Coordination and control of multi-fingered robot hands with rolling and sliding contacts

In this paper, the problem of controlling multi-fingered robot hands with rolling and sliding contacts is addressed. Several issues are explored. These issues involve the kinematic analysis and modeling, the dynamic analysis and control, and the coordination of a multi-fingered robot hand system. Based on a hand-object system in which the contacts are allowed to both roll and slide, a kinematic model is derived and analyzed. Also, the dynamic model of the hand-object system with relative motion contacts is studied. A control law is proposed to guarantee the asymptotic tracking of the object trajectory together with the desired rolling and/or sliding motions along the surface of the object. A planning approach is then introduced to minimize the contact forces so that the desired motion of the object and the relative motions between the fingers and the object can be achieved. Simulation results which support the theoretical development are presented.