This paper presents gain optimization for a controller of a 6- DOF underwater robot with tilting thrusters. PID control system with anti-windup technique is designed to stabilize the hovering motion of the robot. The controller comprises thrust vector decomposition to overcome nonlinearity of the thrust vector and also includes an algorithm to compensate for saturation of thrusters. A total of 24 control gains should be tuned in this controller, and gain optimization is performed according to four system errors using genetic algorithm. First, 18 PID control gains were optimized and then 6 gains were optimized to affect anti-windup. As a result, control gains optimized by the integral absolute error showed the best performance, and it is verified that tracking error in position and orientation of the robot were reduced by 29.38% compared with initial gains.

This paper presents control performance improvement by modifying center of gravity (COG) of an underwater robotic platform. To reduce the oscillation or to increase the positioning accuracy, it is important to accurately know the COG of an underwater robotic platform. The COG is determined by the three measured tilting angles of the platform in different postures. The tilting angle is measured while the platform is hanged by two strings. Using coordinate transformation, the plane of intersection is defined from the angle of the platform and the position of the string. The COG of the robotic platform is directly calculated by the intersected point in three defined planes. The measured COG is implemented to the control algorithm that is pre-designed in the previous research, and the empirical result on tilting gives 48.26% improved oscillation performance comparing to the oscillation result with the ideal COG position.

This paper presents gain optimization of a 6-DOF underwater robotic platform with 4 rotatable thrusters. To stabilize the 6-DOF motion of the underwater robotic platform, a back-stepping controller is designed with 6 proportional gains and 6 derivative gains. The 12 gains of the backstepping controller are optimized to decrease settling time in step response in 6-DOF motion independently. Stability criterion and overshoots are used as a constraint of the optimization problem. Trust-region algorithm and hybrid Taguchi-Random order Coordinate search algorithm are used to determine the optimal parameters, and the results by two methods are analyzed. Additionally, the resulting controller shows improved performance under disturbances.

In this paper, we propose an optimal design for starfish capturing manipulator module with fourbar linkage mechanism. A tool link with compliance is attached on the four-bar linkage, and the tool repeats detaching starfish from the ground and putting it into the storage box. Since the tool is not rigid and the manipulator is operating underwater, the trajectory of the tool tip is determined by its dynamics as well as kinematics. We analyzed the trajectory of the manipulator tool tip by quasi-static analysis considering both kinematics and dynamics. In optimization, the lengths of each link and the tool stiffness are considered as control variables. To maximize the capturing ability, capturing stroke of the four-bar manipulator trajectory is maximized. Reaction force and reaction moment, and other kinematic constraints were considered as inequality constraints.

This paper presents a torque distribution algorithm for improving the stability and mobility of a wall-climbing robot platform. During ascent, the pitch moment caused by the payload or external disturbances separates the robot’s triangular tracks from the wall, significantly deteriorating its stability. Moreover, the reaction forces stemming from the increase in the pulling force may degrade the robot’s mobility. Thus, it is very important to minimize the reaction forces acting on the triangular tracks, as well as the fluctuations in the pulling force, during the climb. Through dynamic modeling of the proposed robot platform, we demonstrated the dependence of the robot’s stability and mobility on the torque distribution of the triangular tracks. Extensive simulations using different climbing speeds were used to significantly improve the stability and mobility of the proposed robot platform.

Redundant actuated parallel kinematic machines (PKMs) have been widely researched to increase stiffness of PKMs. This paper presents theoretical analyses on the stiffness of nonredundant and redundant actuated PKM. Stiffness of each mechanism is defined by summation of actuator and structural stiffness; the actuator stiffness is determined from displacements of actuators, and the structural stiffness is determined from deformations of links by external forces. Calculated actuator and structural stiffness of non-redundant PKM show same distribution in entire workspace. On the contrary, the actuator and the structural stiffness of a redundant PKM has very different distribution in the workspace; so, we conclude the structural stiffness of redundant PKM should be considered to design the redundant PKM. The results can be used to design and analyze non-redundant and redundant PKMs.

Starfish are a critical problem for fishermen since they eat every farming product including shellfish. The number of starfish is increasing dramatically because they have no natural enemy underwater. We consider the concept of capturing starfish using a semi-autonomous robot. A new underwater robot design to capture starfish is proposed using cooperation between humans and the robot. A requirements list for the robot is developed and two conceptual designs are proposed. Each robot is designed as a modular platform. The kinematic and dynamic performance of each robot is analyzed and compared. This study is a starting point for developing a starfish capture robot and designing underwater robots for other applications. In the near future, a prototype will be assembled and tested in a marine environment.

This paper describes the optimal home positioning algorithm of Eclipse-II, a new conceptual parallel mechanism for motion simulator. Eclipse-II is capable of translation and 360 degrees continuous rotation in all directions. In unexpected situations such as emergency stop, riders have to be resituated as soon as possible through a shortest translational and rotational path because the return paths are not unique in view of inverse kinematic solution. Eclipse-II is man riding. Therefore, the home positioning is directly related to the safety of riders. To ensure a least elapsed time, ZYX Euler angle inverse kinematics is applied to find an optimal home orientation. In addition, the subsequent decrease of maximum acceleration and jerk values is achieved by combining the optimal return path function with cubic spline, which consequently reduces delivery force and vibration to riders.

This paper presents a transformable track mechanism for wall climbing robots. The proposed mechanism allows a wall climbing robot to go over obstacles by transforming the track shape, and also increases contact area between track and wall surface for safe attachment. The track mechanism is realized using a timing belt track with one driving actuator. The inner frame of the track consists of serially connected 5R-joints and 1P-joint, and all joints of the inner frame are passively operated by springs, so the mechanism does not require any actuators and complex control algorithms to change its shape. Static analysis is carried out to determine design parameters which enable 90º wall-to-wall transition and driving over projected obstacles on wall surfaces. A Prototype is manufactured using the transformable track on which polymer magnets are installed for adhesion force. The size of the prototype is 628㎜Ⅹ200㎜Ⅹ150㎜ (LengthⅩWidthⅩHeight) and weight is 4㎏f. Experiments are performed to verify its climbing capability focusing on 90º wall to wall transition and driving over projected obstacle.