General Questions

[jamesadrian]

Are there specific robot parts you would most like to see mass produced at low cost?

Are the members of this forum generally familiar with the design principles called closed-loop motion control, proportional speed control, force feedback, and compliance?

Is anybody currently working on a robot arm that uses closed-loop motion control in the wrist, elbow and shoulder and makes use of wood and plastic for skeletal parts?

Does anybody hand make their own capacitive angle sensors?

Thank you for your help.

Jim Adrian
[email protected]

[carlitos]

Welcome to our Forum Jim! We are sure you will find roboticists with similar interest in here.

[jamesadrian]

Would anybody tell me about an angle sensor that they like for a robotic elbow or some such feedback?

Thank you for your help.

Jim Adrian

[email protected]

[jamesadrian]

Thank you for welcoming me.

I should start to define some of these terms.

The term closed-loop refers to this conceptual circle: The input of sensors represents positions or locations. The output of these sensors is sent to a computing device. The computing device determines desired target positions or locations as the robot moves. The computing device sends control signals to the effectors (sources of motion like motors or pistons). The effectors work to achieve the calculated position or location. Finally, the new positions change what the position sensors are detecting. This completes the conceptual circle called the closed-loop. This is the circle of information transfer that regulates position. There can be many closed loops in a robot. This means that the computer (according to its program) may make the actual position the same as the desired position despite environmental influences. The computer continually checks the sensors and adjusts position by means of effectors.

Jim Adrian
[email protected]

[jamesadrian]

A more complete story is available here:

futurebeacon.com/EffectiveRobotics.htm

Jim Adrian
[email protected]