19 accepted papers
We developed a simple peg-in-hole strategy that uses flexible joints and peg rotations. Even when the circle peg in the peg-in-hole assembly contains position and orientation errors, it can be inserted in a passive and robust manner. Additionally, using force-torque sensors to estimate the contact p…
We developed a simple peg-in-hole strategy that uses flexible joints and peg rotations. Even when the circle peg in the peg-in-hole assembly contains position and orientation errors, it can be inserted in a passive and robust manner. Additionally, using force-torque sensors to estimate the contact p
Grasping an unknown object is difficult for robot hands. When the characteristics of the object are unknown, knowing how to plan the speed at and width to which the fingers are narrowed is difficult. In this letter, we propose a method to realize the three functions of simultaneous finger contact, i
This study proposes a novel robotic gripper with variable grasping configurations for grasping various objects. The fingers of the developed gripper incorporate multiple different surfaces. The gripper possesses the function of altering the finger surfaces facing a target object by rotating the fing
This study presents a method for estimating the three-dimensional (3D) shapes of transparent objects from an RGB-D image using a statistical shape model. Statistical shape models compress the dimensions of multiple shapes to represent shape variations using fewer parameters. It is difficult to measu…
This study proposed a novel robotic gripper that can achieve grasping and infinite wrist twisting motions using a single actuator. The gripper is equipped with a differential gear mechanism that allows switching between the grasping and twisting motions according to the magnitude of the tip force ap
This letter proposes a robust grasping strategy for unknown objects by performing non-contact grasp-stability evaluation based on proximity sensing. First, we developed a proximity sensor for a multi-fingered hand. Its features are sensor mounting on a spherical fingertip and coating with transparen
This letter proposes a novel pneumatic soft robotic hand that incorporates a mechanism that can switch the airflow path using a single airflow control. The developed hand can control the finger motion and operate the surface friction variable mechanism. In the friction variable mechanism, a lubrican
Quickness, preciseness and robustness are required in manipulation tasks of robotic hands for automation of manufacturing sites. Previous researches have found that sensing from fingertips equipped with proximity sensors is available for the requirements, because it complements blind areas of vision…
In this letter, we present a novel gripper, whose design was inspired by chuck clamping devices, for transferring heavy objects and assembling parts precisely in industrial applications. The developed gripper is lightweight (0.9 kg), can manipulate heavy payloads (over 23 kgf), and can automatically
Unnoticed collisions compromise the success of remote exploratory tasks with mobile robots. We propose a vibrotactile stimulation method to represent frontal collisions that is based on the way people perceive impacts on a bar held with both hands. We observed that to estimate the impact point in a…
A self-reconfigurable modular robotic system has potential to carry out a wide variety of tasks in various fields and conditions. For realizing such versatileness and robustness, the compositional modules have to be designed so that the combined structure is equipped with high degree of freedom of t…
This letter proposes a sheet-shaped force sensor for covering a robot fingertip. The sensor consists of flexible materials and can be adaptively designed to the shape of the fingertip. When a load acts on the sensor, the contact position and both normal and tangential forces can be detected. Experim
This letter investigates the effect of the surface texture of soft deformable fingertips on the maximum resistible force under dry and wet conditions, and proposes a new hybrid structure that provides a stable grasp under both conditions. One definition of stable grasp is the capability of balancing
This paper presents methodologies for dexterous manipulation by an underactuated robotic soft gripper with a low DOF. While the softness and passive joints provide a stable grasp, the manipulations become challenging owing to the complexities of modeling and state estimation. To investigate the draw…
A novel robotic gripper with soft surfaces and underactuated joints was proposed. The soft surface was fabricated from a deformable rubber bag filled with incompressible fluid and a microgripper inside the fluid. A ratchet was installed at the underactuated joint so that the joint's rotation caused
In this study, we propose integrated control of a robotic hand and arm using only proximity sensing from the fingertips. An integrated control scheme for the fingers and for the arm enables quick control of the position and posture of the arm by placing the fingertips adjacent to the surface of an o
Quick motion and soft touch control are important for autonomous grasping. To perform a grasping action, a hand must adjust its fingertips to match the object shape. It is also necessary to reduce the fingertip velocity on contact with the object.We propose a method of fingertip velocity control for…
This study presents a robot-hand-arm system with high robustness and responsiveness by using a “Net-Structure Proximity Sensor.” The sensor, which we have developed and specially designed for a robot hand, directly detects an object being to be grasped and outputs analog voltage signals according to…