Wing design is a critical factor in the aerodynamic performance of flapping-wing(FW)robots.Inspired by the natural wing structures of insects,bats,and birds,we explored how bio-mimetic wing vein morphologies,combined ...Wing design is a critical factor in the aerodynamic performance of flapping-wing(FW)robots.Inspired by the natural wing structures of insects,bats,and birds,we explored how bio-mimetic wing vein morphologies,combined with a bio-inspired double wing clap-and-fling mechanism,affect thrust generation.This study focused on increasing vertical force and payload capacity.Through systematic experimentation with various vein configurations and structural designs,we developed innovative wings optimized for thrust production.Comprehensive tests were conducted to measure aerodynamic forces,power consumption,and wing kinematics across a range of flapping frequencies.Additionally,wings with different aspect ratios,a key factor in wing design,were fabricated and extensively evaluated.The study also examined the role of bio-inspired vein layouts on wing flexibility,a critical component in improving flight efficiency.Our findings demonstrate that the newly developed wing design led to a 20%increase in thrust,achieving up to 30 g-force(gf).This research sheds light on the clap-and-fling effect and establishes a promising framework for bio-inspired wing design,offering significant improvements in both performance and payload capacity for FW robots.展开更多
Most of the existing screw drive in-pipe robots cannot actively adjust the maximum traction capacity, which limits the adaptability to the wide range of variable environment resistance, especially in curved pipes. In ...Most of the existing screw drive in-pipe robots cannot actively adjust the maximum traction capacity, which limits the adaptability to the wide range of variable environment resistance, especially in curved pipes. In order to solve this problem, a screw drive in-pipe robot based on adaptive linkage mechanism is proposed. The differential property of the adaptive linkage mechanism allows the robot to move without motion interference in the straight and varied curved pipes by adjusting inclining angles of rollers self-adaptively. The maximum traction capacity of the robot can be changed by actively adjusting the inclining angles of rollers. In order to improve the adaptability to the variable resistance, a torque control method based on the fuzzy controller is proposed. For the variable environment resistance, the proposed control method can not only ensure enough traction force, but also limit the output torque in a feasible region. In the simulations, the robot with the proposed control method is compared to the robot with fixed inclining angles of rollers. The results show that the combination of the torque control method and the proposed robot achieves the better adaptability to the variable resistance in the straight and curved pipes.展开更多
Soft in-pipe robot has good adaptability in tubular circumstances,while its rigidity is insufficient,which affects the traction performance.This paper proposes a novel worm-like in-pipe robot with a rigid and soft str...Soft in-pipe robot has good adaptability in tubular circumstances,while its rigidity is insufficient,which affects the traction performance.This paper proposes a novel worm-like in-pipe robot with a rigid and soft structure,which not only has strong traction ability but also flexible mobility in the shaped pipes.Imitating the structure features of the earthworm,the bionic in-pipe robot structure is designed including two soft anchor parts and one rigid telescopic part.The soft-supporting mechanism is the key factor for the in-pipe robot excellent performance,whose mathematical model is established and the mechanical characteristics are analyzed,which is used to optimize the structural parameters.The prototype is developed and the motion control strategy is planned.Various performances of the in-pipe robot are tested,such as the traction ability,moving velocity and adaptability.For comparative analysis,different operating scenarios are built including the horizontal pipe,the inclined pipe,the vertical pipe and other unstructured pipes.The experiment results show that the in-pipe robot is suitable for many kinds of pipe applications,the average traction is about 6.8N,the moving velocity is in the range of 9.5 to 12.7 mm/s.展开更多
A unilateral self-locking mechanism(USM) was proposed to increase the tractive ability of the inchworm in-pipe robots for pipeline inspection.The USM was basically composed of a cam,a torsional spring and an axis.The ...A unilateral self-locking mechanism(USM) was proposed to increase the tractive ability of the inchworm in-pipe robots for pipeline inspection.The USM was basically composed of a cam,a torsional spring and an axis.The self-locking and virtual work principles were applied to studying the basic self-locking condition of the USM.In order to make the cooperation between the crutch and telescopic mechanism more harmonical,the unlocking time of the USM was calculated.A set of parameters were selected to build a virtual model and fabricate a prototype.Both the simulation and performance experiments were carried out in a pipe with a nominal inside diameter of 160 mm.The results show that USM enables the robot to move quickly in one way,and in the other way it helps the robot get self-locking with the pipe wall.The traction of the inchworm robot can rise to 1.2 kN,beyond the limitation of friction of 0.497 kN.展开更多
In-pipe robots have been widely used in pipes-with smooth inner walls.However,current in-pipe robots face challenges in terms of moving past obstacles and climbing in marine-vessel pipeline systems,which are affected ...In-pipe robots have been widely used in pipes-with smooth inner walls.However,current in-pipe robots face challenges in terms of moving past obstacles and climbing in marine-vessel pipeline systems,which are affected by marine biofouling and electrochemical corrosion.This paper takes inspiration from the dual-hook structure of Trypoxylus dichotomus’s feet and gecko‑like dry adhesives,proposing an in-pipe robot that is capable of climbing on rough and smooth pipe inwalls.The combination of the bioinspired hook and dry adhesives allows the robot to stably attach to rough or smooth pipe inwalls,while the wheel-leg hybrid mechanism provides better conditions for obstacle traversal.The paper explores the attachment and obstacle-surmounting mechanisms of the robot.Moreover,motion strategies for the robot are devised based on different pipe structural features.The experiments showed that this robot can adapt to both smooth and rough pipe environments simultaneously,and its motion performance is superior to conventional driving mechanisms.The robot’s active turning actuators also enable it to navigate through horizontally or vertically oriented 90°bends.展开更多
Wireless millirobots engineered to infiltrate intricate vascular networks within living organisms,particularly within constricted and confined spaces,hold immense promise for the future of medical treatments.However,w...Wireless millirobots engineered to infiltrate intricate vascular networks within living organisms,particularly within constricted and confined spaces,hold immense promise for the future of medical treatments.However,with their multifaceted and intricate designs,some robots often grapple with motion and functionality issues when confronted with tight spaces characterized by small cross-sectional dimensions.In this study,drawing inspiration from the high aspect ratio and undulating swimming patterns of snakes,a millimeter-scale,snake-like robot was designed and fabricated via a combination of extrusion-based four-dimensional(4D)printing and magnetic-responsive intelligent functional inks.A sophisticated motion control strategy was also developed,which enables the robots to perform various dynamic movements,such as undulating swimming,precise turns,graceful circular motions,and coordinated cluster movements,under diverse magnetic field variations.As a potential application,the snake robot can navigate and release drugs in a model coronary intervention vessel with tortuous channels and fluid filling.The novel design and promising applications of this snake robot are invaluable tools in future medical surgeries and interventions.展开更多
Traditional rigid-body in-pipe robots usually have complex and heavy structures with limited flexibility and adaptability.Although soft in-pipe robots have great improvements in flexibility,they still have manufacturi...Traditional rigid-body in-pipe robots usually have complex and heavy structures with limited flexibility and adaptability.Although soft in-pipe robots have great improvements in flexibility,they still have manufacturing difficulties due to their reliance on high-performance soft materials.Tensegrity structure is a kind of self-stressed spatial structure consisting discrete rigid struts connected by a continuous net of tensional flexible strings,which combines the advantages of both rigid structures and soft structures.By applying tensegrity structures into robotics,this paper proposes a novel worm-like tensegrity robot for moving inside pipes.First,a robot module capable of body deformation is designed based on the concept of tensegrity and its deformation performance is analyzed.Then,the optimal parameters of the module are obtained based on the tensegrity form-finding.The deformation ability of the tensegrity module is tested experimentally.Finally,the worm-like tensegrity robot that can crawl inside pipes is developed by connecting three modules in series.Motion performance and load capacity are tested on the prototype of the worm-like tensegrity robot by experiments of moving in horizontal pipe,vertical pipe,and elbow pipe.Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design and suggest that the robot has high compliance,mobility,and adaptability although with simple structure and low cost.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To propose an automatic acupuncture robot system for performing acupuncture operations.METHODS:The acupuncture robot system consists of three components:automatic acupoint localization,acupuncture manipulati...OBJECTIVE:To propose an automatic acupuncture robot system for performing acupuncture operations.METHODS:The acupuncture robot system consists of three components:automatic acupoint localization,acupuncture manipulations,and De Qi sensation detection.The OptiTrack motion capture system is used to locate acupoints,which are then translated into coordinates in the robot control system.A flexible collaborative robot with an intelligent gripper is then used to perform acupuncture manipulations with high precision.In addition,a De Qi sensation detection system is proposed to evaluate the effect of acupuncture.To verify the stability of the designed acupuncture robot,acupoints'coordinates localized by the acupuncture robot are compared with the Gold Standard labeled by a professional acupuncturist using significant level tests.RESULTS:Through repeated experiments for eight acupoints,the acupuncture robot achieved a positioning error within 3.3 mm,which is within the allowable range of needle extraction and acupoint insertion.During needle insertion,the robot arm followed the prescribed trajectory with a mean deviation distance of 0.02 mm and a deviation angle of less than 0.15°.The results of the lifting thrusting operation in the Xingzhen process show that the mean acupuncture depth error of the designed acupuncture robot is approximately 2 mm,which is within the recommended depth range for the Xingzhen operation.In addition,the average detection accuracy of the De Qi keywords is 94.52%,which meets the requirements of acupuncture effect testing for different dialects.CONCLUSION:The proposed acupuncture robot system streamlines the acupuncture process,increases efficiency,and reduces practitioner fatigue,while also allowing for the quantification of acupuncture manipulations and evaluation of therapeutic effects.The development of an acupuncture robot system has the potential to revolutionize low back pain treatment and improve patient outcomes.展开更多
The advent of parametric design has resulted in a marked increase in the complexity of building.Unfortunately,traditional construction methods make it difficult to meet the needs.Therefore,construction robots have bec...The advent of parametric design has resulted in a marked increase in the complexity of building.Unfortunately,traditional construction methods make it difficult to meet the needs.Therefore,construction robots have become a pivotal production tool in this context.Since the arm span of a single robot usually does not exceed 3 meters,it is not competent for producing large-scale building components.Accordingly,the extension of the robot,s working range is often achieved by external axes.Nevertheless,the coupling control of external axes and robots and their kinematic solution have become key challenges.The primary technical difficulties include customized construction robots,automatic solutions for external axes,fixed axis joints,and specific motion mode control.This paper proposes solutions to these difficulties,introduces the relevant basic concepts and algorithms in detail,and encapsulates these robotics principles and algorithm processes into the Grasshopper plug-in commonly used by architects to form the FURobot software platform.This platform effectively solves the above problems,lowers the threshold for architects,and improves production efficiency.The effectiveness of the algorithm and software in this paper is verified through simulation experiments.展开更多
Due to the small size,active mobility,and intrinsic softness,miniature soft robots hold promising po-tentials in reaching the deep region inside living bodies otherwise inaccessible with compelling agility,adaptabilit...Due to the small size,active mobility,and intrinsic softness,miniature soft robots hold promising po-tentials in reaching the deep region inside living bodies otherwise inaccessible with compelling agility,adaptability and safety.Various materials and actuation strategies have been developed for creating soft robots,among which,ferromagnetic soft materials that self-actuate in response to external magnetic fields have attracted worldwide attention due to their remote controllability and excellent compatibil-ity with biological tissues.This review presents comprehensive and systematic research advancements in the design,fabrication,and applications of ferromagnetic soft materials for miniature robots,providing in-sights into their potential use in biomedical fields and beyond.The programming strategies of ferromag-netic soft materials are summarized and classified,including mold-assisted programming,3D printing-assisted programming,microassembly-assisted programming,and magnetization reprogramming.Each approach possesses unique advantages in manipulating the magnetic responsiveness of ferromagnetic soft materials to achieve outstanding actuation and deformation performances.We then discuss the biomedi-cal applications of ferromagnetic soft material-based soft robots(e.g.,minimally invasive surgery,targeted delivery,and tissue engineering),highlighting their potentials in revolutionizing biomedical technologies.This review also points out the current challenges and provides insights into future research directions,which we hope can serve as a useful reference for the development of next-generation adaptive miniature robots.展开更多
The proliferation of robot accounts on social media platforms has posed a significant negative impact,necessitating robust measures to counter network anomalies and safeguard content integrity.Social robot detection h...The proliferation of robot accounts on social media platforms has posed a significant negative impact,necessitating robust measures to counter network anomalies and safeguard content integrity.Social robot detection has emerged as a pivotal yet intricate task,aimed at mitigating the dissemination of misleading information.While graphbased approaches have attained remarkable performance in this realm,they grapple with a fundamental limitation:the homogeneity assumption in graph convolution allows social robots to stealthily evade detection by mingling with genuine human profiles.To unravel this challenge and thwart the camouflage tactics,this work proposed an innovative social robot detection framework based on enhanced HOmogeneity and Random Forest(HORFBot).At the core of HORFBot lies a homogeneous graph enhancement strategy,intricately woven with edge-removal techniques,tometiculously dissect the graph intomultiple revealing subgraphs.Subsequently,leveraging the power of contrastive learning,the proposed methodology meticulously trains multiple graph convolutional networks,each honed to discern nuances within these tailored subgraphs.The culminating stage involves the fusion of these feature-rich base classifiers,harmoniously aggregating their insights to produce a comprehensive detection outcome.Extensive experiments on three social robot detection datasets have shown that this method effectively improves the accuracy of social robot detection and outperforms comparative methods.展开更多
A global localization system of in-pipe robot is introduced in this paper.Global position system(GPS)is applied to monitor the motion of robot along the whole pipeline which is equally divided intomany segments by tra...A global localization system of in-pipe robot is introduced in this paper.Global position system(GPS)is applied to monitor the motion of robot along the whole pipeline which is equally divided intomany segments by tracking stations.The definite segment in which robot existing can be detected and thisis long-range localization.Ultra-long wave(ULW)is adopted to solve the problem of metallic shieldingand realize effective communication between inside and outside of pipeline.ULW emitter is carried byrobot.When the plant is broken or defects on pipe-wall are inspected,the robot will stop moving.Anten-na array is presented and disposed upon the definite segment to search the accurate location of robot,andthis is short-range localization.In this paper,five-antenna array is adopted and an effective linear signalfusion algorithm is presented.The localization precision reaches R < 25cm.By tests in Shengli oil field,the whole system is verified with robust solutions.展开更多
A new type of in-pipe mobile robot was designed and developed on the basis of w heel in-pipe robot and crawler in-pipe robot. The three sets of driving wheels circumferentially 120° apart in the cross section, bo...A new type of in-pipe mobile robot was designed and developed on the basis of w heel in-pipe robot and crawler in-pipe robot. The three sets of driving wheels circumferentially 120° apart in the cross section, both front and rear driving wheels are distributed on the same parallelogram mechanis m. The driving motor drives the three sets of driving wheels by worm couple, the regulating motor makes the three sets of driving wheels push against the pipe inwall with stable and adequate pressing force by the ball screw pair and p ressure sensor, so the in-pipe robot can provide adequate and stable traction force. The robot mechanism is simple and sm all in size and work reliably . It is particularly suitable to the pipe with diameter 400～650 mm.展开更多
Rollover accidents involving agricultural wheeled robots,accompanied by severe mechanical impacts,pose serious threats to operational safety and reduce functional efficiency.To address this issue,an active rollover pr...Rollover accidents involving agricultural wheeled robots,accompanied by severe mechanical impacts,pose serious threats to operational safety and reduce functional efficiency.To address this issue,an active rollover prevention strategy is proposed,utilizing a single‐gimbal control moment gyro(SGCMG),to stabilize typical agricultural robots and prevent potential rollovers.To match the free oscillation of the pivot front axle,a novel recovery torque model of the coupled robot‐SGCMG system is established,in which two patterns are introduced to refine the rollover process with uncertain parameters.Additionally,a lateral stability index is adopted and analyzed to assess the hazard level of potential rollovers.Aimed at handling uncertain parameters and hazard levels,an adaptive backstepping control strategy is developed for real‐time anti‐rollover implementation.Within this strategy,control gains are adaptively tuned based on theoretical derivations,thereby suppressing rollover tendency while minimizing tuning effort.For verification,a scaled experimental platform,designed according to similarity theory,is constructed to ensure safety of personnel and equipment.Experimental results show that the proposed method can precisely regulate the output torque of the gyro,rapidly and effectively mitigating the risk of imminent rollover.This method provides a promising solution for wheeled robot stability and a theoretical basis for advanced safety control in agricultural robotics.展开更多
Inspired by bacterial motility mechanisms,Magnetic Helical Miniature Robots(MHMRs)exhibit promising applications in biomedical fields due to their efficient locomotion and compatibility with biological tissues.In this...Inspired by bacterial motility mechanisms,Magnetic Helical Miniature Robots(MHMRs)exhibit promising applications in biomedical fields due to their efficient locomotion and compatibility with biological tissues.In this review,we systematically survey the basics of MHMRs,from propulsion mechanism,magnetization and control methods to biomedical applications,aiming to provide readers with an easily understandable overview and fundamental knowledge on implementing MHMRs.The MHMRs are actuated by rotating magnetic fields,achieving steering and rotation through magnetic torque,and converting rotation into forward motion through the helical structure.Magnetization methods for MHMRs are reviewed into three types:attaching magnets,magnetic coatings,and magnetic powder doping.Additionally,this review discusses the control methods for MHMRs,covering imaging techniques,path tracking control—including classical control algorithms and increasingly popular learning-based methods,and swarm control.Subsequently,a comprehensive survey is conducted on the biomedical applications of MHMRs in the treatment of vascular diseases,drug delivery,cell delivery,and their integration with catheters.We finally provide a perspective about future challenges in MHMR research,including enhancing functional design capabilities,developing swarm-assisted independent control mechanisms,refining in vivo imaging techniques,and ensuring robust biocompatibility for safe medical use.展开更多
Gecko-inspired robots have significant potential applications;however,deviations in the yaw direction during locomotion are inevitable for legged robots that lack external sensing.These deviations cause the robot to s...Gecko-inspired robots have significant potential applications;however,deviations in the yaw direction during locomotion are inevitable for legged robots that lack external sensing.These deviations cause the robot to stray from its intended path.Therefore,a cost-effective and straightforward solution is essential for reducing this deviation.In nature,the tail is often used to maintain balance and stability.Similarly,it has been used in robots to improve manoeuvrability and stability.Our aim is to reduce this deviation using a morphological computation approach,specifically by adding a tail.To test this hypothesis,we investigated four different tails(rigid plate,rigid gecko-shaped,soft plate,and soft gecko-shaped)and assessed the deviation of the robot with these tails on different slopes.Additionally,to evaluate the influence of different tail parameters,such as material,shape,and linkage,we investigated the locomotion performance in terms of the robot's climbing speed on slopes,its ability to turn at narrow corners,and the resistance of the tails to external disturbances.A new auto-reset joint was designed to ensure that a disturbed tail could be quickly reset.Our results demonstrate that the yaw deviation of the robot can be reduced by applying a tail.Among the four tails,the soft gecko-shaped tail was the most effective for most tasks.In summary,our findings demonstrate the functional role of the tail in reducing yaw deviation,improving climbing ability and stability and provide a reference for selecting the most suitable tail for geckoinspired robots.展开更多
In recent years,the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence(AI)has fostered deep integration between large AI models and robotic technology.Robots such as robotic dogs capable of carrying heavy loads on mountaino...In recent years,the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence(AI)has fostered deep integration between large AI models and robotic technology.Robots such as robotic dogs capable of carrying heavy loads on mountainous terrain or performing waste disposal tasks and humanoid robots that can execute high-precision component installations have gradually reached the public eye,raising expectations for embodied intelligent robots.展开更多
基金Nguyen Tat Thanh University,Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam for supporting this study。
文摘Wing design is a critical factor in the aerodynamic performance of flapping-wing(FW)robots.Inspired by the natural wing structures of insects,bats,and birds,we explored how bio-mimetic wing vein morphologies,combined with a bio-inspired double wing clap-and-fling mechanism,affect thrust generation.This study focused on increasing vertical force and payload capacity.Through systematic experimentation with various vein configurations and structural designs,we developed innovative wings optimized for thrust production.Comprehensive tests were conducted to measure aerodynamic forces,power consumption,and wing kinematics across a range of flapping frequencies.Additionally,wings with different aspect ratios,a key factor in wing design,were fabricated and extensively evaluated.The study also examined the role of bio-inspired vein layouts on wing flexibility,a critical component in improving flight efficiency.Our findings demonstrate that the newly developed wing design led to a 20%increase in thrust,achieving up to 30 g-force(gf).This research sheds light on the clap-and-fling effect and establishes a promising framework for bio-inspired wing design,offering significant improvements in both performance and payload capacity for FW robots.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.61273345)
文摘Most of the existing screw drive in-pipe robots cannot actively adjust the maximum traction capacity, which limits the adaptability to the wide range of variable environment resistance, especially in curved pipes. In order to solve this problem, a screw drive in-pipe robot based on adaptive linkage mechanism is proposed. The differential property of the adaptive linkage mechanism allows the robot to move without motion interference in the straight and varied curved pipes by adjusting inclining angles of rollers self-adaptively. The maximum traction capacity of the robot can be changed by actively adjusting the inclining angles of rollers. In order to improve the adaptability to the variable resistance, a torque control method based on the fuzzy controller is proposed. For the variable environment resistance, the proposed control method can not only ensure enough traction force, but also limit the output torque in a feasible region. In the simulations, the robot with the proposed control method is compared to the robot with fixed inclining angles of rollers. The results show that the combination of the torque control method and the proposed robot achieves the better adaptability to the variable resistance in the straight and curved pipes.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,52005369Open Project Fund of Tianjin Key Laboratory of Integrated Design and Online Monitoring of Light Industry and Food Engineering Machinery and Equipment,2020LIMFE05.
文摘Soft in-pipe robot has good adaptability in tubular circumstances,while its rigidity is insufficient,which affects the traction performance.This paper proposes a novel worm-like in-pipe robot with a rigid and soft structure,which not only has strong traction ability but also flexible mobility in the shaped pipes.Imitating the structure features of the earthworm,the bionic in-pipe robot structure is designed including two soft anchor parts and one rigid telescopic part.The soft-supporting mechanism is the key factor for the in-pipe robot excellent performance,whose mathematical model is established and the mechanical characteristics are analyzed,which is used to optimize the structural parameters.The prototype is developed and the motion control strategy is planned.Various performances of the in-pipe robot are tested,such as the traction ability,moving velocity and adaptability.For comparative analysis,different operating scenarios are built including the horizontal pipe,the inclined pipe,the vertical pipe and other unstructured pipes.The experiment results show that the in-pipe robot is suitable for many kinds of pipe applications,the average traction is about 6.8N,the moving velocity is in the range of 9.5 to 12.7 mm/s.
基金Project(2007AA04Z256) supported by the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China
文摘A unilateral self-locking mechanism(USM) was proposed to increase the tractive ability of the inchworm in-pipe robots for pipeline inspection.The USM was basically composed of a cam,a torsional spring and an axis.The self-locking and virtual work principles were applied to studying the basic self-locking condition of the USM.In order to make the cooperation between the crutch and telescopic mechanism more harmonical,the unlocking time of the USM was calculated.A set of parameters were selected to build a virtual model and fabricate a prototype.Both the simulation and performance experiments were carried out in a pipe with a nominal inside diameter of 160 mm.The results show that USM enables the robot to move quickly in one way,and in the other way it helps the robot get self-locking with the pipe wall.The traction of the inchworm robot can rise to 1.2 kN,beyond the limitation of friction of 0.497 kN.
基金supported by the Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Aerospace Structures(1005-IZD23002-25)the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant nos.52075248.
文摘In-pipe robots have been widely used in pipes-with smooth inner walls.However,current in-pipe robots face challenges in terms of moving past obstacles and climbing in marine-vessel pipeline systems,which are affected by marine biofouling and electrochemical corrosion.This paper takes inspiration from the dual-hook structure of Trypoxylus dichotomus’s feet and gecko‑like dry adhesives,proposing an in-pipe robot that is capable of climbing on rough and smooth pipe inwalls.The combination of the bioinspired hook and dry adhesives allows the robot to stably attach to rough or smooth pipe inwalls,while the wheel-leg hybrid mechanism provides better conditions for obstacle traversal.The paper explores the attachment and obstacle-surmounting mechanisms of the robot.Moreover,motion strategies for the robot are devised based on different pipe structural features.The experiments showed that this robot can adapt to both smooth and rough pipe environments simultaneously,and its motion performance is superior to conventional driving mechanisms.The robot’s active turning actuators also enable it to navigate through horizontally or vertically oriented 90°bends.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52105421 and 52373050)the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation,China(No.2022A1515011621)+1 种基金the Science and Technology Projects in Guangzhou,China(Nos.202102080330 and 2024A04J6446)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Sun Yat-sen University(No.22qntd0101).
文摘Wireless millirobots engineered to infiltrate intricate vascular networks within living organisms,particularly within constricted and confined spaces,hold immense promise for the future of medical treatments.However,with their multifaceted and intricate designs,some robots often grapple with motion and functionality issues when confronted with tight spaces characterized by small cross-sectional dimensions.In this study,drawing inspiration from the high aspect ratio and undulating swimming patterns of snakes,a millimeter-scale,snake-like robot was designed and fabricated via a combination of extrusion-based four-dimensional(4D)printing and magnetic-responsive intelligent functional inks.A sophisticated motion control strategy was also developed,which enables the robots to perform various dynamic movements,such as undulating swimming,precise turns,graceful circular motions,and coordinated cluster movements,under diverse magnetic field variations.As a potential application,the snake robot can navigate and release drugs in a model coronary intervention vessel with tortuous channels and fluid filling.The novel design and promising applications of this snake robot are invaluable tools in future medical surgeries and interventions.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,52005293,Yixiang Liu,U20A20201Yixiang Liu,Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation,ZR2020QE152+3 种基金Yixiang Liu,Key R&D Program of Hebei Province,China,20311803DYixiang Liu,Key R&D Program of Shandong Province,China,2021CXGC011304Yixiang Liu,Research Project of the State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmissions,Chongqing University,SKLMT-MSKFKT-202118Yixiang Liu,Fundamental Research Funds of Shandong University,2021JCG001,Yixiang Liu.
文摘Traditional rigid-body in-pipe robots usually have complex and heavy structures with limited flexibility and adaptability.Although soft in-pipe robots have great improvements in flexibility,they still have manufacturing difficulties due to their reliance on high-performance soft materials.Tensegrity structure is a kind of self-stressed spatial structure consisting discrete rigid struts connected by a continuous net of tensional flexible strings,which combines the advantages of both rigid structures and soft structures.By applying tensegrity structures into robotics,this paper proposes a novel worm-like tensegrity robot for moving inside pipes.First,a robot module capable of body deformation is designed based on the concept of tensegrity and its deformation performance is analyzed.Then,the optimal parameters of the module are obtained based on the tensegrity form-finding.The deformation ability of the tensegrity module is tested experimentally.Finally,the worm-like tensegrity robot that can crawl inside pipes is developed by connecting three modules in series.Motion performance and load capacity are tested on the prototype of the worm-like tensegrity robot by experiments of moving in horizontal pipe,vertical pipe,and elbow pipe.Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design and suggest that the robot has high compliance,mobility,and adaptability although with simple structure and low cost.
基金Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Project of National Key R&D Program of China:The construction of the theoretical system of Traditional Chinese Medicine nonpharmacological therapy based on body surface stimulation(2023YFC3502704)Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Program Project:Research and Development of Chinese Medicine Intelligent Tongue Diagnosis Equipment for Digestive System Chinese Medicine Advantageous Diseases(2023YFS0327)+2 种基金Research and Development of Chinese Medicine Intelligent Detection System for Intestinal Functions(2024YFFK0044)Research and Application of Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Program for Herpes Zoster Treated by Shu Pai Fire Acupuncture(2024YFFK0089)Major Research and Development Project of The China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Innovation:Construction and application of the theoretical research mode of Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis and treatment of modern diseases(CI2021A00104)。
文摘OBJECTIVE:To propose an automatic acupuncture robot system for performing acupuncture operations.METHODS:The acupuncture robot system consists of three components:automatic acupoint localization,acupuncture manipulations,and De Qi sensation detection.The OptiTrack motion capture system is used to locate acupoints,which are then translated into coordinates in the robot control system.A flexible collaborative robot with an intelligent gripper is then used to perform acupuncture manipulations with high precision.In addition,a De Qi sensation detection system is proposed to evaluate the effect of acupuncture.To verify the stability of the designed acupuncture robot,acupoints'coordinates localized by the acupuncture robot are compared with the Gold Standard labeled by a professional acupuncturist using significant level tests.RESULTS:Through repeated experiments for eight acupoints,the acupuncture robot achieved a positioning error within 3.3 mm,which is within the allowable range of needle extraction and acupoint insertion.During needle insertion,the robot arm followed the prescribed trajectory with a mean deviation distance of 0.02 mm and a deviation angle of less than 0.15°.The results of the lifting thrusting operation in the Xingzhen process show that the mean acupuncture depth error of the designed acupuncture robot is approximately 2 mm,which is within the recommended depth range for the Xingzhen operation.In addition,the average detection accuracy of the De Qi keywords is 94.52%,which meets the requirements of acupuncture effect testing for different dialects.CONCLUSION:The proposed acupuncture robot system streamlines the acupuncture process,increases efficiency,and reduces practitioner fatigue,while also allowing for the quantification of acupuncture manipulations and evaluation of therapeutic effects.The development of an acupuncture robot system has the potential to revolutionize low back pain treatment and improve patient outcomes.
基金National Key R&D Program of China(Nos.2023YFC3806900,2022YFE0141400)。
文摘The advent of parametric design has resulted in a marked increase in the complexity of building.Unfortunately,traditional construction methods make it difficult to meet the needs.Therefore,construction robots have become a pivotal production tool in this context.Since the arm span of a single robot usually does not exceed 3 meters,it is not competent for producing large-scale building components.Accordingly,the extension of the robot,s working range is often achieved by external axes.Nevertheless,the coupling control of external axes and robots and their kinematic solution have become key challenges.The primary technical difficulties include customized construction robots,automatic solutions for external axes,fixed axis joints,and specific motion mode control.This paper proposes solutions to these difficulties,introduces the relevant basic concepts and algorithms in detail,and encapsulates these robotics principles and algorithm processes into the Grasshopper plug-in commonly used by architects to form the FURobot software platform.This platform effectively solves the above problems,lowers the threshold for architects,and improves production efficiency.The effectiveness of the algorithm and software in this paper is verified through simulation experiments.
基金the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2023YFE0208700)National Natural Sci-ence Foundation of China(No.92163109 and 52072095)+7 种基金Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(No.RCJC20231211090000001,GXWD20231129101105001)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52205590)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK20220834)the Start-up Research Fund of Southeast University(No.RF1028623098)the State Key Laboratory of Robotics and Systems(HIT)(No.SKLRS-2024-KF-11)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52202348)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2023A1515011491)Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(Nos.GXWD20220818224716001,KJZD20231023100302006).
文摘Due to the small size,active mobility,and intrinsic softness,miniature soft robots hold promising po-tentials in reaching the deep region inside living bodies otherwise inaccessible with compelling agility,adaptability and safety.Various materials and actuation strategies have been developed for creating soft robots,among which,ferromagnetic soft materials that self-actuate in response to external magnetic fields have attracted worldwide attention due to their remote controllability and excellent compatibil-ity with biological tissues.This review presents comprehensive and systematic research advancements in the design,fabrication,and applications of ferromagnetic soft materials for miniature robots,providing in-sights into their potential use in biomedical fields and beyond.The programming strategies of ferromag-netic soft materials are summarized and classified,including mold-assisted programming,3D printing-assisted programming,microassembly-assisted programming,and magnetization reprogramming.Each approach possesses unique advantages in manipulating the magnetic responsiveness of ferromagnetic soft materials to achieve outstanding actuation and deformation performances.We then discuss the biomedi-cal applications of ferromagnetic soft material-based soft robots(e.g.,minimally invasive surgery,targeted delivery,and tissue engineering),highlighting their potentials in revolutionizing biomedical technologies.This review also points out the current challenges and provides insights into future research directions,which we hope can serve as a useful reference for the development of next-generation adaptive miniature robots.
基金Funds for the Central Universities(grant number CUC24SG018).
文摘The proliferation of robot accounts on social media platforms has posed a significant negative impact,necessitating robust measures to counter network anomalies and safeguard content integrity.Social robot detection has emerged as a pivotal yet intricate task,aimed at mitigating the dissemination of misleading information.While graphbased approaches have attained remarkable performance in this realm,they grapple with a fundamental limitation:the homogeneity assumption in graph convolution allows social robots to stealthily evade detection by mingling with genuine human profiles.To unravel this challenge and thwart the camouflage tactics,this work proposed an innovative social robot detection framework based on enhanced HOmogeneity and Random Forest(HORFBot).At the core of HORFBot lies a homogeneous graph enhancement strategy,intricately woven with edge-removal techniques,tometiculously dissect the graph intomultiple revealing subgraphs.Subsequently,leveraging the power of contrastive learning,the proposed methodology meticulously trains multiple graph convolutional networks,each honed to discern nuances within these tailored subgraphs.The culminating stage involves the fusion of these feature-rich base classifiers,harmoniously aggregating their insights to produce a comprehensive detection outcome.Extensive experiments on three social robot detection datasets have shown that this method effectively improves the accuracy of social robot detection and outperforms comparative methods.
基金Supported by the High Technology Research and Development Programme of China (No. 2006AA04Z205)
文摘A global localization system of in-pipe robot is introduced in this paper.Global position system(GPS)is applied to monitor the motion of robot along the whole pipeline which is equally divided intomany segments by tracking stations.The definite segment in which robot existing can be detected and thisis long-range localization.Ultra-long wave(ULW)is adopted to solve the problem of metallic shieldingand realize effective communication between inside and outside of pipeline.ULW emitter is carried byrobot.When the plant is broken or defects on pipe-wall are inspected,the robot will stop moving.Anten-na array is presented and disposed upon the definite segment to search the accurate location of robot,andthis is short-range localization.In this paper,five-antenna array is adopted and an effective linear signalfusion algorithm is presented.The localization precision reaches R < 25cm.By tests in Shengli oil field,the whole system is verified with robust solutions.
基金High Technology Research and Development( 863 ) Programe of China ( No.2002AA442110) The Cooperative Fund ofYunnan Province and Shanghai JiaotongUniv.(No.2001KABAA00A025)
文摘A new type of in-pipe mobile robot was designed and developed on the basis of w heel in-pipe robot and crawler in-pipe robot. The three sets of driving wheels circumferentially 120° apart in the cross section, both front and rear driving wheels are distributed on the same parallelogram mechanis m. The driving motor drives the three sets of driving wheels by worm couple, the regulating motor makes the three sets of driving wheels push against the pipe inwall with stable and adequate pressing force by the ball screw pair and p ressure sensor, so the in-pipe robot can provide adequate and stable traction force. The robot mechanism is simple and sm all in size and work reliably . It is particularly suitable to the pipe with diameter 400～650 mm.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52175259)the 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University.
文摘Rollover accidents involving agricultural wheeled robots,accompanied by severe mechanical impacts,pose serious threats to operational safety and reduce functional efficiency.To address this issue,an active rollover prevention strategy is proposed,utilizing a single‐gimbal control moment gyro(SGCMG),to stabilize typical agricultural robots and prevent potential rollovers.To match the free oscillation of the pivot front axle,a novel recovery torque model of the coupled robot‐SGCMG system is established,in which two patterns are introduced to refine the rollover process with uncertain parameters.Additionally,a lateral stability index is adopted and analyzed to assess the hazard level of potential rollovers.Aimed at handling uncertain parameters and hazard levels,an adaptive backstepping control strategy is developed for real‐time anti‐rollover implementation.Within this strategy,control gains are adaptively tuned based on theoretical derivations,thereby suppressing rollover tendency while minimizing tuning effort.For verification,a scaled experimental platform,designed according to similarity theory,is constructed to ensure safety of personnel and equipment.Experimental results show that the proposed method can precisely regulate the output torque of the gyro,rapidly and effectively mitigating the risk of imminent rollover.This method provides a promising solution for wheeled robot stability and a theoretical basis for advanced safety control in agricultural robotics.
基金the financial support from the Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing(RIAM)of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University(project Nos.1-CD9F and 1-CDK3)the Research Grants Council(RGC)of Hong Kong(project Nos.25200424 and 15206223)+2 种基金the GuangDong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(project No.2023A1515110709)the Startup fund(project No.1-BE9L)of the Hong Kong Polytechnic Universitysupported by grant from the Research Committee of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University under student account code RN5Y.
文摘Inspired by bacterial motility mechanisms,Magnetic Helical Miniature Robots(MHMRs)exhibit promising applications in biomedical fields due to their efficient locomotion and compatibility with biological tissues.In this review,we systematically survey the basics of MHMRs,from propulsion mechanism,magnetization and control methods to biomedical applications,aiming to provide readers with an easily understandable overview and fundamental knowledge on implementing MHMRs.The MHMRs are actuated by rotating magnetic fields,achieving steering and rotation through magnetic torque,and converting rotation into forward motion through the helical structure.Magnetization methods for MHMRs are reviewed into three types:attaching magnets,magnetic coatings,and magnetic powder doping.Additionally,this review discusses the control methods for MHMRs,covering imaging techniques,path tracking control—including classical control algorithms and increasingly popular learning-based methods,and swarm control.Subsequently,a comprehensive survey is conducted on the biomedical applications of MHMRs in the treatment of vascular diseases,drug delivery,cell delivery,and their integration with catheters.We finally provide a perspective about future challenges in MHMR research,including enhancing functional design capabilities,developing swarm-assisted independent control mechanisms,refining in vivo imaging techniques,and ensuring robust biocompatibility for safe medical use.
基金supported by the National Key Research&Development Program of China(Grant No.2020YFB1313504)the State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Aerospace Structures of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
文摘Gecko-inspired robots have significant potential applications;however,deviations in the yaw direction during locomotion are inevitable for legged robots that lack external sensing.These deviations cause the robot to stray from its intended path.Therefore,a cost-effective and straightforward solution is essential for reducing this deviation.In nature,the tail is often used to maintain balance and stability.Similarly,it has been used in robots to improve manoeuvrability and stability.Our aim is to reduce this deviation using a morphological computation approach,specifically by adding a tail.To test this hypothesis,we investigated four different tails(rigid plate,rigid gecko-shaped,soft plate,and soft gecko-shaped)and assessed the deviation of the robot with these tails on different slopes.Additionally,to evaluate the influence of different tail parameters,such as material,shape,and linkage,we investigated the locomotion performance in terms of the robot's climbing speed on slopes,its ability to turn at narrow corners,and the resistance of the tails to external disturbances.A new auto-reset joint was designed to ensure that a disturbed tail could be quickly reset.Our results demonstrate that the yaw deviation of the robot can be reduced by applying a tail.Among the four tails,the soft gecko-shaped tail was the most effective for most tasks.In summary,our findings demonstrate the functional role of the tail in reducing yaw deviation,improving climbing ability and stability and provide a reference for selecting the most suitable tail for geckoinspired robots.
文摘In recent years,the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence(AI)has fostered deep integration between large AI models and robotic technology.Robots such as robotic dogs capable of carrying heavy loads on mountainous terrain or performing waste disposal tasks and humanoid robots that can execute high-precision component installations have gradually reached the public eye,raising expectations for embodied intelligent robots.
