IP Library Granted Patent US 8,170,718
Granted Patent B2
US 8,170,718 · App. 12/338,697 · Granted May 1, 2012

Multiple priority operational space impedance control

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,170,718
App. No.
12/338,697
Granted
May 1, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for providing multiple priority impedance control for a robot manipulator where impedance laws are realized simultaneously and with a given order of priority. The method includes a control scheme for realizing a Cartesian space impedance objective as a first priority while also realizing a joint space impedance objective as a second priority. The method also includes a control scheme for realizing two Cartesian space impedance objectives with different levels of priority. The method includes instances of the control schemes that use feedback from force sensors mounted at an end-effector and other instances of the control schemes that do not use this feedback.

Claims (28)

1. A method for providing multiple priority operational space impedance or stiffness control for robotic manipulators, said method comprising:

defining, on a processor a plurality of different impedance or stiffness objectives defined operational space or joint space;

assigning a priority to the different impedance or stiffness objectives;

controlling a manipulator impedance such that a primary priority impedance or stiffness objective is realized;

controlling the manipulator impedance such that a secondary priority impedance or stiffness objective is realized to the extent possible while still realizing the primary priority impedance or stiffness objective; and

controlling the manipulator impedance such that lower priority impedance or stiffness objectives are realized to the extent possible while realizing all higher priority impedance or stiffness objectives.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein, at a given instant in time, a set of high priority impedance objectives describe a manifold of joint accelerations or joint torques that realize a set of high priority impedance objectives equally well.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the impedance or stiffness objectives are zero order, first order or second order linear impedances.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the manipulators realize an impedance that minimizes an acceleration error between a lower priority impedance objective and a manifold of equally good joint accelerations, the manipulator realizes an impedance or stiffness objective that minimizes a torque error between the lower priority impedance objective and a manifold of equally good joint torques.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein a pseudoinverse is used to calculate a minimum acceleration or torque error.

6. The method according to claim 4 wherein either a null space of a Jacobian or a Jacobian null space weighted by passive manipulator inertia is used to realize lower-priority impedance or stiffness objectives.

7. The method according to claim 3 wherein the primary priority impedance objective is defined in Cartesian space and the secondary priority impedance objective is defined in the joint space, the primary and secondary priority impedance or stiffness objectives are defined in Cartesian space.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein Cartesian space force sensors mounted on the robot manipulator are used to measure applied forces at multiple positions and these force measurements are used to implement prioritized impedance objectives.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein multiple priority impedance or stiffness objectives are realized without using Cartesian space force sensors and while retaining passive inertia of the manipulator.

10. The method according to claim 7 wherein the Cartesian space impedance or stiffness objectives are defined with zero stiffness in one or more of Cartesian space directions.

11. The method according to claim 7 wherein an offset force is applied in zero stiffness directions such that the manipulator applies a constant Cartesian space force in this direction.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein an additional force compensation scheme is used to regulate forces in the zero-stiffness Cartesian space direction.

13. A system for providing multiple priority operational space impedance or stiffness control for robotic manipulators, said system comprising:

means for defining a plurality of different impedance or stiffness objectives defined operational space or joint space;

means for assigning a priority to the different impedance or stiffness objectives;

means for controlling a manipulator impedance such that a primary priority impedance or stiffness objective is realized;

means for controlling the manipulator impedance such that a secondary priority impedance or stiffness objective is realized to the extent possible while still realizing the primary priority impedance or stiffness objective; and

means for controlling the manipulator impedance such that lower priority impedance or stiffness objectives are realized to the extent possible while realizing all higher priority impedance or stiffness objectives.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein the impedance or stiffness objectives are zero order, first order or second order linear impedances.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the manipulators realize an impedance that minimizes an acceleration error between a lower priority impedance objective and a manifold of equally good joint accelerations, the manipulator realizes an impedance or stiffness objective that minimizes a torque error between the lower priority impedance objective and a manifold of equally good joint torques.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein a pseudoinverse is used to calculate a minimum acceleration or torque error.

17. The system according to claim 15 wherein either a null space of a Jacobian or a Jacobian null space weighted by passive manipulator inertia is used to realize lower-priority impedance or stiffness objectives.

18. The system according to claim 14 wherein the primary priority impedance objective is defined in Cartesian space and the secondary priority impedance objective is defined in the joint space, the primary and secondary priority impedance or stiffness objectives are defined in Cartesian space.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034192/0299 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0245 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0515 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0046 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0909 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2010
From: OCEANEERING SPACE SYSTEMS
To: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Reel/Frame 024535/0018 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2009
From: PLATT, ROBERT
To: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Reel/Frame 023516/0706 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SPELLING OF THE THIRD INVENTOR'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 023287 FRAME 0473. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT SPELLING OF THE THIRD INVENTOR'S NAME IS CHARLES W. WAMPLER, II.. Recorded Oct 9, 2009
From: ABDALLAH, MUHAMMAD E.; REILAND, MATTHEW J.; WAMPLER, CHARLES W., II
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023352/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2009
From: ABDALLAH, MUHAMMAD E.; REILAND, MATTHEW J.; WAMPKER, CHARLES W., II
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023287/0473 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0237 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0313 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023126/0914 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0769 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022554/0538 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0448 →