PH Model-Based Shape Reconstruction of Heterogeneous Continuum Closed Loop Kinematic Chain: An Application to Skipping Rope

Abstract

Soft robotics is a swiftly growing research area these days. Modeling continuum robots accurately is still a demanding field. The paper aims to propose a shape reconstruction method and the estimation of the kinematic behavior of heterogeneous continuum robot in closed loop kinematic configuration, by using Pythagorean Hodograph (PH) curves. The validation of the model approach has been tested on cooperative continuum robots, namely Compact Bionic Handling Arms (CBHA), driving an intermediate flexible rope (a passive flexible link), by using a 3D tracking system. Experimental comparison of the proposed approach with the existing approaches is performed in terms of accuracy as well as the time cost.