arXiv subjects

Vincenzo Di Paola

Publications and source records attributed to Vincenzo Di Paola.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

X-ACTA: eXtended Analytic Center Tension distribution Algorithm for fixed and mobile cable-driven-parallel-robot

Steering Cable-Driven Parallel Robots (CDPRs) beyond their Wrench-Feasible Workspace (WFW) augments their capabilities in challenging scenarios such as during aggressive maneuvers or following a cable failure. In this context, although the determination of cable tensions is a well-studied topic, only a few approaches address these scenarios. Therefore, this paper introduces an extended version of the Analytic Center method as a criterion for selecting cable tensions outside the WFW while maintaining differentiability and including non-linear constraints. Notably, the proposed method maintains continuous and differentiable tension profiles, ensures fast real-time convergence to a unique solution, and, in contrast to other slack-based formulations, relegates wrench errors to a negligible area of the WFW. Its superiority in terms of smoothness and wrench error is confirmed via Pareto dominance with respect to the leading state-of-the-art method. Lastly, the effectiveness of the method is demonstrated through numerical experiments.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2026

Performance and Experimental Analysis of Strain-based Models for Continuum Robots

Although strain-based models have been widely adopted in robotics, no comparison beyond the uniform bending test is commonly recognized to assess their performance. In addition, the increasing effort in prototyping continuum robots highlights the need to assess the applicability of these models and the necessity of comprehensive performance evaluation. To address this gap, this work investigates the shape reconstruction abilities of a third-order strain interpolation method, examining its ability to capture both individual and combined deformation effects. These results are compared and discussed against the Geometric-Variable Strain approach. Subsequently, simulation results are experimentally verified by reshaping a slender rod while recording the resulting configurations using cameras. The rod configuration is imposed using a manipulator displacing one of its tips and extracted through reflective markers, without the aid of any other external sensor -- i.e. strain gauges or wrench sensors placed along the rod. The experiments demonstrate good agreement between the model predictions and observed shapes, with average error of 0.58% of the rod length and average computational time of 0.32s per configuration, outperforming existing models.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2025

Stiffness-based Analytic Centre Method for Cable-Driven Parallel Robots

Nowadays, being fast and precise are key requirements in Robotics. This work introduces a novel methodology to tune the stiffness of Cable-Driven Parallel Robots (CDPRs) while simultaneously addressing the tension distribution problem. In particular, the approach relies on the Analytic-Centre method. Indeed, weighting the barrier functions makes natural the stiffness adaptation. The intrinsic ability to adjust the stiffness during the execution of the task enables the CDPRs to effectively meet above-mentioned requirements. The capabilities of the method are demonstrated through simulations by comparing it with the existing approach.

cs.RO↗