Intelligent Autonomous Material Handling Forklift

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I program will develop a novel hybrid adaptive controller for intelligent control of mobile robotic arms. This technique will couple adaptive position control techniques with force control of the end-effector to enable mobile robotic arms to carry out complex tasks requiring close interaction with the environment. A candidate hybrid adaptive control scheme is designed which has dual adaptive mechanisms, one for the position control subsystem, and another for the force control subsystem. The presence of an adaptation mechanism for both the position and the force loop will allow the robot to handle a range of tasks in semi-structured and unstructured environments. Analytical and simulation studies are carried out to evaluate the stability, robustness, and performance of the proposed scheme. The feasibility of the proposed control strategy will be evaluated for possible experimental prototype development and commercialization during Phase II. Commercially, there are a lot potential opportunities for growth for high-end robotic systems capable of performing complex tasks for a range of applications which require a degree of dexterity and accuracy not currently available in mobile robotic systems. These applications include remote-controlled bomb-handling, clean-up of contaminated environments, handling of hazardous materials, and remote servicing of spacecraft.