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Dynamic Locomotion Article Beyond Basins of Attraction: Quantifying Robustness of Natural Dynamics Steve Heim, , Spröwitz, A. IEEE Transactions on Robotics (T-RO) , 35(4):939-952, August 2019 (Published)
Properly designing a system to exhibit favorable natural dynamics can greatly simplify designing or learning the control policy. However, it is still unclear what constitutes favorable natural dynamics and how to quantify its effect. Most studies of simple walking and running models have focused on the basins of attraction of passive limit cycles and the notion of self-stability. We instead emphasize the importance of stepping beyond basins of attraction. In this paper, we show an approach based on viability theory to quantify robust sets in state-action space. These sets are valid for the family of all robust control policies, which allows us to quantify the robustness inherent to the natural dynamics before designing the control policy or specifying a control objective. We illustrate our formulation using spring-mass models, simple low-dimensional models of running systems. We then show an example application by optimizing robustness of a simulated planar monoped, using a gradient-free optimization scheme. Both case studies result in a nonlinear effective stiffness providing more robustness.
arXiv preprint arXiv:1806.08081 T-RO DOI URL BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Article Series Elastic Behavior of Biarticular Muscle-Tendon Structure in a Robotic Leg Ruppert, F., Badri-Spröwitz, A. Frontiers in Neurorobotics, 64:13, 13, August 2019 (Published) Frontiers YouTube DOI URL BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Conference Paper The positive side of damping Heim, S., Millard, M., Le Mouel, C., Sproewitz, A. Proceedings of AMAM, The 9th International Symposium on Adaptive Motion of Animals and Machines, August 2019 (Published) BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Book Chapter Das Tier als Modell für Roboter, und Roboter als Modell für Tiere Badri-Spröwitz, A. In 167-175, Springer, 2019 DOI BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Master Thesis Electronics, Software and Analysis of a Bioinspired Sensorized Quadrupedal Robot Petereit, R. Technische Universität München, 2019 BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Master Thesis Entwicklung und Analyse neuartiger fluidischer Aktoren mit Rollmembran Hepp, J. Technische Universität München, 2019 BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Conference Paper Quantifying the Robustness of Natural Dynamics: a Viability Approach Heim, S., Sproewitz, A. Proceedings of Dynamic Walking , Dynamic Walking , 2019 (Published) Submission DW2019 BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Master Thesis Gait analysis of running guinea fowls Bonnet, A. August 2018 (Published) BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Article Oncilla robot: a versatile open-source quadruped research robot with compliant pantograph legs Sproewitz, A., Tuleu, A., Ajallooeian, M., Vespignani, M., Moeckel, R., Eckert, P., D’Haene, M., Degrave, J., Nordmann, A., Schrauwen, B., Steil, J., Ijspeert, A. J. Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 5(67), June 2018, arXiv: 1803.06259 (Published)
We present Oncilla robot, a novel mobile, quadruped legged locomotion machine. This large-cat sized, 5.1 robot is one of a kind of a recent, bioinspired legged robot class designed with the capability of model-free locomotion control. Animal legged locomotion in rough terrain is clearly shaped by sensor feedback systems. Results with Oncilla robot show that agile and versatile locomotion is possible without sensory signals to some extend, and tracking becomes robust when feedback control is added (Ajaoolleian 2015). By incorporating mechanical and control blueprints inspired from animals, and by observing the resulting robot locomotion characteristics, we aim to understand the contribution of individual components. Legged robots have a wide mechanical and control design parameter space, and a unique potential as research tools to investigate principles of biomechanics and legged locomotion control. But the hardware and controller design can be a steep initial hurdle for academic research. To facilitate the easy start and development of legged robots, Oncilla-robot's blueprints are available through open-source. [...]
c4science repository DOI URL BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Conference Paper Learning from Outside the Viability Kernel: Why we Should Build Robots that can Fail with Grace Heim, S., Sproewitz, A. Proceedings of SIMPAR 2018, 55-61, IEEE, 2018 IEEE International Conference on Simulation, Modeling, and Programming for Autonomous Robots (SIMPAR), May 2018 (Published) DOI URL BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Talk Impact of Trunk Orientation for Dynamic Bipedal Locomotion Drama, Ö. Dynamic Walking Conference, May 2018
Impact of trunk orientation for dynamic bipedal locomotion My research revolves around investigating the functional demands of bipedal running, with focus on stabilizing trunk orientation. When we think about postural stability, there are two critical questions we need to answer: What are the necessary and sufficient conditions to achieve and maintain trunk stability? I am concentrating on how morphology affects control strategies in achieving trunk stability. In particular, I denote the trunk pitch as the predominant morphology parameter and explore the requirements it imposes on a chosen control strategy. To analyze this, I use a spring loaded inverted pendulum model extended with a rigid trunk, which is actuated by a hip motor. The challenge for the controller design here is to have a single hip actuator to achieve two coupled tasks of moving the legs to generate motion and stabilizing the trunk. I enforce orthograde and pronograde postures and aim to identify the effect of these trunk orientations on the hip torque and ground reaction profiles for different control strategies.
Impact of trunk orientation for dynamic bipedal locomotion [DW 2018] URL BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Conference Paper Shaping in Practice: Training Wheels to Learn Fast Hopping Directly in Hardware Heim, S., Ruppert, F., Sarvestani, A., Sproewitz, A. In Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2018, 5076-5081, IEEE, International Conference on Robotics and Automation, May 2018 (Published)
Learning instead of designing robot controllers can greatly reduce engineering effort required, while also emphasizing robustness. Despite considerable progress in simulation, applying learning directly in hardware is still challenging, in part due to the necessity to explore potentially unstable parameters. We explore the of concept shaping the reward landscape with training wheels; temporary modifications of the physical hardware that facilitate learning. We demonstrate the concept with a robot leg mounted on a boom learning to hop fast. This proof of concept embodies typical challenges such as instability and contact, while being simple enough to empirically map out and visualize the reward landscape. Based on our results we propose three criteria for designing effective training wheels for learning in robotics.
Video Youtube URL BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Bachelor Thesis Untersuchung und Charakterisierung von Teilelementen der Modifikation im Lumbosacralbereich von Vögeln Richter, J. Hochschule Harz, 2018 BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Conference Paper Scalable Pneumatic and Tendon Driven Robotic Joint Inspired by Jumping Spiders Sproewitz, A., Göttler, C., Sinha, A., Caer, C., Öztekin, M. U., Petersen, K., Sitti, M. In Proceedings 2017 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), 64-70, IEEE, Piscataway, NJ, USA, IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), May 2017 Video DOI URL BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Article Spinal joint compliance and actuation in a simulated bounding quadruped robot Pouya, S., Khodabakhsh, M., Sproewitz, A., Ijspeert, A. Autonomous Robots, 437–452, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Springer, Dordrecht, New York, NY, February 2017 (Published) DOI URL BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Master Thesis Evaluation of the passive dynamics of compliant legs with inertia Györfi, B. University of Applied Science Pforzheim, Germany, 2017 BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Conference Paper Is Growing Good for Learning? Heim, S., Spröwitz, A. Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Adaptive Motion of Animals and Machines AMAM2017, 2017 (Published) BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Conference Paper Linking Mechanics and Learning Heim, S., Grimminger, F., Drama, Ö., Spröwitz, A. In Proceedings of Dynamic Walking 2017, 2017 (Published) BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Article Exciting Engineered Passive Dynamics in a Bipedal Robot Renjewski, D., Spröwitz, A., Peekema, A., Jones, M., Hurst, J. {IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation}, 31(5):1244-1251, IEEE, New York, NY, 2015 (Published)
A common approach in designing legged robots is to build fully actuated machines and control the machine dynamics entirely in soft- ware, carefully avoiding impacts and expending a lot of energy. However, these machines are outperformed by their human and animal counterparts. Animals achieve their impressive agility, efficiency, and robustness through a close integration of passive dynamics, implemented through mechanical components, and neural control. Robots can benefit from this same integrated approach, but a strong theoretical framework is required to design the passive dynamics of a machine and exploit them for control. For this framework, we use a bipedal spring–mass model, which has been shown to approximate the dynamics of human locomotion. This paper reports the first implementation of spring–mass walking on a bipedal robot. We present the use of template dynamics as a control objective exploiting the engineered passive spring–mass dynamics of the ATRIAS robot. The results highlight the benefits of combining passive dynamics with dynamics-based control and open up a library of spring–mass model-based control strategies for dynamic gait control of robots.
DOI URL BibTeX
Dynamic Locomotion Conference Paper Oncilla Robot—A Light-weight Bio-inspired Quadruped Robot for Fast Locomotion in Rough Terrain Spröwitz, A., Kuechler, L., Tuleu, A., Ajallooeian, M., D’Haene, M., Moeckel, R., Ijspeert, A. J. Symposium on adaptive motion of animals and machines (AMAM 2011), January 2011
On the hardware level, we are proposing and testing a bio-inspired quadruped robot design (Oncilla robot), based on light-weight, compliant, and three-segmented legs. Our choice of placing the compliance such that it is spanning two joints enforces a non-linear spring stiffness. Based on the SLIP-model assumption, we compare progressive and de- gressive stiffness profiles against a linear-leg stiffness. To facilitate fast and throughout testing also of control approaches we have created a robot model of Oncilla robot in simulation (in Webots [1], a physics-based simulation environment). Here we are presenting new simulation results based on open-loop-central pattern generator (CPG) control and PSO- optimization of the CPG parameters. Our quadruped robot is equipped with passive compliant elements in its legs, and we apply two different strategies to make use of the legs’ compliance during stance phase. This enables us to find stable trot gait patterns propelling the robot up to 1 m/s (more than four times the robot’s leg length), depending on the applied stance phase leg-strategy. Different trot gait patterns emerge, and resulting trot gaits are variable in stability (tested as robustness against external perturbations) and speed.
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