Abstract
This study shows a control strategy that acquires both precision and manipulation sensitivity of remote center motion with manual traction for a surgical assistant robot. Remote center motion is an essential function of a laparoscopic surgical robot. The robot has to keep the position of the insertion port in a three-dimensional space, and general laparoscopic surgery needs 4-DoF (degree-of-freedom) motions such as pan, tilt, spin, and forward/backward. The proposed robot consists of a 6-axis collaborative robot and a 2-DoF end-effector. A 6-axis collaborative robot performs the cone-shaped trajectory with pan and tilt motion of an end-effector maintaining the position of remote center. An end-effector deals with the remaining 2-DoF movement. The most intuitive way a surgeon manipulates a robot is through direct teaching. Since the accuracy of maintaining the remote center position is important, direct teaching is implemented based on position control in this study. A force/torque sensor which is attached to between robot and end-effector estimates the surgeon's intention and generates the command of motion. The predefined remote center position and the pan and tilt angles generated from direct teaching are input as a command for position control. The command generation algorithm determines the direct teaching sensitivity. Required torque for direct teaching and accuracy of remote center motion are analyzed by experiments of panning and tilting motion.