Towards a Snake-Like Flexible Robot With Variable Stiffness Using an SMA Spring-Based Friction Change Mechanism

Jeon, H and Le, QN and Jeong, S and Jang, S and Jung, H and Chang, H and Pandya, HJ and Kim, Y (2022) Towards a Snake-Like Flexible Robot With Variable Stiffness Using an SMA Spring-Based Friction Change Mechanism. In: IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 7 (3). pp. 6582-6589.

PDF IEEE_rob_aut_let_7-3_6582-6589_2022.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (3MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

A flexible surgical robot that can adjust its stiffness guarantees safe operation by satisfying both the high flexibility required when the robot approaches a surgical target and the more stiffness necessary for the end effector to perform surgical procedures. Therefore, this paper proposes a flexible surgical robot that consists of a central backbone, eight super-elastic wires as peripheral backbones, SMA springs, rubber tubes, and several disks. The inner diameter of the SMA springs that can be changed via their temperature creates a tightening force change to apply onto the eight backbone wires of the robot to adjust the overall stiffness of the robot. The simple structure is favorable for robot miniaturization. Frictional force and stiffness modulation experiments of the robot are performed. The results confirmed that the robot's stiffness was increased approximately 1.4 times between the martensite state and the austenite state of the SMA spring. The relationship model between the flexural rigidity of the robot and the frictional force between the SMA spring with the peripheral backbones is established. We compared the flexural rigidity values obtained from our model with those of the experimental result and confirmed that the model was valid.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters
Publisher:	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Keywords:	End effectors; Friction; Machine design; Rigidity; Robotic surgery; Robotics; Rubber, Flexural rigidities; Force; Frictional forces; Medical robotics; Soft robot; Soft robot material and design; Surgical robotic: laparoscopy; Surgical robotics; Tendon/wire; Variable stiffness, Stiffness
Department/Centre:	Division of Electrical Sciences > Electrical Communication Engineering
Date Deposited:	22 Jun 2022 07:04
Last Modified:	22 Jun 2022 07:04
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/73917

Actions (login required)

View Item