A robot arm may be in need for performing various operations, especially for service robots and space robots. This paper presents a strategy that allows a modular and reconfigurable robot to safely perform nail hammering without hardware enhancements. The purpose is to equip a versatile robot arm with hammering capability that can be used if needed. To do this, a multiple working mode approach is applied to switch the selected joint(s) to passive mode with friction compensation to allow free rotation during impact. Analytic impulse models are used to predict joint impulses and serve as criteria for mode switching. Advantages of the proposed approach include savings on space, weight, costs, and complexity for a limited range of nail/board environments. An experimental study has validated analytic models of hammering and demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Robot joints could be damaged by impulsive forces due to impact when the robot performs hammering operations. This thesis presents the development of a strategy that allows a modular reconfigurable robot to safely perform nail hammering. To do this, a multiple working mode approach is applied to switch the selected joint(s) to passive mode with friction compensation to allow free rotation during impact. Analytic impulse models are used to predict joint impulses which can be computed offline or online and serve as criteria for mode switching. Joint impulses are constrained in case the hammer collides with such an object of infinite effective mass. Advantages of the proposed approach may include savings on space, weight, costs, and complexity for a limited range of nail/board environments. An experimental study validates analytic models of hammering and effectiveness of multiple working mode approach. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank everyone in the Systems and Controls Lab for their support and curiosity. A thank you is to my supervisor, Dr. Guangjun Liu, who scouted me very early in my undergraduate studies without whom I could not finish at such a pace. Dr. Liu's willingness to let me take control of the work and bring it where I wanted is a special quality that I really appreciate. A special thanks also to Taras Pankov who offered many hours of his time to teach and train me. Thank you to the committee and staff at the Department of Aerospace Engineering who have provided exceptional support to my studies.My family continually supported me throughout my studies to whom I am infinitely grateful for their trust and patience with me. v

Robot joints could be damaged by impulsive forces due to impact when the robot performs hammering operations. This thesis presents the development of a strategy that allows a modular reconfigurable robot to safely perform nail hammering. To do this, a multiple working mode approach is applied to switch the selected joint(s) to passive mode with friction compensation to allow free rotation during impact. Analytic impulse models are used to predict joint impulses which can be computed offline or online and serve as criteria for mode switching. Joint impulses are constrained in case the hammer collides with such an object of infinite effective mass. Advantages of the proposed approach may include savings on space, weight, costs, and complexity for a limited range of nail/board environments. An experimental study validates analytic models of hammering and effectiveness of multiple working mode approach.

Robot joints could be damaged by impulsive forces due to impact when the robot performs hammering operations. This thesis presents the development of a strategy that allows a modular reconfigurable robot to safely perform nail hammering. To do this, a multiple working mode approach is applied to switch the selected joint(s) to passive mode with friction compensation to allow free rotation during impact. Analytic impulse models are used to predict joint impulses which can be computed offline or online and serve as criteria for mode switching. Joint impulses are constrained in case the hammer collides with such an object of infinite effective mass. Advantages of the proposed approach may include savings on space, weight, costs, and complexity for a limited range of nail/board environments. An experimental study validates analytic models of hammering and effectiveness of multiple working mode approach.