Dynamics for variable length multisection continuum arms

Variable length multisection continuum arms are a class of continuum robotic manipulators that generate motion by structural mechanical deformation. Unlike most continuum robots, the sections of these arms do not have (central) supporting flexible backbone, and are actuated by multiple variable leng...

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Main Authors: Godage, Isuru S., Medrano-Cerda, Gustavo A., Branson, David T., Guglielmino, Emanuele, Caldwell, Darwin G.
Format: Article
Published: SAGE Publications 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/33138/
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author Godage, Isuru S.
Medrano-Cerda, Gustavo A.
Branson, David T.
Guglielmino, Emanuele
Caldwell, Darwin G.
author_facet Godage, Isuru S.
Medrano-Cerda, Gustavo A.
Branson, David T.
Guglielmino, Emanuele
Caldwell, Darwin G.
author_sort Godage, Isuru S.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Variable length multisection continuum arms are a class of continuum robotic manipulators that generate motion by structural mechanical deformation. Unlike most continuum robots, the sections of these arms do not have (central) supporting flexible backbone, and are actuated by multiple variable length actuators. Because of the constraining nature of actuators, the continuum sections can bend and/or elongate (compress) depending on the elongation/contraction characteristics of the actuators being used. Continuum arms have a number of distinctive differences with respect to traditional rigid arms namely: smooth bending, high inherent compliance, and adaptive whole arm grasping. However, due to numerical instability and the complexity of curve parametric models, there are no spatial dynamic models for multisection continuum arms. This paper introduces novel spatial dynamics and applies these to variable length multisection continuum arms with any number of sections. An efficient recursive computational scheme for deriving the equations of motion is presented. This is applied in a general form based on structurally accurate and numerically well-posed modal kinematics that assumes circular arc deformation of continuum sections without torsion. It is shown that the proposed modal dynamics are highly scalable, producing efficient and accurate numerical results. The spatial dynamic simulation results are experimentally validated using a pneumatic muscle actuated multisection prototype continuum arm. For the first time this enables investigation of spatial dynamic effects in this class of continuum arms.
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spelling nottingham-331382020-05-04T17:43:29Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/33138/ Dynamics for variable length multisection continuum arms Godage, Isuru S. Medrano-Cerda, Gustavo A. Branson, David T. Guglielmino, Emanuele Caldwell, Darwin G. Variable length multisection continuum arms are a class of continuum robotic manipulators that generate motion by structural mechanical deformation. Unlike most continuum robots, the sections of these arms do not have (central) supporting flexible backbone, and are actuated by multiple variable length actuators. Because of the constraining nature of actuators, the continuum sections can bend and/or elongate (compress) depending on the elongation/contraction characteristics of the actuators being used. Continuum arms have a number of distinctive differences with respect to traditional rigid arms namely: smooth bending, high inherent compliance, and adaptive whole arm grasping. However, due to numerical instability and the complexity of curve parametric models, there are no spatial dynamic models for multisection continuum arms. This paper introduces novel spatial dynamics and applies these to variable length multisection continuum arms with any number of sections. An efficient recursive computational scheme for deriving the equations of motion is presented. This is applied in a general form based on structurally accurate and numerically well-posed modal kinematics that assumes circular arc deformation of continuum sections without torsion. It is shown that the proposed modal dynamics are highly scalable, producing efficient and accurate numerical results. The spatial dynamic simulation results are experimentally validated using a pneumatic muscle actuated multisection prototype continuum arm. For the first time this enables investigation of spatial dynamic effects in this class of continuum arms. SAGE Publications 2016-05-01 Article PeerReviewed Godage, Isuru S., Medrano-Cerda, Gustavo A., Branson, David T., Guglielmino, Emanuele and Caldwell, Darwin G. (2016) Dynamics for variable length multisection continuum arms. International Journal of Robotics Research, 35 (6). pp. 695-722. ISSN 0278-3649 continuum arms modal shape functions spatial dynamics recursive computations http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0278364915596450 doi:10.1177/0278364915596450 doi:10.1177/0278364915596450
spellingShingle continuum arms
modal shape functions
spatial dynamics
recursive computations
Godage, Isuru S.
Medrano-Cerda, Gustavo A.
Branson, David T.
Guglielmino, Emanuele
Caldwell, Darwin G.
Dynamics for variable length multisection continuum arms
title Dynamics for variable length multisection continuum arms
title_full Dynamics for variable length multisection continuum arms
title_fullStr Dynamics for variable length multisection continuum arms
title_full_unstemmed Dynamics for variable length multisection continuum arms
title_short Dynamics for variable length multisection continuum arms
title_sort dynamics for variable length multisection continuum arms
topic continuum arms
modal shape functions
spatial dynamics
recursive computations
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/33138/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/33138/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/33138/