arXiv subjects

Erwin Aertbeliën

Publications and source records attributed to Erwin Aertbeliën.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A Coordinate-Invariant Local Representation of Motion and Force Trajectories for Identification and Generalization Across Coordinate Systems

Identifying the trajectories of rigid bodies and of interaction forces is essential for a wide range of tasks in robotics, biomechanics, and related domains. These tasks include trajectory segmentation, recognition, and prediction. For these tasks, a key challenge lies in achieving consistent results when the trajectory is expressed in different coordinate systems. A way to address this challenge is to utilize trajectory models that can generalize across coordinate systems. The focus of this paper is on such trajectory models obtained by transforming the trajectory into a coordinate-invariant representation. However, coordinate-invariant representations often suffer from sensitivity to measurement noise and the manifestation of singularities in the representation, where the representation is not uniquely defined. This paper aims to address this limitation by introducing the novel Dual-Upper-Triangular Invariant Representation (DUTIR), with improved robustness to singularities, along with its computational algorithm. The proposed representation is formulated at a level of abstraction that makes it applicable to both rigid-body trajectories and interaction-force trajectories, hence making it a versatile tool for robotics, biomechanics, and related domains.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2025

BILTS: A Bi-Invariant Similarity Measure for Robust Object Trajectory Recognition under Reference Frame Variations

When similar object motions are performed in diverse contexts but are meant to be recognized under a single classification, these contextual variations act as disturbances that negatively affect accurate motion recognition. In this paper, we focus on contextual variations caused by reference frame variations. To robustly deal with these variations, similarity measures have been introduced that compare object motion trajectories in a context-invariant manner. However, most are highly sensitive to noise near singularities, where the measure is not uniquely defined, and lack bi-invariance (invariance to both world and body frame variations). To address these issues, we propose the novel \textit{Bi-Invariant Local Trajectory-Shape Similarity} (BILTS) measure. Compared to other measures, the BILTS measure uniquely offers bi-invariance, boundedness, and third-order shape identity. Aimed at practical implementations, we devised a discretized and regularized version of the BILTS measure which shows exceptional robustness to singularities. This is demonstrated through rigorous recognition experiments using multiple datasets. On average, BILTS attained the highest recognition ratio and least sensitivity to contextual variations compared to other invariant object motion similarity measures. We believe that the BILTS measure is a valuable tool for recognizing motions performed in diverse contexts and has potential in other applications, including the recognition, segmentation, and adaptation of both motion and force trajectories.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2024

From Instantaneous to Predictive Control: A More Intuitive and Tunable MPC Formulation for Robot Manipulators

Model predictive control (MPC) has become increasingly popular for the control of robot manipulators due to its improved performance compared to instantaneous control approaches. However, tuning these controllers remains a considerable hurdle. To address this hurdle, we propose a practical MPC formulation which retains the more interpretable tuning parameters of the instantaneous control approach while enhancing the performance through a prediction horizon. The formulation is motivated at hand of a simple example, highlighting the practical tuning challenges associated with typical MPC approaches and showing how the proposed formulation alleviates these challenges. Furthermore, the formulation is validated on a surface-following task, illustrating its applicability to industrially relevant scenarios. Although the research is presented in the context of robot manipulator control, we anticipate that the formulation is more broadly applicable.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2024

Automatic Derivation of an Optimal Task Frame for Learning and Controlling Contact-Rich Tasks

In previous work on learning and controlling contact-rich tasks, the procedure for choosing a proper reference frame to express learned signals for the motion and the interaction wrench is often implicit, requires expert insight, or starts from proposed frame candidates. This article presents an automatic method to derive the optimal reference frame, referred to as optimal task frame, directly from the recorded motion and wrench data of the demonstration. Using screw theory, several origin and orientation candidates are generated that maximize decoupling in the data. These candidates are then processed probabilistically, without needing hyperparameters, to obtain the optimal task frame. Its origin and orientation are independently fixed to either the world or the robot tool. The method works regardless of whether the task involves translation, rotation, force, or moment, or any combination thereof. The method was validated for various tasks, including surface following and manipulation of articulated objects, showing good agreement between derived and assumed expert task frames. To validate the robot's performance, a constraint-based controller was designed based on the data expressed in the derived task frames. These experiments demonstrated the approach's effectiveness and versatility. The automatic task frame derivation approach supports learning methods to design controllers for a wide range of contact-rich tasks.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2023

Invariant Descriptors of Motion and Force Trajectories for Interpreting Object Manipulation Tasks in Contact

Invariant descriptors of point and rigid-body motion trajectories have been proposed in the past as representative task models for motion recognition and generalization. Currently, no invariant descriptor exists for representing force trajectories, which appear in contact tasks. This paper introduces invariant descriptors for force trajectories by exploiting the duality between motion and force. Two types of invariant descriptors are presented depending on whether the trajectories consist of screw or vector coordinates. Methods and software are provided for robustly calculating the invariant descriptors from noisy measurements using optimal control. Using experimental human demonstrations of 3D contour following and peg-on-hole alignment tasks, invariant descriptors are shown to result in task representations that do not depend on the calibration of reference frames or sensor locations. The tuning process for the optimal control problems is shown to be fast and intuitive. Similar to motions in free space, the proposed invariant descriptors for motion and force trajectories may prove useful for the recognition and generalization of constrained motions, such as during object manipulation in contact.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2023

Using Intent Estimation and Decision Theory to Support Lifting Motions with a Quasi-Passive Hip Exoskeleton

This paper compares three controllers for quasi-passive exoskeletons. The Utility Maximizing Controller (UMC) uses intent estimation to recognize user motions and decision theory to activate the support mechanism. The intent estimation algorithm requires demonstrations for each motion to be recognized. Depending on what motion is recognized, different control signals are sent to the exoskeleton. The Extended UMC (E-UMC) adds a calibration step and a velocity module to trigger the UMC. As a benchmark, and to compare the behavior of the controllers irrespective of the hardware, a Passive Exoskeleton Controller (PEC) is developed as well. The controllers were implemented on a hip exoskeleton and evaluated in a user study consisting of two phases. First, demonstrations of three motions were recorded: squat, stoop left and stoop right. Afterwards, the controllers were evaluated. The E-UMC combines benefits from the UMC and the PEC, confirming the need for the two extensions. The E-UMC discriminates between the three motions and does not generate false positives for previously unseen motions such as stair walking. The proposed methods can also be applied to support other motions.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2023

Energy-Efficient Control of Cable Robots Exploiting Natural Dynamics and Task Knowledge

This paper focusses on the energy-efficient control of a cable-driven robot for tasks that only require precise positioning at few points in their motion, and where that accuracy can be obtained through contacts. This includes the majority of pick-and-place operations. Knowledge about the task is directly taken into account when specifying the control execution. The natural dynamics of the system can be exploited when there is a tolerance on the position of the trajectory. Brakes are actively used to replace standstill torques, and as passive actuation. This is executed with a hybrid discrete-continuous controller. A discrete controller is used to specify and coordinate between subtasks, and based on the requirements of these specific subtasks, specific, robust, continuous controllers are constructed. This approach allows for less stiff and thus saver, and cheaper hardware to be used. For a planar pick-and-place operation, it was found that this results in energy savings of more than 30%. However, when the payload moves with the natural dynamics, there is less control of the followed trajectory and its timing compared to a traditional trajectory-based execution. Also, the presented approach implies a fundamentally different way to specify and execute tasks.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2014

Py3DFreeHandUS: a library for voxel-array reconstruction using Ultrasonography and attitude sensors

In medical imaging, there is a growing interest to provide real-time images with good quality for large anatomical structures. To cope with this issue, we developed a library that allows to replace, for some specific clinical applications, more robust systems such as Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Our python library Py3DFreeHandUS is a package for processing data acquired simultaneously by ultra-sonographic systems (US) and marker-based optoelectronic systems. In particular, US data enables to visualize subcutaneous body structures, whereas the optoelectronic system is able to collect the 3D position in space for reflective objects, that are called markers. By combining these two measurement devices, it is possible to reconstruct the real 3D morphology of body structures such as muscles, for relevant clinical implications. In the present research work, the different steps which allow to obtain a relevant 3D data set as well as the procedures for calibrating the systems and for determining the quality of the reconstruction.

cs.CV↗