RobMAT: Teleoperation of a modular robot for collaborative manipulation

The present paper describes the architecture of a modular robot called RobMAT. A module description which includes both hardware and software features are shown. The module has 3 DoF which gives great functionality to the module. The connection between modules forms molecules. The simplest molecule is called base with 5 DoF. Channels of communication between modules (CAN bus) and molecules (Bluetooth) are also described. A method in representing molecule configurations based on Graph Theory is explained. This method allows developing algorithm for dynamically changing-robots such as modular robots. It also explains how the molecule is allowed to act as a whole synchronization algorithm. Finally a collaborative manipulation task, which is teleoperated, is shown. Elements involve in teleoperation are also described.