Flexible co-manipulation and transportation with mobile multi-robot system
ISSN: 0144-5154
Article publication date: 16 October 2018
Issue publication date: 14 August 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to address optimal positioning of a group of mobile robots for a successful manipulation and transportation of payloads of any shape.
Design/methodology/approach
The chosen methodology to achieve optimal positioning of the robots around the payload to lift it and to transport it while maintaining a geometric multi-robot formation is presented. This appropriate configuration of the set of robots is obtained by combining constraints ensuring stable and safe lifting and transport of the payload. A suitable control law is then used to track a virtual structure in which each elementary robot has to keep its desired position with respect to the payload.
Findings
An optimal positioning of mobile robots around a payload to ensure stable co-manipulation and transportation task according to stability multi-criteria constraints. Simulation and experimental results validate the proposed control architecture and strategy for a successful transportation task based on virtual structure navigation approach.
Originality/value
This paper presents a new strategy for co-manipulation and co-transportation task based on a virtual structure navigation approach. An algorithm for optimal positioning of mobile robots around a payload of any mass and shape is proposed while ensuring stability during the whole process by respecting multi-criteria task stability constraints.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The following entities are acknowledged: LABEX IMobS3 Innovative Mobility: Smart and Sustainable Solutions, the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Auvergne Regional Council and the European funds of regional development (FEDER).
Citation
Hichri, B., Adouane, L., Fauroux, J.-C., Mezouar, Y. and Doroftei, I. (2019), "Flexible co-manipulation and transportation with mobile multi-robot system", Assembly Automation, Vol. 39 No. 3, pp. 422-431. https://doi.org/10.1108/AA-12-2017-190
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited