Design and Control of an Anthropomorphic Robotic Finger with Multi-point Tactile Sensation

Item

Title
en_US Design and Control of an Anthropomorphic Robotic Finger with Multi-point Tactile Sensation
Creator
en_US Banks, Jessica
Date
2004-10-20T20:28:07Z
Date Available
2004-10-20T20:28:07Z
Date Issued
en_US 2001-05-01
Identifier
en_US AITR-2001-005
Abstract
en_US The goal of this research is to develop the prototype of a tactile sensing platform for anthropomorphic manipulation research. We investigate this problem through the fabrication and simple control of a planar 2-DOF robotic finger inspired by anatomic consistency, self-containment, and adaptability. The robot is equipped with a tactile sensor array based on optical transducer technology whereby localized changes in light intensity within an illuminated foam substrate correspond to the distribution and magnitude of forces applied to the sensor surface plane. The integration of tactile perception is a key component in realizing robotic systems which organically interact with the world. Such natural behavior is characterized by compliant performance that can initiate internal, and respond to external, force application in a dynamic environment. However, most of the current manipulators that support some form of haptic feedback either solely derive proprioceptive sensation or only limit tactile sensors to the mechanical fingertips. These constraints are due to the technological challenges involved in high resolution, multi-point tactile perception. In this work, however, we take the opposite approach, emphasizing the role of full-finger tactile feedback in the refinement of manual capabilities. To this end, we propose and implement a control framework for sensorimotor coordination analogous to infant-level grasping and fixturing reflexes. This thesis details the mechanisms used to achieve these sensory, actuation, and control objectives, along with the design philosophies and biological influences behind them. The results of behavioral experiments with a simple tactilely-modulated control scheme are also described. The hope is to integrate the modular finger into an %engineered analog of the human hand with a complete haptic system.
Extent
en_US 88 p.
17699541 bytes
1837341 bytes
Format
application/postscript
application/pdf
Language
en_US
Relation
en_US AITR-2001-005
Subject
en_US AI
en_US tactile sensation
en_US finger
en_US robot
en_US anthropomorphic
en_US skin