Title
A reconfiguration strategy for modular robots using origami folding
Abstract
AbstractReconfigurability in versatile systems of modular robots is achieved by changing the morphology of the overall structure as well as by connecting and disconnecting modules. Recurrent connectivity changes can cause misalignment that leads to mechanical failure of the system. This paper presents a new approach to reconfiguration, inspired by the art of origami, that eliminates connectivity changes during transformation. Our method consists of an energy-optimal reconfiguration planner that generates an initial 2D assembly pattern and an actuation sequence of the modular units, both resulting in minimum energy consumption. The algorithmic framework includes two approaches, an automatic modeling algorithm as well as a heuristic algorithm. We further demonstrate the effectiveness of our method by applying the algorithms to Mori, a modular origami robot, in simulation. Our results show that the heuristic algorithm yields reconfiguration schemes with high quality, compared with the automatic modeling algorithm, simultaneously saving a considerable amount of computational time and effort.
Year
DOI
Venue
2019
10.1177/0278364918815757
Periodicals
Keywords
Field
DocType
Modular robotics, optimal reconfiguration, computational origami, heuristic algorithm
Computer architecture,Reconfigurability,Heuristic (computer science),Control engineering,Self-reconfiguring modular robot,Mathematics,Control reconfiguration
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
38
1
0278-3649
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
3
0.53
13
Authors
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Meibao Yao141.22
Christoph H. Belke230.86
Hutao Cui3173.35
Jamie Paik43211.81