Analysis of kinematic constraints in the linkage model of a Mecanum-wheeled robot and a trailer with conventional wheels. - In: Applied Sciences, ISSN 2076-3417, Bd. 13 (2023), 13, 7449, S. 1-15
Mechanical systems that consist of a four-wheeled or two-wheeled robot with Mecanum wheels and a two-wheeled trailer with conventional wheels are considered. The kinematic characteristics of the mechanical systems under consideration of holonomic and non-holonomic constraints are presented and compared. From this, it is shown that the structure of the kinematic constraint equations for mobile systems with a trailer does not apply to Chaplygin’s dynamic equations. If the mechanical system is not Chaplygin’s system, then the dynamic equations cannot be integrated separately from the equations of kinematic constraints. This is the difference between the kinematic constraint equations for the robot-trailer system and the constraint equations for a single robot with Mecanum wheels. Examples of numerical calculations using the equations of kinematic constraints are given.
https://doi.org/10.3390/app13137449
A multipole magnetoactive elastomer for vibration-driven locomotion. - In: Soft Robotics, ISSN 2169-5180, Bd. 10 (2023), 4, S. 770-784
Smart materials such as magnetoactive elastomers (MAEs) combine elastic and magnetic properties that can be significantly changed in response to a magnetic field and therefore offer enormous potential for applications in both scientific research and engineering. When such an elastomer contains microsized hard magnetic particles, it can become an elastic magnet once magnetized in a strong magnetic field. This article studies a multipole MAE with the aim of utilizing it as an actuation element of vibration-driven locomotion robots. The elastomer beam has three magnetic poles overall with the same poles at the ends and possesses silicone bristles protruding from its underside. The quasi-static bending of the multipole elastomer in a uniform magnetic field is investigated experimentally. The theoretical model exploits the magnetic torque to describe the field-induced bending shapes. The unidirectional locomotion of the elastomeric bristle-bot is realized in two prototype designs using magnetic actuation of either an external or an integrated source of an alternating magnetic field. The motion principle is based on cyclic interplay of asymmetric friction and inertia forces caused by field-induced bending vibrations of the elastomer. The locomotion behavior of both prototypes shows a strong resonant dependency of the advancing speed on the frequency of applied magnetic actuation.
https://doi.org/10.1089/soro.2022.0106
Thermosensitive elastomers for shape adaption of soft robotic systems. - In: ACTUATOR 2022: International Conference and Exhibition on New Actuator Systems and Applications, (2022), S. 290-293
Recent advances in soft robotics demonstrate robust and versatile performance for dexterous grasping and manipulation. Due to their intrinsically mechanical compliance, soft robots passively adapt their shape to an object during contact. This results in large contact patches and damping of contact dynamics, which compensates for uncertainties in sensing, modeling, and actuation. Therefore, the behavior of soft robots is also determined by contact-based deformations. Building these kinds of compliant structures by using thermosensitive hybrid materials of polydimethylsiloxane and different thermoplastic filler particles as thermosensitive elastomers (TSE) the design could receive a higher versatility and extra functionality. Thermosensitive elastomers (TSE) consist of an addition curing RTV-2 silicone in which different thermoplastic filler particles are embedded. These thermoplastic particles are polycaprolactone (PCL), polyamide-6 (PA6) and polymethylmethacrylat (PMMA) with melting temperatures in the range of 58deg C to 215deg C. In certain examinations, soft magnetic carbonyl iron particles (CIP) are also included to prove the compatibility of the two particle types within the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix and to utilize a possible symbiotic effect of the particle mixtures. By means of mechanical tests, the thermosensitive hybrid materials enable shape changes by applying both external heat and stress/force. With a low melting point in the range of 58 deg C to 60 deg C, PCL offers good application potential compared to the other thermoplastic filler particles. One of PCL most important and application-oriented phenomena is the shape memory effect, which results from internal stresses between elastomer molecular chains and PCL particles. Whereby the external shape arises from the equilibrium of all internal forces. Consequently, the material composites can be referred to as both TSE and shape memory polymers (SMP). By adding soft magnetic particles, an accelerated heat distribution within the samples was detected, which results in a faster occurrence of the corresponding effects. Micro computed tomography (mu-CT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examinations indicate that a homogeneous distribution of PCL and CIP within the thermosensitive elastomer prevails. Moreover, the TSE additionally contain CIP can combine the benefits of temperature and magnetic field effects. Due to the material's ability to imprint or adapt to any shape, thermosensitive elastomers as shape memory polymers represent a potential opportunity to modify pre-existing robotic components. Depending on the initial design and force application, the modified systems could adapt to almost any shape under the influence of temperature. This leads to their use in a variety of applications in adaptive sensors, smart actuators, and gripping elements in soft robotics.
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9899226
Vibrissa-inspired tactile sensing : object shape detection under frictional influences. - Ilmenau, 2022. - x, 154 Seiten
Technische Universität Ilmenau, Dissertation 2022
Die taktile Sensorik birgt große Potenziale für die Weiterentwicklung von technischen Geräten und deren Einsatz in unstrukturierten Umgebungen. Häufig sind taktile Sensorkonzepte von der Natur inspiriert, z.B. durch die mystazialen Vibrissen der Ratte. Diese speziellen Tasthaare dienen als multimodale Sensoren, die Ratten u.a. zur Objektformkennung befähigen. Die vorliegende Arbeit verfolgt einen biomimetischen Ansatz mit dem Ziel der Weiterentwicklung vibrissen-inspirierter Sensoren für die 3D-Objektformerkennung unter Reibungseinflüssen. Das biologische Vorbild Vibrisse besteht im Wesentlichen aus einem hochflexiblen, nicht-sensorischen Haarschaft, welcher in seinen eigenen Follikel-Sinus-Komplex eingebettet ist, der sensorische Komponenten enthält. Diese Struktur wird abstrahiert und auf ein technisches Sensorkonzept übertragen. Zur Realisierung der Objektabtastung wird ein schlanker, einseitig eingespannter, hochflexibler Taster durch lineare Verschiebung der Einspannung entlang des Zielobjekts gestrichen. Die resultierenden Lagerreaktionen dienen als einzige Observablen für die Rekonstruktion von Kontaktpunktfolgen zwischen Taster und Objekt, die schließlich auf die Form des letzteren schließen lassen. Zu diesem Zweck wird das Sensorkonzept mechanisch modelliert und mithilfe von Modellgleichungen beschrieben. Aufbauend auf der Analyse der 2D-Objektabtastung und -Rekonstruktion unter Reibungseinflüssen wird das Modell auf den allgemeinen 3D Fall erweitert. In Simulationen und Experimenten wird die allgemeine Umsetzbarkeit der Objektformerkennung demonstriert. Simulationsbasierte Parameterstudien verdeutlichen zudem den Einfluss der (Coulomb) Reibung auf die Lagerreaktionen und die Rekonstruktionsergebnisse. Während die Lagerreaktionen signifikant von Reibungseffekten beeinflusst werden, ist der Fehler der rekonstruierten Kontaktpunkte reibungsinvariant (unbeeinflusst durch den Reibungskoeffizienten). Diese Erkenntnisse werden im Zusammenhang mit den experimentellen Ergebnissen diskutiert. Darüber hinaus wird für den Fall der 2D-Objektabtastung ein Ansatz zur Rekonstruktion von Reibungsparametern vorgestellt, für den ein erster experimenteller Konzeptnachweis erbracht wird. Schließlich wird das Sensormodell mit Blick auf das biologische Vorbild durch Implementierung einer elastischen Lagerung und einer rotatorischen Abtastkinematik angepasst.
Shape-programmable cantilever made of a magnetoactive elastomer of mixed content. - In: Smart materials and structures, ISSN 1361-665X, Bd. 31 (2022), 10, 105021, S. 1-14
This work presents an approach to the macroscopic field-controlled mechanics of magnetoactive elastomers of mixed content, which are a special type of smart materials made of an elastic composite and a combination of two essentially different ferromagnetic fillers. High-coercive particles of NdFeB-alloy powder for the magnetically hard (MH) filler and carbonyl iron powder particles with nearly zero coercivity for the magnetically soft (MS) filler are usually used. The MH particles are tens-of-micron in size and impart to the elastomer a remanent magnetisation, whereas due to the MS particles of several microns in size, the elastomer acquires a high magnetic susceptibility. Since large MH particles once magnetised in a strong field possess their own fields to which the MS particles are susceptible, the overall elastomer magnetisation as well as its mechanical response greatly depends on the relative concentration of both fillers. This work particularly studies the bending deformation of horizontally fixed magnetoactive cantilevers with the permanent magnetisation along the length axis under the action of gravity and a vertically applied uniform magnetic field. The cantilevers of the same geometry and fixed NdFeB content but different carbonyl iron concentration are considered. The magnetomechanical model is developed based on the finite-strain theory assuming the plane-stress approximation of the two-dimensional cantilever of infinite width. The magnetic energy comprises two magnetic terms, one of which is qualitatively linear and the other one is quadratic in the applied field strength. The numerically calculated field-programmed equilibrium bending shapes of the cantilevers are compared with the experimentally observed shapes. The model provides good agreement with the experiment up to moderate concentrations of the MS filler, when the coefficients of customary interpolation formulas for the concentration dependencies of elastic modulus and magnetic susceptibility are properly adjusted.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-665X/ac8f79
Actuators based on a controlled particle-matrix interaction in magnetic hybrid materials for applications in locomotion and manipulation systems. - In: Magnetic hybrid-materials, (2022), S. 653-680
The paper deals with the investigation of magneto-sensitive elastomers (MSE) and their application in technical actuator systems. MSE consist of an elastic matrix containing suspended magnetically soft and/or hard particles. Additionally, they can also contain silicone oil, graphite particles, thermoplastic components, etc., in various concentrations in order to tune specific properties such as viscosity, conductivity and thermoelasticity, respectively. The focuses of investigations are the beneficial properties of MSE in prototypes for locomotion and manipulation purposes that possess an integrated sensor function. The research follows the principle of a model-based design, i.e. the working steps are ideation, mathematical modelling, material characterization as well as building first functional models (prototypes). The developed apedal (without legs) and non-wheeled locomotion systems use the interplay between material deformations and the mechanical motion in connection with the issues of control and stability. Non-linear friction phenomena lead to a monotonous forward motion of the systems. The aim of this study is the design of such mechanical structures, which reduce the control costs. The investigations deal with the movement and control of 'intelligent' mechanisms, for which the magnetically field-controlled particle-matrix interactions provide an appropriate approach. The presented grippers enclose partially gripped objects, which is an advantage for handling sensitive objects. Form-fit grippers with adaptable contour at the contact area enable a uniform pressure distribution on the surface of gripped objects. Furthermore, with the possibility of active shape adaptation, objects with significantly differing geometries can be gripped. To realise the desired active shape adaptation, the effect of field-induced plasticity of MSE is used. The first developed prototypes mainly confirm the functional principles as such without direct application. For this, besides the ability of locomotion and manipulation itself, further technological possibilities have to be added to the systems.
Magnetoactive elastomers for magnetically tunable vibrating sensor systems. - In: Magnetic hybrid-materials, (2022), S. 625-652
Magnetoactive elastomers (MAEs) are a special type of smart materials consisting of an elastic matrix with embedded microsized particles that are made of ferromagnetic materials with high or low coercivity. Due to their composition, such elastomers possess unique magnetic field-dependent material properties. The present paper compiles the results of investigations on MAEs towards an approach of their potential application as vibrating sensor elements with adaptable sensitivity. Starting with the model-based and experimental studies of the free vibrational behavior displayed by cantilevers made of MAEs, it is shown that the first bending eigenfrequency of the cantilevers depends strongly on the strength of an applied uniform magnetic field. The investigations of the forced vibration response of MAE beams subjected to inplane kinematic excitation confirm the possibility of active magnetic control of the amplitude-frequency characteristics. With change of the uniform field strength, the MAE beam reveals different steady-state responses for the same excitation, and the resonance may occur at various ranges of the excitation frequency. Nonlinear dependencies of the amplification ratio on the excitation frequency are obtained for different magnitudes of the applied field. Furthermore, it is shown that the steady-state vibrations of MAE beams can be detected based on the magnetic field distortion. The field difference, which is measured simultaneously on the sides of a vibrating MAE beam, provides a signal with the same frequency as the excitation and an amplitude proportional to the amplitude of resulting vibrations. The presented prototype of the MAE-based vibrating unit with the field-controlled "configuration" can be implemented for realization of acceleration sensor systems with adaptable sensitivity. The ongoing research on MAEs is oriented to the use of other geometrical forms along with beams, e.g. two-dimensional structures such as membranes.
Investigations on a torque-compensating adjustment drive for mechanically sensitive devices. - In: Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference of the European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology, (2022), S. 81-82
Parametric instability of a vertically driven magnetic pendulum with eddy-current braking by a flat plate. - In: Nonlinear dynamics, ISSN 1573-269X, Bd. 109 (2022), 2, S. 509-529
The vertically driven pendulum is one of the classical systems where parametric instability occurs. We study its behavior with an additional electromagnetic interaction caused by eddy currents in a nearby thick conducting plate that are induced when the bob is a magnetic dipole. The known analytical expressions of the induced electromagnetic force and torque acting on the dipole are valid in the quasistatic limit, i.e., when magnetic diffusivity of the plate is sufficiently high to ensure an equilibrium between magnetic field advection and diffusion. The equation of motion of the vertically driven pendulum is derived assuming that its magnetic dipole moment is aligned with the axis of rotation and that the conducting plate is horizontal. The vertical position of the pendulum remains an equilibrium with the electromagnetic interaction. Conditions for instability of this equilibrium are derived analytically by the harmonic balance method for the subharmonic and harmonic resonances in the limit of weak electromagnetic interaction. The analytical stability boundaries agree with the results of numerical Floquet analysis for these conditions but differ substantially when the electromagnetic interaction is strong. The numerical analysis demonstrates that the area of harmonic instability can become doubly connected. Bifurcation diagrams obtained numerically show the co-existence of stable periodic orbits in such conditions. For moderately strong driving, chaotic motions can be maintained for the subharmonic instability.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11071-022-07555-8
Bending vibration systems which are complementary with respect to eigenvalues. - In: Mechatronics and life sciences, (2022), S. 277-286
In developing prototypes, one fundamental activity is to model appropriate systems which mimic fundamental features of (biological) paradigms. In this way, we set up different models for the investigation of natural frequencies. The aim is to detect object contacts of technical sensors in observing their vibration behavior. For this, we compare the range and the shift of natural frequencies determined from the analysis of the arising two-point boundary-value problems. In particular, we found two systems with complementary spectra of eigenvalues. Considering boundary damping we analyzed these eigenvalues in the first octant of the complex plane. The fundamental result is that these two systems offer no common eigenvalue, they are alternative. This is an interesting and unique observation.