Experimental Validation of a Variable Stiffness Joint with Antagonistic Springs

Maria Guadalupe Contreras-Calderón, Juan Sandoval, Marc Arsicault, Eduardo Castillo-Castañeda, Med Amine Laribi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The variable stiffness joints (VSJ) provide nonlinear stiffness behavior. The VSJ can be used in articulated systems to improve the safety of human-robot interaction. A new VSJ is proposed in this paper based on the principle of antagonistic springs. The stiffness behavior is tuned when the lengths of the springs are adjusted. A motor is used to control the movement of a set of racks and gears. This latter set changes the springs’ lengths and thus the joint stiffness. Based on the mathematical model and in the case of the revolute joint, it is demonstrated that it’s possible to obtain a constant force due to the stiffness. The joint is attached to a link; the simulation results show that the joint provides the desired force at the end of the link. Physical experiments on the prototype were performed to verify the validity of the analysis results. The experimental results show that the control of the springs’ length allows, to vary the stiffness and therefore maintains a constant force at the end of the link regardless of the angle joint rotation.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNew Advances in Mechanisms, Transmissions and Applications - Proceedings of the 6th MeTrApp Conference, 2023
EditorsMed Amine Laribi, Carl A. Nelson, Marco Ceccarelli, Saïd Zeghloul
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media B.V.
Pages23-31
Number of pages9
ISBN (Print)9783031298141
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
Externally publishedYes
Event6th IFToMM International Conference on Mechanisms, Transmissions, and Applications, MeTrApp 2023 - Poitiers, France
Duration: 24 May 202326 May 2023

Publication series

NameMechanisms and Machine Science
Volume124 MMS
ISSN (Print)2211-0984
ISSN (Electronic)2211-0992

Conference

Conference6th IFToMM International Conference on Mechanisms, Transmissions, and Applications, MeTrApp 2023
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityPoitiers
Period24/05/2326/05/23

Keywords

  • Antagonistic Spring
  • Antagonistic configuration
  • Antagonistic principle
  • Variable Stiffness
  • Variable Torque

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