Multi-DOF Counterbalancing and Applications to Robots

Jae Bok Song, Hwi Su Kim, Won Bum Lee

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Most robot arms use expensive motors and speed reducers to provide torques sufficient to support the robot mass and payload. If the gravitational torques due to the robot mass and/or payload can be compensated by some means, the robot would need much smaller torques for its operation, which can save energy and enables the use of cheaper actuator modules. To this end, counterbalance mechanisms (CBMs) or passive gravity compensators, which can fully or nearly compensate for the gravitational torques due to the robot mass and/or payload, have been developed so far. CBMs can be implemented by various mechanisms, such as wire-type, gear-type, and link-type mechanisms. Since most robot arms have 2 or 3 pitch joints, which are subjected to gravity, multi-DOF counterbalancing techniques are also required to fully compensate for the gravitational torques regardless of the robot’s configuration. In this chapter, the principle of CBM and multi-DOF counterbalancing are discussed in detail. In addition, some counterbalance robot arms are presented to demonstrate their performance of gravity compensation. Simulation and experimental results show that the CBMs effectively decrease the torque required to support the robot mass and payload, thus allowing the prospective use of low-cost motors and speed reducers for high performance robot arms.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMechanisms and Machine Science
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media B.V.
Pages73-99
Number of pages27
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Publication series

NameMechanisms and Machine Science
Volume115
ISSN (Print)2211-0984
ISSN (Electronic)2211-0992

Keywords

  • Counterbalance mechanisms
  • Counterbalance robots
  • Gravity compensators
  • Multi-DOF counterbalancing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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