Unparameterized optimization of the spring characteristic of parallel elastic actuators

Linda F. van der Spaa*, Wouter J. Wolfslag, Martijn Wisse

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)
209 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In electrically actuated robots most energy losses are due to the heating of the actuators. This energy loss can be greatly reduced with parallel elastic actuators, by optimizing the elastic element such that it delivers most of the required torques. Previously used optimization methods relied on parameterizing the spring characteristic, thereby limiting the set of spring characteristics optimized over and with that the loss reduction that can be obtained. This letter shows that such parametrization is not necessary; a method is presented to compute the optimal characteristic as an analytic function of the trajectory. The efficacy of this method is demonstrated using two examples. The first example considers the optimal spring characteristic for a parallel elastic actuator supporting the human ankle during walking. The second example applies the method in combination with trajectory optimization on a single degree of freedom robot performing a specific pick-and-place task. The task at hand has a height difference between the pick and the place location. With the analytical optimal spring, it is shown that the robot can recover enough of the energy released by the package to function without external electric energy supply.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)854-861
JournalIEEE Robotics and Automation Letters
Volume4
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Bibliographical note

Accepted Author Manuscript

Keywords

  • dynamics
  • Mechanism design
  • optimization and optimal control

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