• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.338-344
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• 2008

Most omni-directional mobile robots have to change their trajectory for avoiding obstacles regardless of the size of the obstacles. However, an omni-directional mobile robot having kinematic redundancy can maintain the trajectory while the robot avoids small obstacles. This works deals with the kinematic modeling and motion planning of an omni-directional mobile robot with kinematic redundancy. This robot consists of three wheel mechanisms. Each wheel mechanism is modeled as having four joints, while only three joints are necessary for creating the omni-directional motion. Thus, each chain has one kinematic redundancy. Two types of wheel mechanisms are compared and its kinematic modeling is introduced. Finally, several motion planning algorithms using the kinematic redundancy are investigated. The usefulness of this robot is shown through experiment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.374-379
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• 2014

Mobile robots with omni-directional wheels can generate instant omni-directional motion without requiring extra space to change the direction of the body. Therefore, they are capable of moving in an arbitrary direction under any orientation even in narrow aisles or tight areas. In this research, an omni-directional mobile robot based on Mecanum wheels was developed to achieve omni-directionality. A CompactRIO embedded real-time controller and C series motion and I/O modules were employed in the control system design. Ultrasonic sensors installed on the front and lateral sides were utilized to measure the distance between the mobile robot and the side wall of a workspace. Through intensive experiments, a performance evaluation of the mobile robot was conducted to confirm its feasibility for industrial purposes. Mobility, omni-directionality, climbing capacity, and tracking performance of a squared trajectory were selected as performance indices to assess the omni-directional mobile robot.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.11-17
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• 1998

The mecanum wheel was originaly developed in sweden to realize the omni-directional motion of the cart. The circumference of each wheel is lined with rollers set at 45 degrees relative to the main wheel. This paper proves that the roller of the mecanum wheel shapes the ellipsoid, derives the kinematic relationships between the parameters of the wheel and rollers, and proposes the procedure to determine the parameters of the wheel. The result was implemented into the computer program for the design of the mecanum wheel.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1161-1169
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• 2013

In this paper an omni-directional mobile robot is suggested for educational robot platform. Comparing to other robots, a mobile robot can be easily designed and manufactured due to its simple geometric structure. Moreover, since it is required to have low DOF motion on planar space, fabrication of control system is also simple. In this research, omni-directional wheels were adopted to remove the non-holonomic characteristic of conventional wheels and facilitate control system design. Firstly, geometric structure of a Mecanum wheel which is a most frequently used omni-directional wheel was demonstrated. Then, the organization of the mobile platform was suggested in aspects of mechanism manufacturing and electronic hardware design. Finally, a methodology of control system development was introduced for educational purpose. Due to an intuitive motion generating ability, simple hardware composition, and convenient control algorithm applicability, the omni-directional mobile robot suggested in this research is expected to be a promising educational platform.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.149-155
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• 2016

This paper presents a control method of a mecanum wheel-based omni-directional electric board using driver weight shift. Instead of a steering device such as a joystick or a remote controller, 3 degree-of-freedom driving command for translational and rotational motion of the omni-directional electric board is generated from position of center of gravity measured from weight distribution. The weight shifting motion is not only a driving command but also an intuitive motion to overcome inertial forces. The overall control structure is presented with experimental results to prove validity of the proposed method.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1014-1020
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• 2009

This work deals with navigation of an omni-directional mobile robot with active caster wheels. Initially, the posture of the omni-directional mobile robot is calculated by using the odometry information. Next, the position accuracy of the mobile robot is measured through comparison of the odometry information and the external sensor measurement. Finally, for successful navigation of the mobile robot, a motion planning algorithm that employs kinematic redundancy resolution method is proposed. Through experiments for multiple obstacles and multiple moving obstacles, the feasibility of the proposed navigation algorithm was verified.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2015

In this study, a position control algorithm for an omni-directional mobile robot based on Mecanum wheels was introduced and experimentally evaluated. Multiple ultrasonic sensors were installed around the mobile robot to obtain position feedback. Using the distance of the robot from the wall, the position and orientation of the mobile robot were calculated. In accordance with the omni-directional velocity generation mechanism, the velocity kinematics between the Mecanum wheel and the mobile platform were determined. Based on this formulation, a simple and intuitive position control algorithm was suggested. To evaluate the control algorithm, a test bed composed of artificial walls was designed and implemented. While conventional control algorithms based on normal wheels require additional path planning for two-dimensional planar motion, the omni-directional mobile robot using distance sensors was able to directly follow target positions with the simple proposed position feedback algorithm.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.868-874
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• 2014

This paper proposes a novel mapping algorithm in Omni-directional Vision SLAM based on an obstacle's feature extraction using Lucas-Kanade Optical Flow motion detection and images obtained through fish-eye lenses mounted on robots. Omni-directional image sensors have distortion problems because they use a fish-eye lens or mirror, but it is possible in real time image processing for mobile robots because it measured all information around the robot at one time. In previous Omni-Directional Vision SLAM research, feature points in corrected fisheye images were used but the proposed algorithm corrected only the feature point of the obstacle. We obtained faster processing than previous systems through this process. The core of the proposed algorithm may be summarized as follows: First, we capture instantaneous $360^{\circ}$ panoramic images around a robot through fish-eye lenses which are mounted in the bottom direction. Second, we remove the feature points of the floor surface using a histogram filter, and label the candidates of the obstacle extracted. Third, we estimate the location of obstacles based on motion vectors using LKOF. Finally, it estimates the robot position using an Extended Kalman Filter based on the obstacle position obtained by LKOF and creates a map. We will confirm the reliability of the mapping algorithm using motion estimation based on fisheye images through the comparison between maps obtained using the proposed algorithm and real maps.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.1411-1414
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• 1997

It is essential to obtain a distane informaion in order to completely execute assembly tasks such as a grasping and an insertion. In this paper, we propose a method estimating a measurement distance from a sensor to an object through using the omni-directional image sensing system for assembly(OISSA) and show its features and feasibility by a computer simulation. The method, utilizing a forwarded motion stereo technique, is simple to search the corresponding points and possible to immediatiely obtain a three-dimensional 2.pi.-shape information.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.454-461
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• 1999

A concrete floor trowel machine, developed in the U.S in 1990's, consists of only two rotary trowels, and doesn't need any other mechanism for motion such as wheels. When the machine flattens a concrete floor with its rotary trowels, the machine can move in any direction by utilizing the unbalanced friction forces occurring between the rotary wheels and the floor when the trowels are tilted in appropriate directions. In order to automate the trowels machine, this paper proposed the self-propulsive concrete finishing trowel robot which has twin trowels. For the control of the robot, this paper discussed the following. Firstly, the dynamics model of the driving frictional force applied on each trowel from the floor is derived. Secondly, the relationship between the driving force for the robot and the control variable of the robot is derived. Finally, the basic motion of the robot are realized by using the obtained relationship. This paper figures out how the concrete floor finishing robot with tow trowels moves and will contribute to realizing it.