough frequency to be inaudible and high enough amplitude to create a friction reduction effect at a plurality of vibrating regions on the substrate touch surface.

Vibrating substrate for haptic interface

The design of a four degree-of-freedom, force-reflecting manipulandum for manual interaction with virtual environments is presented. The device emulates a handtool which the operator can use to explore and manipulator virtual objects. The performance of the device (its including to generate a broad range of impedances) is determined by a variety of factors, including the inherent dynamics of the manipulator, the accuracy and resolution of sensors, and the speed of the digital controller. >

Design of a high performance haptic interface to virtual environments

This paper presents both theoretical and experimental studies of the stability of dynamic interaction between a feedback controlled manipulator and a passive environment. Necessary and sufficient conditions for “coupled stability”—the stability of a linear, time-invariant n-port (e.g., a robot, linearized about an operating point) coupled to a passive, but otherwise arbitrary, environment—are presented. The problem of assessing coupled stability for a physical system (continuous time) with a discrete time controller is then addressed. It is demonstrated that such a system may exhibit the coupled stability property; however, analytical, or even inexpensive numerical conditions are difficult to obtain. Therefore, an approximate condition, based on easily computed multivariable Nyquist plots, is developed. This condition is used to analyze two controllers implemented on a two-link, direct drive robot. An impedance controller demonstrates that a feedback controlled manipulator may satisfy the coupled stability property. A LQG/LTR controller illustrates specific consequences of failure to meet the coupled stability criterion; it also illustrates how coupled instability may arise in the absence of force feedback. Two experimental procedures—measurement of endpoint admittance and interaction with springs and masses—are introduced and used to evaluate the above controllers. Theoretical and experimental results are compared.

Coupled Stability of Multiport Systems—Theory and Experiments

We propose a novel control method for lower- limb assist that produces a virtual modification of the mechanical impedance of the human limbs. This effect is accomplished through the use of an exoskeleton that displays active impedance. The proposed method is aimed at improving the dynamic response of the human limbs, while preserving the user's control authority. Our goal is to use active-impedance exoskeleton control to improve the user's agility of motion, for example by reducing the average time needed to complete a movement. Our control method has been implemented in a 1-DOF exoskeleton designed to assist human subjects performing knee flexions and extensions. In this paper we discuss an initial study on the effect of negative exoskeleton damping (a particular case of active-impedance control) on the subject's time to complete a target-reaching motion. Experimental results show this effect to be statistically significant. On average, subjects were able to reduce the time to complete the motion by 16%.

/pdf/a-1-dof-assistive-exoskeleton-with-virtual-negative-damping-ygwqil9ovg.pdf

A 1-DOF assistive exoskeleton with virtual negative damping: effects on the kinematic response of the lower limbs

A novel, six-degree-of-freedom active haptic device is introduced. A parallel kinematic design and the use of non-holonomic continuously variable transmissions provide extremely high stiffness in directions that would violate a virtual constraint. At the same time, smooth motion is permitted tangential to virtual constraints and in open space. High quality constraint surfaces having one to five dimensions can be displayed. A notable feature of this device is the mutual coupling of all six linear actuators to a common rotating cylinder, which can, optionally, be powered. The resulting mechanism is simple to control, and allows several new control strategies in Cobotic haptics.

/pdf/a-high-performance-6-dof-haptic-cobot-3ki28r9umx.pdf

J.E. Colgate

Papers

Vibrating substrate for haptic interface

Design of a high performance haptic interface to virtual environments

Coupled Stability of Multiport Systems—Theory and Experiments

A 1-DOF assistive exoskeleton with virtual negative damping: effects on the kinematic response of the lower limbs

A high performance 6-DOF haptic Cobot