In this paper, design, modeling, and control of a grip-based climbing robot are performed, which consists of a triangular chassis and three actuating legs. This robot can climb through any trusses, pipeline, and scaffolds structures and can perform any inspectional and operational tasks in the high height which decreases the falling danger of operation and increases the safety of the workers. The proposed robot can be substituted for the workers to decrease the risk of death danger and increase the safety of the operation. Since these kinds of infrastructures are truss shaped, the traditional wheel-based climbing robots are not able to travel through these structures. Therefore, in this paper, a grip-based climbing robot is designed to accomplish the climbing process through the trusses and infrastructures in order to perform inspecting and manipulating tasks. Hence, a proper mechanism for the mentioned robot is designed and its related kinematic and kinetic models are developed. Robot modeling is investigated for two different modes including climbing and manipulating phases. Considering the redundancy of the proposed robot and the parallel mechanism employed in it, the active joints are selected in a proper way and its path planning is performed to accomplish the required missions. Concerning the climbing mode, the required computed torque method (CTM) is calculated by the inverse dynamics of the robot. However, for the manipulation mode, after path planning, two controlling strategies are employed, including feedback linearization (FBL) and adaptive force control, and their results are compared as well. It is shown that the latter case is preferable since the external forces implemented on the end effector tool is not exactly predetermined and thus, the controller should adapt the robot with the exerted force pattern of the manipulator. The modeling correctness is investigated by performing some analytic and comparative simulation scenarios in the MATLAB and comparing the results with the MSC-ADAMS ones, for both climbing and manipulating phases. The efficiency of the designed controller is also proved by implementing an unknown force pattern on the manipulator to check its efficiency toward estimating the mentioned implemented forces and compensating the errors. It is shown that the designed robot can successfully climb through a truss and perform its operating task by the aid of the employed adaptive controller in an accurate way.

Design, Modeling, and Control of a New Manipulating Climbing Robot Through Infrastructures Using Adaptive Force Control Method

The quality of the mould in green sand-casting process plays a vital role to achieve good quality castings. In this research work, the main mould properties such as permeability and hardness are fo...

Multi-objective optimization of western bentonite (Al2H2Na2O13Si4)-blended green sand casting process parameters to improve mould quality

Modular and truss robots offer the potential of high reconfigurability and great functional flexibility, but common implementations relying on rigid components often lead to highly complex actuation and control requirements. This paper introduces a new type of modular, compliant robot: TrussBot. TrussBot is composed of 3D-printed tetrahedral modules connected at the corners with compliant joints. We propose a truss geometry, analyze its deformation modes, and provide a simulation framework for predicting its behavior under applied loads and actuation. The TrussBot is geometrically constrained, thus requiring compliant joints to move. The TrussBot can be actuated through a network of tendons which pinch vertices together and apply a twisting motion due to the structure's connectivity. The truss was demonstrated in a physical prototype and compared to simulation results.

https://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1073&context=grasp_papers

TrussBot: Modeling, Design, and Control of a Compliant, Helical Truss of Tetrahedral Modules

The methodology used in the Mars exploration and curiosity rover by Mars Science Laboratory is rocker bogie. The term rocker derives from the suspension system with large forward leg on each side of the vehicle chassis on either side which exhibits automated wheel movement, henceforth when one side of the vehicle rocker goes up, the other side goes down and maintain an average pitch level. Earlier research has envisaged that the Rocker-Rovers are much suitable for conducting scientific experiments like travelling to many meters to tens of kilometres. However, the recent mobility designs are complex, using many wheels or legs. Moreover, such rocker bogies can achieve only minimum distance transverse on field like agriculture land, rough land, inclined, stairs and obstacle surfaces which concludes that greater mobility experiments need to be conducted. There are most cases noted that mechanical failures were caused due to harsh environment. Hence, for surveillance in rough terrains, a robust design of rover is required. This paper focused on development of an efficient high mobility suspension system that is capable of travelling through rough terrain using a four wheeled rover. The primary mechanical feature of the rocker bogie design is arrived by using only two motors for mobility and drive line easiness. Motors are located inside the body for increased reliability and efficiency, while considering the thermal variation to be minimum. Increased stability requires both front wheels to be climb first, put forth the necessity of four wheels for driving the rover. The Rocker-Rover suspension system has a vigorous capability to overcome the uneven terrain because of its equal distribution of the pressure over its six wheels. Moreover, this article has implemented a rover with TSM (Total Surveillance Manager) which is an intelligent surveillance and security robot system, designed for monitoring behaviours and activities in the region of interest. The proposed prototype utilizes multiple types of surveillance devices including robots, CCTV cameras, and sensors

Automated Rocker Rover for Terrain Surface Surveillance

Abstract There are a lot of high-height structures that should be inspected or manipulated frequently due to maintenance purposes. According to the safety considerations and time or cost limitations, substituting the human operator with an automatic robot is inevitable. The main objective of this paper is to design and manufacture a novel climbing robot equipped with grip-based locomotion system which can climb through scaffold structures and trusses to accomplish inspectional and operational tasks. The proposed robot has good maneuverability and stability. The proposed robot is manufactured in order to verify the simulation results with experimental data. The chassis and its corresponding grippers are designed first, and the corresponding model of the system is extracted. This model is used then for designing the controlling strategy of the system. The path planning of the robot is conducted to realize the climbing process by the robot during several steps in an optimum way. The prototype of the proposed robot is manufactured at Kharazmi University called KharazmBot. Experimental results not only show the capability of the manufactured robot toward ascending the mentioned structures but also prove its high stability as a result of its designed gripper and also its good maneuverability as a result of its over-actuated mechanism. Thus, it is concluded that the designed and manufactured climbing robot of this paper can successfully ascend through the pipes and trusses and perform a desired inspectional or operational task with good accuracy and safety while its stability is also satisfied. 

Design, modeling, and manufacturing of a novel robust gripper-based climbing robot: KharazmBot

This paper discusses the concept and parameter design of a robust stair-climbing compliant modular robot, capable of tackling stairs with overhangs. Geometry modifications of the periphery of the wheels of our robot helped in tackling overhangs. Along with establishing a concept design, the robust design parameters are set to minimize performance variations. The Grey-based Taguchi method is applied to provide an optimal setting for the design parameters of the robot. The robot prototype is shown to have successfully scaled stairs of varying dimensions, with overhang, thus corroborating the analysis performed.

V. S. Rajashekhar

Papers

Design of a robust stair-climbing compliant modular robot to tackle overhang on stairs