Distributed control of modular and reconfigurable robot with torque sensing

A major technical challenge in controlling modular and reconfigurable robots is associated with the kinematics and dynamic model uncertainties caused by reconfiguration. In parallel, conventional model uncertainties such as uncompensated joint friction still persist. This paper presents a modular distributed control technique for modular and reconfigurable robots that can instantly adapt to robot reconfigurations. Under the proposed control method that is based on joint torque sensing, a modular and reconfigurable robot is stabilized joint by joint, and modules can be added or removed without the need to adjust control parameters of the other modules of the robot. Model uncertainties associated with link and payload masses are compensated using joint torque sensor measurement. The remaining model uncertainties, including uncompensated dynamic coupling and joint friction, are compensated by a decomposition-based robust controller. Simulation results have confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed method.