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2015 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

Small sized force/torque sensors for robotic arms and hands

Research Project

Project/Area Number 15K21443
Research InstitutionWaseda University

Principal Investigator

シュミッツ アレクサンダー  早稲田大学, 理工学術院, 助教 (30729455)

Project Period (FY) 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
KeywordsF/T Sensors
Outline of Annual Research Achievements

We have implemented and tested the 3-axis capacitive force sensor for skin. The main novelty is the tilted capacitive transducers with copper beryllium that enables measuring the tangential forces acting on the sensor surface. Experiments clearly show that the sensor can sense the 3D force vector with a certain level of accuracy. Even after the molding, the sensor has a relatively high SNR. In our experiments, the hysteresis was limited within 4% of the maximum force after the molding when covered with a 7mm-thick layer of Ecoflex Supersoft 30 silicone rubber. The temperature compensation pad can limit the effect of temperature changes on the sensor measurements.

Furthermore, we have implemented a tactile sensor that uses Hall-effect sensors. This sensor requires less space and the production is easier than for the capacitive sensor. We implemented a tactile sensor system that can be installed on robotic hands, in particular, the commercially available Allegro Hand from Simlab. Each sensor module contains 16 tri-axial Hall effect force sensors and eight tri-axial accelerometers. The modules are 26mm long and 27mm wide and fit on each of the 11 servo motors that constitute the finger phalanges of the Allegro Hand. The 3-axis Hall effect sensors are close to each other (4.7 from the center of one sensor to the next), but experiments proved that the crosstalk is limited, and the position and shape of the contact can be extracted.

Current Status of Research Progress
Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

We have made better progress than expected with the distributed skin sensors. We are currently working on the 6-axis F/T sensors.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

We have made all the parts for the capacitive 6-axis F/T sensor, but have yet to assemble a complete prototype. For the 3-axis F/T sensors for skin, there are many possible improvements, which will be implemented. Moreover, there are many tests which remain to be performed on the sensors. The sensor integration on the robot arm and hand is incomplete and will be done in the future. Experiments with the arm and hand will be performed.

Causes of Carryover

We asked for the money to buy a robot arm to install the sensors. Unexpectedly, we could use an existing robot arm in the lab (and an existing robot hand) to test the sensors. The existing robot arm and hand can easily be modified to allow the installation of the sensors. Therefore, we did not need to acquire a new robot arm.

Expenditure Plan for Carryover Budget

In the 2nd year, we will focus on the improvement of the sensors, the integration on the robot, and the software development. I will buy new PCBs for improved sensors and other material like silicone and chips to implement the sensors.

  • Research Products

    (9 results)

All 2016 2015

All Journal Article (3 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 3 results,  Peer Reviewed: 3 results,  Open Access: 1 results,  Acknowledgement Compliant: 3 results) Presentation (5 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 5 results) Patent(Industrial Property Rights) (1 results) (of which Overseas: 1 results)

  • [Journal Article] Design and Characterization of a Three-Axis Hall Effect-Based Soft Skin Sensor2016

    • Author(s)
      Tomo, T.P., Somlor, S., Schmitz, A., Jamone, L., Huang, W., Kristanto, H. and Sugano, S.
    • Journal Title

      Sensors

      Volume: 16 (4) Pages: 1-11

    • DOI

      10.3390/s16040491

    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
  • [Journal Article] A Novel Tri-axial Capacitive-Type Skin Sensor2015

    • Author(s)
      Somlor, S., Hartanto, R.S., Schmitz, A. and Sugano, S.
    • Journal Title

      Advanced Robotics

      Volume: 29 (21) Pages: 1375-1391

    • DOI

      10.1080/01691864.2015.1092394

    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
  • [Journal Article] First Results of Tilted Capacitive Sensors to Detect Shear Force2015

    • Author(s)
      Somlor, S., Schmitz, A., Hartanto, R.S. and Sugano S.
    • Journal Title

      Procedia Computer Science

      Volume: 76 Pages: 101–106

    • DOI

      10.1016/j.procs.2015.12.289

    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research / Acknowledgement Compliant
  • [Presentation] Interpolation Control Posture Design for In-Hand Manipulation2015

    • Author(s)
      Or, K., Tomura, M., Schmitz, A., Funabashi, S. and Sugano, S.
    • Organizer
      IEEE/SICE International Symposium on System Integration (SII 2015)
    • Place of Presentation
      Nagoya, Japan
    • Year and Date
      2015-12-11 – 2015-12-13
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Feature Extraction by Deep Learning for Improved In-Hand Manipulation2015

    • Author(s)
      Funabashi, S., Sato, T., Schmitz, A., Sugano, S.
    • Organizer
      6th International Conference on Advanced Mechatronics (ICAM2015)
    • Place of Presentation
      Tokyo, Japan
    • Year and Date
      2015-12-05 – 2015-12-08
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Development of a Hall-Effect Based Skin Sensor2015

    • Author(s)
      Tomo, T.P, Somlor, S., Jamone, L., Schmitz, A., Hashimoto, S. and Sugano, S.
    • Organizer
      IEEE SENSORS Conference 2015 (52% acceptance rate)
    • Place of Presentation
      Busan, South Korea
    • Year and Date
      2015-11-01 – 2015-11-04
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Robust In-Hand Manipulation of Variously Sized and Shaped Objects2015

    • Author(s)
      Funabashi, S., Schmitz, A., Sato, T., Somlor, S., Sugano, S.
    • Organizer
      IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2015)
    • Place of Presentation
      Hamburg, Germany
    • Year and Date
      2015-09-29 – 2015-10-02
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] A Haptic Interface with Adjustable Stiffness Using MR Fluid2015

    • Author(s)
      Somlor, S., Aguirre Dominguez, G., Schmitz, A., Kamezaki, M. and Sugano, S.
    • Organizer
      IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM 2015)
    • Place of Presentation
      Busan, South Korea
    • Year and Date
      2015-07-07 – 2015-07-11
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Patent(Industrial Property Rights)] 多軸力センサ2015

    • Inventor(s)
      シュミッツ ソムロア ハルタント 菅野
    • Industrial Property Rights Holder
      早稲田大学
    • Industrial Property Rights Type
      特許
    • Industrial Property Number
      2015-86315
    • Filing Date
      2015-04-20
    • Overseas

URL: 

Published: 2017-01-06  

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