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

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Penn collection
Lab Papers (GRASP)
Degree type
Discipline
Subject
modular robot
compliant
simulation
design
Engineering
Robotics
Funder
Grant number
License
Copyright date
Distributor
Related resources
Author
Qin, Yuhong
Ting, Linda
Saven, Celestina
Amemiya, Yumika
Tanis, Michael
Kamien, Randall
Contributor
Abstract

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. Supplemental video: https://youtu.be/bcvFMq40EzI

Advisor
Date of presentation
2022-03-01
Conference name
Lab Papers (GRASP)
Conference dates
2023-05-18T02:52:12.000
Conference location
Date Range for Data Collection (Start Date)
Date Range for Data Collection (End Date)
Digital Object Identifier
Series name and number
Volume number
Issue number
Publisher
Publisher DOI
Journal Issue
Comments
Recommended citation
@inproceedings{qin2022trussbot, title={{TrussBot}: Modeling, design and control of a compliant, helical truss of tetrahedral modules}, author = {Yuhong Qin and Linda Ting and Celestina Saven and Yumika Amemiya and Michael Tanis and Randall Kamien and Cynthia Sung}, booktitle={IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA)}, year={2022} }
Collection