L'introduction de systèmes robotisés dans les salles opératoires a fait évoluer la chirurgie moderne, ouvrant aux chirurgiens de nouvelles possibilités. La présence de tels systèmes en salle opératoire croît chaque année. Les progrès des robots médicaux sont étroitement liés au développement de nouvelles techniques permettant de mieux contrôler les interactions entre la machine et les tissus biologiques. L'objectif principal de cette thèse est de proposer une commande en force basée sur un modèle, conçue pour améliorer la stabilité et la robustesse du contrôle en vue d'applications médicales. Une étude sur la modélisation des tissus mous ainsi que le choix d'un modèle compatible temps-réel sont présentés. Après cette analyse, le modèle de Kelvin Boltzmann a été choisi et implémenté dans le schéma de contrôle en force proposé, basé sur des observateurs actifs. La stabilité et la robustesse de la commande sont analysées en théorie et au travers d'expérimentations. Les performances de la commande en force sont également mesurées, en tenant compte des perturbations dues aux mouvements physiologiques. Finalement, afin d'améliorer la qualité du rejet des perturbations, une boucle de commande supplémentaire est ajoutée au moyen d'une estimation des perturbations basée sur le modèle de Kelvin Boltzmann et des séries de Fourier. / The introduction of robotic systems inside the operating room has changed the modern surgery, opening new possibilities to surgeons. The number of robotic systems inside the operation room is increasing every year. The progress of medical robots are associated to the development of new techniques to better control the interaction between the robot and living soft tissues. This thesis focus on the development of a model based force control designed to improve stability and robustness of force control addressed to medical applications. A study of soft tissue modeling is presented and a suitable model to be used in a real-time control is selected. After the analysis, the Kelvin Boltzmann model was chosen to be inserted in the proposed force control scheme based on Active Observers. Stability and robustness are theoretically and experimentally analyzed. The performance of the proposed force control is also investigated under physiological motion disturbances. At the end, to improve the disturbance rejection capability, an extra control loop is added using a disturbance estimation based on the Kelvin Boltzmann model and a Fourier series.

Dans le cas des pièces aéronautiques de grandes dimensions et de formes complexes nécessitant un bon état de surface, les opérations de polissage sont la plupart du temps réalisées manuellement par des opérateurs spécialisés. Ces opérations étant longues, pénibles et coûteuses, il paraît pertinent de s’intéresser à leur automatisation. Dans ces travaux de thèse, nous nous intéressons à la mise en place d’un processus de polissage robotisé pour un train d'atterrissage en acier à haute résistance. La définition du processus robotisé passe par la définition des outils adéquats (taille de grain, forme et souplesse), des conditions de polissage (effort, vitesse de coupe, vitesse d’avance, angle de dépinçage et recouvrement) et le réglage des paramètres de la commande en effort en fonction du matériau à polir et de la spécification de rugosité visée. Un modèle d’enlèvement de matière est ensuite proposé afin de maîtriser le défaut d’état de surface généré pour des outils « disques ». Une campagne expérimentale permet enfin de valider la mise en œuvre du robot et du processus de polissage sur une pièce spécifique, notamment en ce qui concerne la chaîne numérique. / In the case of aircraft large parts and complex shapes requiring a good finish state, polishing operations are mostly performed manually by specialized operators. These operations are long, painful and expensive, it seems relevant to be interested in their automation. In the thesis work, we focus on the development of a robotic polishing process for high strength steel landing gear. The definition of the robotic process involves the definition of appropriate tools (grain size, shape and flexibility), polishing conditions (force, cutting speed, feed rate, inclination angle and overlap) and adjustment of parameters the force control based on the material to be polished and the specification roughness. A material removal model is then proposed to control the surface state generated for discs tools. Finally, an experimental campaign validates the implementation of the robot and the polishing process on a specific part, in particular as regards the numerical chain.

A method is presented for stably grasping 2 dimensional polygonal objects with a dextrous hand when object models are not avaiable. Basic constraints on object vertex angles are found for feasible grasping with two fingers. Local tactile information can be used to determine the finger motion that will reach feasible grasping locations. With an appropriate choice of finger stiffness, a hand can automatically grasp these objects with two fingers. The bounded slip of a part in a hand is shown to be valuable for adapting the fingers and object to a stable situation. Examples are given to show the ability of this grasping method to accomodate disturbance forces and to perform simple part reorientations and regrasping operations.

This dissertation encompassed three studies involving precision pinch strength and 5% submaximal fine-motor control. One hundred participants (30-79 years old) were divided into 10-year categories, with 10 males and 10 females in each decade. A Manual Force Quantification System containing a platform and force-transducer apparatus, along with a computer and visual monitor, was used. Each subject performed four tasks -- maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), force-matching, tracing, and tracking -- by applying force on the transducers with the thumb and index finger while attempting to produce a desired force level or task displayed on the computer monitor. The first study measured MVIC, accuracy (rRMSE, Root Mean Square Relative Error), and force variability (Coefficient of Variation, CV) during a 5% MVIC force-matching task. The second study measured accuracy (rRMSE), task time, and group variability during a 5% MVIC tracing task. The third study measured accuracy and group variability during a 5% MVIC tracking task. Tracing and tracking were each divided into six Segments (S1-S6), three of which (S1-S3) required the increasing application of force from 50g up to 5% MVIC and the remaining three (S4-S6) requiring a release of force from MVIC down to 1% MVIC. The force-matching and force-tracking task times were scaled to each participant's MVIC, while the tracing task was performed at the participant's self-selected speed. The participants were encouraged to be accurate but also to trace the target line as quickly as possible. Declines in precision pinch strength and force control began to occur in the 70s for easier force-control tasks and in their 60s for more advanced force-tracking tasks. Men were stronger than women at all age levels. Participants in their 30s were the fastest; those in their 40s, 50s, and 60s slowed down to be accurate; and those in their 70s moved faster but were the least accurate. Three segmental factors affected error and time: low force level, releasing as opposed to applying force, and location along the target line with respect to reversal or ending points. Finally, variables for females were more heterogeneous at earlier decades than for men, and the older the age group was, the greater the variable heterogeneity was.

We present a novel control strategy for running which is robust to disturbances, and makes excellent use of passive dynamics for energy economy. The motivation for our control strategy is based on observations of animals, which are able to economically walk and run over varying terrain and ground dynamics. It is well-known that steady-state animal running can be approximated by spring-mass models, but these passive dynamic models describe only steady-state running and are sensitive to disturbances that animals can accommodate. While animals rely on their passive dynamics for energy economy, they also incorporate active control for disturbance rejection. The same approach can be used for spring-mass walking and running, but an active controller is needed that interferes minimally with the passive dynamics of the system. We demonstrate, in simulation, how force control combined with a leg spring stiffness tuned for the desired hopping frequency provides robustness to disturbances on a model for robot hopping, while maintaining the energy economy of a completely passive system during steady-state operation. Our strategy is promising for robotics applications, because there is a clear distinction between the passive dynamic behavior of the model and the active controller, it does not require sensing of the environment, and it is based on a sound theoretical background that is compatible with existing high-level controllers for ideal spring-mass models. / Graduation date: 2012

Os atuadores hidráulicos são usados em muitas aplicações e áreas de trabalho devido à sua capacidade para manipular grandes forças com baixa inércia, pouca vibração e capacidade de trabalho por longos períodos de tempo. Entretanto, o maior problema no uso destes tipos de atuadores são as características dinâmicas tais como não-linearidade e variação de parâmetros, as quais dificultam seu controle em malha fechada. Assim, para controlar sistemas hidráulicos, é necessário o uso de modelos matemáticos não lineares e a aplicação de leis de controle complexas para obter um seguimento de trajetória com alta precisão. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é a obtenção de um sistema que siga com precisão as trajetórias de referência do tipo senoidais. Para tanto, este trabalho aborda o projeto de uma lei de controle por realimentação de estados (feedback linearization) combinada com o princípio do modelo interno para aplicar no sistema hidráulico de atuação de uma máquina de ensaios de fadiga. O princípio do modelo interno é aplicado utilizando um compensador dinâmico (que contém pólos imaginários com a mesma freqüência que o sinal de referência) num laço externo do sistema linearizado por realimentação de estados. Uma lei de controle do tipo realimentação de estados, considerando os estados do sistema linearizado e os do compensador dinâmico, é projetada para garantir estabilidade no sistema de malha fechada. A fim de avaliar a estratégia de controle proposta são discutidos e apresentados simulações do modelo experimental. / Hydraulic actuators are used in many applications due to their ability in driving large forces with low inertia and little vibration for a long period of time. However, the main problem in controlling these kinds of systems concerns their dynamics, which presents several nonlinearities and parameters variations. Thus, to control hydraulic systems, appropriated nonlinear models and complex control techniques to achieve a stable force regulation with a specified performance are necessary. The purpose of this work is the application of a feedback linearization scheme in the design of a force controller for a hydraulic actuator used in a fatigue test machine. The main control objective considered regards the achievement of sinusoidal force reference tracking. With this aim the internal model principle is applied by using a dynamic compensator (containing imaginary poles with the same frequency of the force reference) in an outer regulation loop. A state feedback control law, considering both the states of the feedback linearized hydraulic system and the ones of the dynamic compensator, is therefore designed in order to stabilize the whole closed-loop system. Experimental model identification and simulation control results are presented and discussed.

Os atuadores hidráulicos são usados em muitas aplicações e áreas de trabalho devido à sua capacidade para manipular grandes forças com baixa inércia, pouca vibração e capacidade de trabalho por longos períodos de tempo. Entretanto, o maior problema no uso destes tipos de atuadores são as características dinâmicas tais como não-linearidade e variação de parâmetros, as quais dificultam seu controle em malha fechada. Assim, para controlar sistemas hidráulicos, é necessário o uso de modelos matemáticos não lineares e a aplicação de leis de controle complexas para obter um seguimento de trajetória com alta precisão. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é a obtenção de um sistema que siga com precisão as trajetórias de referência do tipo senoidais. Para tanto, este trabalho aborda o projeto de uma lei de controle por realimentação de estados (feedback linearization) combinada com o princípio do modelo interno para aplicar no sistema hidráulico de atuação de uma máquina de ensaios de fadiga. O princípio do modelo interno é aplicado utilizando um compensador dinâmico (que contém pólos imaginários com a mesma freqüência que o sinal de referência) num laço externo do sistema linearizado por realimentação de estados. Uma lei de controle do tipo realimentação de estados, considerando os estados do sistema linearizado e os do compensador dinâmico, é projetada para garantir estabilidade no sistema de malha fechada. A fim de avaliar a estratégia de controle proposta são discutidos e apresentados simulações do modelo experimental. / Hydraulic actuators are used in many applications due to their ability in driving large forces with low inertia and little vibration for a long period of time. However, the main problem in controlling these kinds of systems concerns their dynamics, which presents several nonlinearities and parameters variations. Thus, to control hydraulic systems, appropriated nonlinear models and complex control techniques to achieve a stable force regulation with a specified performance are necessary. The purpose of this work is the application of a feedback linearization scheme in the design of a force controller for a hydraulic actuator used in a fatigue test machine. The main control objective considered regards the achievement of sinusoidal force reference tracking. With this aim the internal model principle is applied by using a dynamic compensator (containing imaginary poles with the same frequency of the force reference) in an outer regulation loop. A state feedback control law, considering both the states of the feedback linearized hydraulic system and the ones of the dynamic compensator, is therefore designed in order to stabilize the whole closed-loop system. Experimental model identification and simulation control results are presented and discussed.

Os atuadores hidráulicos são usados em muitas aplicações e áreas de trabalho devido à sua capacidade para manipular grandes forças com baixa inércia, pouca vibração e capacidade de trabalho por longos períodos de tempo. Entretanto, o maior problema no uso destes tipos de atuadores são as características dinâmicas tais como não-linearidade e variação de parâmetros, as quais dificultam seu controle em malha fechada. Assim, para controlar sistemas hidráulicos, é necessário o uso de modelos matemáticos não lineares e a aplicação de leis de controle complexas para obter um seguimento de trajetória com alta precisão. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é a obtenção de um sistema que siga com precisão as trajetórias de referência do tipo senoidais. Para tanto, este trabalho aborda o projeto de uma lei de controle por realimentação de estados (feedback linearization) combinada com o princípio do modelo interno para aplicar no sistema hidráulico de atuação de uma máquina de ensaios de fadiga. O princípio do modelo interno é aplicado utilizando um compensador dinâmico (que contém pólos imaginários com a mesma freqüência que o sinal de referência) num laço externo do sistema linearizado por realimentação de estados. Uma lei de controle do tipo realimentação de estados, considerando os estados do sistema linearizado e os do compensador dinâmico, é projetada para garantir estabilidade no sistema de malha fechada. A fim de avaliar a estratégia de controle proposta são discutidos e apresentados simulações do modelo experimental. / Hydraulic actuators are used in many applications due to their ability in driving large forces with low inertia and little vibration for a long period of time. However, the main problem in controlling these kinds of systems concerns their dynamics, which presents several nonlinearities and parameters variations. Thus, to control hydraulic systems, appropriated nonlinear models and complex control techniques to achieve a stable force regulation with a specified performance are necessary. The purpose of this work is the application of a feedback linearization scheme in the design of a force controller for a hydraulic actuator used in a fatigue test machine. The main control objective considered regards the achievement of sinusoidal force reference tracking. With this aim the internal model principle is applied by using a dynamic compensator (containing imaginary poles with the same frequency of the force reference) in an outer regulation loop. A state feedback control law, considering both the states of the feedback linearized hydraulic system and the ones of the dynamic compensator, is therefore designed in order to stabilize the whole closed-loop system. Experimental model identification and simulation control results are presented and discussed.

This thesis introduces an orienting mechanism and control system for the purpose of eye tonometry. The design is based on a 3RRR spherical parallel manipulator architecture. The end-effector is mounted with a triad of force sensing elements. Presented in this paper is a unique approach to force control based on an artificial neural network. The mechanism generates movements to collect data about its tactile environment ultimately generating a path to the force sensors' equilibrium point.

The automation of hydraulic mobile machinery, such as excavators, requires high performance control solutions. In hydraulics, this means fast and accurate force, velocity and position control of hydraulic cylinder. Especially the force control is known to be difficult with traditional servo valves. Fast digital hydraulic valves together with modern control solutions can overcome this problem. This paper uses a new force control solution, which is based on the fast digital hydraulic valves and model based control principle. The control solution is applied in a heavy axis mimicking dynamics of mobile machine booms. Experimental results show good force, velocity and position tracking performance with varying load masses. The slow velocity performance is also much improved when compared to the earlier results.