• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1145-1151
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• 2010

In this paper, we discuss the design and simulation of a jumping-robot mechanism that is actuated by SMA (shape memory alloy) wires. We propose a jumping-robot mechanism; the structure of the robot is inspired by the musculoskeletal system of vertebrates, including humans. Each robot leg consists of three parts (a thigh, shank, and foot) and three kinds of muscles (gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, and gastrocnemius). The jumping capability of the robot model was tested by means of computer simulations, and it was found that the robot can jump to about four times its own height. This robot model was also compared with another model with a simpler structure, and the performance of the former, which was based on the biomimetic design, was 3.3 times better than that of the latter in terms of the jumping height. The simulation results also verified that SMA wires can be suitable actuators for small jumping robots.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.59-60
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• 2013

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.799-803
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• 2010

Recently, there is a rising interest on studying bio-inspired robotic fish because of real fish's great maneuverability and high energy efficiency. However, the researches about the robotic fish have not been done so much and there are still lots of problems to use them in the real environment such as in the river. This paper describes a bio-inspired robotic fish 'Ichthus' which is developed in KITECH and has 3 DOF propulsive mechanism. We develop the dynamic motion equation of 'Ichthus' in the underwater environment and analyze response characteristics of 'Ichthus' according to the input parameters of tail fin's amplitude and oscillation frequency. Then we propose control parameters at the various velocities. These parameters are useful to increase energy efficiency and it can be used when the fish robot moves in the real environment, for example, we can propose proper amplitude and oscillation frequency when the fish robot passes through the narrow space between obstacles.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.245-250
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• 2019

Milli-scale crawling robots have been widely studied due to their maneuverability in confined spaces. For successful crawling, the crawling robots basically required to fulfill alternating gait with elliptical foot trajectory. The alternating gait with elliptical foot trajectory normally generates both forward and upward motion. The upward motion makes the aerial phase and during the aerial phase, the forward motion enables the crawling robots to proceed. This simultaneous forward and upward motion finally results in fast crawling speed. In this paper, we propose a novel alternating mechanism to make a crab-inspired eight-legged crawling robot. The key design strategy is an alternating mechanism based on double four-bar linkages. Crab-like robots normally employs gear-chain drive to make the opposite phase between neighboring legs. To use the gear-chain drive to this milli-scale robot system, however, is not easy because of heavy weight and mechanism complexity. To solve the issue, the double-four bar linkages has been invented to generate the oaring motion for transmitting the equal motion in the opposite phase. Thanks to the proposed mechanism, the robot crawls just like the real crab with the crawling speed of 0.57 m/s.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 2012

There have been many homing navigation algorithms for robotic system. In this paper, we suggest a bio-inspired navigation model. It builds path integration based on optical flow. We consider two factors on robot movements, translational movement and rotational movement. For each movement, we found distinguishable optical flows. Based on optical flow, we estimate ego-centric robot movement and integrate the path optimally. We can determine the homing direction and distance. We test this algorithm and evaluate the performance of homing navigation for robotic system.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.16-23
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• 2018

In the paper, a robot control technique by employing Biomimetics is described. Rhythmic movements of the diving beetle's leg were analyzed and the formulated equations on the motion were drawn by applying Fourier least mean square fitting method. Simple control parameters were defined by comparing the observed locomotion through a motion capture system and reproduced motions according to changes in the values in the equation. Subsequently, the correlation of each parameter was discovered and expressed in a parameter space. Apparently, it was confirmed that various bio-mimicking motions can simply be generated for controlling the robot. Additionally, robot designing based on adopting structural advantages which the living organism possess have been briefly introduced. The proposed bio-mimicking motion generating technique was observed to be applicable to robot system developments under various environmental conditions.

• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
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• v.3 no.8
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• pp.299-308
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• 2014

Various literatures related computing of information processing have been recently shown the researches inspired from the remarkably excellent human capabilities which recognize and categorize very complex visual patterns such as body motions and facial expressions. Applied from human's outstanding ability of perception, the classification function of visual sequences without context information is specially crucial task for computer vision to understand both the coding and the retrieval of spatio-temporal patterns. This paper presents a biological process based action recognition model of computer vision, which is inspired from visual information processing of human brain for action recognition of visual sequences. Proposed model employs the structure of neural fields of bio-inspired visual perception on detecting motion sequences and discriminating visual patterns in human brain. Experimental results show that proposed recognition model takes not only into account several biological properties of visual information processing, but also is tolerant of time-warping. Furthermore, the model allows robust temporal evolution of classification compared to researches of action recognition. Presented model contributes to implement bio-inspired visual processing system such as intelligent robot agent, etc.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.270-277
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• 2019

Inspired by small insects, which perform rapid and stable locomotion based on body softness and tripod gait, various milli-scale six-legged crawling robots were developed to move rapidly in harsh environment. In particular, cockroach's leg compliance was resembled to enhance the locomotion performance of the crawling robots. In this paper, we investigated the effects of changing leg compliance for the locomotion performance of the small light weight legged crawling robot under various payload condition. First, we developed robust milli-scale six-leg crawling robot which actuated by one motor and fabricated in SCM method with light and soft material. Using this robot platform, we measured the running velocity of the robot depending on the leg stiffness and payload. In result, there was optimal range of the leg stiffness enhancing the locomotion ability at each payload condition in the experiment. It suggests that the performance of the crawling robot can be improved by adjusting stiffness of the legs in given payload condition.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.770-771
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• 2010

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.278-284
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• 2019

Legged locomotion has high mobility on irregular surfaces by touching the ground at discrete points. Inspired by the creature's legged locomotion, legged robots have been developed to explore unstructured environments. In this paper, we propose a modular crawler that can easily adjust the number of legs for adapting the environment that the robot should move. One module has a pair of legs, so the number of legs can be adjusted by changing the number of modules. All legs are driven by a single driving motor for simple and compact design, so the driving axle of each module is connected by the universal joint. Universal joints between modules enable the body flexion for steering or overcoming higher obstacles. A prototype of crawler with three modules is built and the driving performance and the effect of module lifting on the ability to overcome obstacles are demonstrated by the experiments.