• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.47-54
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• 2012

In this study, numerical simulations were performed to evaluate the current loads acting on the multi-legged underwater robot "Crabster" with a variety of incident angles using the ANSYS-CFX package. The Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations were solved to simulate the fluid flow around Crabster to calculate the forces and moments induced by incoming currents with various angles. First, to assess the posture stability of the body, the forces and moments were calculated with various incident angles when the current acted in the vertical and horizontal directions. Next, two forms of legs (box and foil types) were evaluated to determine the hydrodynamic force variation. Finally, the current forces and moments acting on the Crabster body with the legs attached were estimated.

• IEMEK Journal of Embedded Systems and Applications
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.331-341
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• 2017

This paper presents the sea-trial results of Crabster CR6000 which is a deep-sea walking robot developed by KRISO in 2016. Crabster CR6000 is designed to inspect deep-sea environment rejecting the disturbance on the silent and calm abyssal area. The sea-trial was conducted at the East Sea and the Philippine Sea on December 2016. The Crabster CR6000 undocked successfully from the Shuttle after touchdown on the sea-bed and walked out on the soft sediment soil of the 4,743m seafloor at the fourth diving in the Philippine Sea. The advanced technologies and capabilities of CR6000 were verified from the operational and functional test conducted in the sea-trial. The experimental data acquired from the sea-trial were summarized and the first experience of the deep-sea walking robot was presented in this paper.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.284-291
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• 2012

Recently, development of underwater robot has actively been in progress in the world as ROV(Remotely Operator Vehicle) and AUV(Autonomous Unmmanded Vehicle) style. But KIOST(Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology), beginning in 2010, launched the R&D project to develop the robot, dubbed CRABSTER(Crab + (Lob)ster) in a bid to enhance the safety and efficiency of resource exploration. CRABSTER has been designed to be able to walk and swim with its own legs without screws. Among many research subjects regarding CRABSTER, optimal swimming patterns are handled in this paper. In previous studies, drag forces during one period with different values for angle of each joint were derived. However kinematics of real-robot and fluid-dynamics are not considered. We conducted simulations with an optimization algorithm for swimming by considering simplified fluid dynamics in this paper. Drag-coefficients applied to the simulation were approximated values calculated by CFD(Computational Fluid Dynamics : Tecplot 360, ANSYS). In addition, optimized swimming patterns were applied to a real robot. The experiments with the real robot were conducted in circumstances in the water. As a result, when the experiments were carried out in the water, a regular pattern of drag force output came out depending on the movement of the robot. We confirmed the fact that the drag forces from the simulation and the experiment has a high similarity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Marine Engineers Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.77-78
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• 2011

한국해양연구원에서 개발 중인 Crabster 로봇팔을 기구학적으로 분석하고, 속도기구학을 매트랩을 이용하여 작업공간에 대해서도 분석 및 해석을 완료하였다. 운용자와 Crabster 로봇팔의 움직임을 고려해 개념 설계한 인간팔 크기의 7축 마스터 암 및 그립퍼의 기구부에 대해 2D 및 3D의 도면을 완성하였고, 마스터 암에 적용할 모터의 사양과 각 관절에 피드백 된 힘을 반영하기 위한 구동 모터의 엔코더를 이용한 위치 센서, DSP2812를 이용한 제어 명령 입력 장치와 구동 모터 드라이버를 포함한 마스터 - 슬레이브 시스템의 개념 설계를 완성하였다.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.782-790
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• 2013

In this paper, we propose a better solution for swimming plans of an articulated underwater robot, Crabster, with a view point of biomimetics. As a biomimetic model of underwater organisms, we chose diving beetles structurally similar to Crabster. Various swimming locomotion of the diving beetle has been observed and sorted by robotics technology through experiments with a high-speed camera and image processing software Image J. Subsequently, coordinated patterns of rhythmic movements of the diving beetle are reproduced by simple control parameters in a parameter space which make it easy to control trajectories and velocities of legs. Furthermore, a simulation was implemented with an approximated model to predict the motion of the robot under development based on the classified forward and turning locomotion. Consequently, we confirmed the applicability of parameterized leg locomotion to the articulated underwater robot through the simulated results by the approximated model.

• International Journal of Ocean System Engineering
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.222-229
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• 2011

In this paper, we present the concept and main mission of the Crabster, an underwater walking robot. The main focus is on the modeling of drag and lift forces on the legs of the robot, which comprise the main difference in dynamic characteristics between on-land and underwater robots. Drag and lift forces acting on the underwater link are described as a function of the relative velocity of the link with respect to the fluid using the strip theory. Using the translational velocity of the link as the rotational velocity of the joint, we describe the drag force as a function of joint variables. Generalized drag torque is successfully derived from the drag force as a function of generalized variables and its first derivative, even though the arm has a roll joint and twist angles between the joints. To verify the proposed model, we conducted drag torque simulations using a simple Selective Compliant Articulated Robot Arm.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.65-72
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• 2013

This paper describes a finite element analysis (FEA) of the body frame of a subsea robot, Crabster200 (CR200). CR200 has six legs for mobility instead of screw type propellers, which distinguishes it from previous underwater robots such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Another distinguishing characteristic is the body frame, which is made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). This body frame is designed as a rib cage structure in order to disperse the applied external loads and reduce the weight. The frame should be strong enough to support many devices for exploration and operation underwater. For a reasonable FEA, we carried out specimen tests. Using the obtained material properties, we performed a modal analysis and FEA for CR200 with a ready posture. Finally, this paper presents the FEA results for the CFRP body frame and the compares the characteristics of CFRP with conventional material, aluminum.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.419-425
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• 2014

This study applied finite element analysis (FEA) to the body frame of the 200-meter class multi-legged subsea walking robot known as Crabster (CR200). The body frame of the CR200 is modeled after the ribcage of a human so that it can disperse applied external loads. It is made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). Therefore, the frame is lighter and stronger than it would be if it were made of other conventional materials. In order to perform FEA for the CFRP body frame, we applied the material properties of the CFRP as obtained from a specimen test to an FE model of CFRP frame. Finally, we performed FEA with respect to the load conditions encountered when the robot is launched into and recovered from the sea. Also, we performed FEA for the frame, assuming that it was fabricated using a conventional material, in order to compare its characteristics with CFRP.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.989-997
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• 2014

In this paper, we describe a design method for the static walking algorithm of a subsea hexapod robot called Crabster (CR200). To design the gait algorithms of a hexapod robot, we propose a design method that uses a gait schedule vector and leg pair vector to secure convenience and expandability. Several walking algorithms are designed that are capable of being applied to CR200 according to the underwater environment and explorative conditions. In addition, gait transition is freely performed between algorithms by applying common control parameters to them. The gait algorithms designed using the proposed method are simulated using MATLAB and validated against the results of experiments.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.743-749
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• 2015

In this paper, we describe the dynamic tumble-stability analysis of a seabed-walking robot named Crabster (CR200) in forward-incident currents. CR200 is designed to be operated in tidal-current conditions, and its body shape is also designed to minimize hydrodynamic resistances considering hydrodynamics. To analyze its tumble stability, we adopt the dynamic stability margin of a ground-legged robot and modify the definition of the margin to consider tidal-current effects. To analyze its dynamic tumble stability, we use the estimated hydrodynamic forces that act on the robot in various tidal-current conditions, and analyze the dynamic tumble-stability margin of the robot using the estimated results obtained for the various tidal-current conditions. From the analyses, we confirm the improved tumble stability of the robot according to the movement of the tumble axis caused by the supporting points of the legs.