Yutaka Mikuriya

Realization by Biped Leg-wheeled Robot of Biped Walking and Wheel-driven Locomotion

Biped walking is easily adaptable to rough terrain such as stairs and stony paths, but the walk speed and energy efficiency on the flat ground is not so effective compared with wheeled locomotion. In this paper, we propose a biped robot to be able to walk or wheel according to the ground conditions. For wheeled locomotion, WS-2 (Waseda Shoes -No. 2) is developed which is composed of a DC motor, a spherical caster and two rubber pads on each foot. WS-2 is attached to the feet of WL-16 (Waseda Leg -No. 16) that is the worlds first biped-walking robot capable of carrying a human. Also, a path planning for wheeled locomotion is presented. Through hardware experiments, the effectiveness of this foot module is confirmed.

Walking Control Method of Biped Locomotors on Inclined Plane

This paper describes a walking control method on inclined planes for a biped locomotor. The walking control consists of a position control, virtual compliance control and posture control. Parameters of the compliance control are changed continuously in support and swing phases. The orientation of robot’s waist is kept level by posture control. Several walking experiments on inclined planes are conducted using WL-16R (Waseda Leg - No. 16 Refined). WL-16R has achieved stable walking on unknown inclined planes using the walking control method, and the effectiveness of the walking control is confirmed.

Realization of stable dynamic walking by a parallel bipedal locomotor on uneven terrain using a virtual compliance control

This paper describes a control method for a stable biped walking on uneven terrain. The walking control consists of a position control and a compliance control. In order to realize dynamic walking on a human living environment, a biped locomotor is controlled by the position control based on a compensatory motion. Also, in this research, to reduce the magnitude of impact forces and to guarantee a stable landing on the ground, the position-based virtual compliance control is introduced. Several walking experiments on uneven terrain are conducted using WL-15 (Waseda Leg-15) and the effectiveness of the control method is confirmed.

Support torque reduction mechanism for biped locomotor with parallel mechanism

This paper describes the development of the support torque reduction mechanism for a biped locomotor with leg mechanisms using Stewart platforms, designed for heavy payload and low power consumption during walking. The basic design of this mechanism was decided through preliminary experiments. Each leg of the robot is equipped with this mechanism consisting of 2 gas springs with different reaction forces, which are switched according to the swing/support phase. The experiment measuring motor current during walking with payload and the walking experiment with maximum payload confirmed the effectiveness of this mechanism.

Development of foot system of biped walking robot capable of maintaining four-point contact

To date, many control methods have been studied, assuming that the soles of a biped walking robot contact the ground as four points. It is difficult for a biped robot with rigid and flat soles to maintain four-point contact on uneven terrain. It means that the biped robot can lose its balance. To solve this kind of problem, we should study not only stability control methods but also foot mechanisms. In this paper, a new foot system, WS-1 (Waseda shoes

Realization of dynamic human-carrying walking by a biped locomotor

no.1), is proposed to maintain four-point contact. This foot system consists of cam-type locking mechanism. WS-1 is attached to the feet of WL-16 (Waseda leg - no.16) that is the worlds first biped-walking robot capable of carrying a human. Through hardware experiments, the effectiveness of the foot system is confirmed.