• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.189-206
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• 2012

This paper focuses on the actuation system combined with a piezoelectric transducer and an electric circuit, which leads to a new insight; the electric actuation system is equivalent to mechanical variable-stiffness actuation systems. By controlling the switch in the circuit, the electric status of the piezoelectric transducer is changed, and consequently a variable-stiffness mechanism is achieved on the electric actuator. This proposed actuator features a shift in the equilibrium point of force, while conventional electrically-induced variable-stiffness actuators feature the variation of the stiffness value. We intensively focus on the equilibrium shift in the actuation system, which has been neglected. The stiffness of the variable-stiffness actuator is periodically modulated by controlling the switch, to suppress the vibration of the system in an open-loop way. It is proved that this electric actuator is equivalent to its mechanical counterpart, and that the electrical version has some practical advantages over the mechanical one. Furthermore, another kind of electrically-induced variable-stiffness actuator, using an energy-recycling mechanism is also discussed from the viewpoint of open-loop vibration control. Extensive numerical simulations provide comprehensive assessment on both electrically-induced variable-stiffness actuators employed for open-loop vibration control.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.109-119
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• 2002

In this paper, mechanism design of optical pickup actuator for fast access is proposed. This actuator is composed of moving magnet type actuator and moving coil type actuator for tracking and fine motion, respectively. Moving magnet type tracking actuator is configurated by two permanent magnets and four air-core solenoids. Additional damper by induced current in tracking actuator can reduce the transient vibration between the coarse seeking servo and fine seeking servo. Variable stiffness can be acquired by applying current to air-core solenoid simply. This actuator can achieve fast access by these additional damper and stiffness. Performance of this actuator is predicted through the FEM, simulation and simple experiment. Settling time for transient vibration is reduced to 14.7% according to simulation result.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2019

In this study, we developed an FSEA(Force-sensing Series Elastic Actuator) composed of a spring and an actuator has been developed to compensate for external disturbance forced. The FSEA has a simple structure in which the spring and the actuator are connected in series, and the external force can be easily measured through the displacement of the spring. And the characteristic of the spring absorbs the shock to the small disturbance and increases the sense of stability. It is designed and constructed to control the stiffness of such springs more flexibly according to the situation. The conventional FSEA uses a fixed stiffness spring and the actuator is not compensated properly when it receives large or small external force. Through this experiment, it is confirmed that FSEA compensates the external force through the proposed algorithm that the variable stiffness compensates well for large and small external forces.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.168-177
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• 2007

In a number of fields, robots are being used for two purposes: efficiency and safety. Most robots, however, have single-actuator mechanism for each joint, where the tasks are performed with high stiffness. High stiffness causes undesired problems to the environment and robots. This study proposes redundant actuator mechanism as an alternative idea to cope with these problems. In this paper, Double-Actuator Unit (DAU) is implemented at each joint for applications of multi-link manipulators. The DAU is composed of two motors: the positioning actuator and the stiffness modulator, which enables independent control of positioning and compliance. A three-link manipulator with DAUs enables adaptive control of RCC. By modulating the joint stiffness of the manipulator and controlling the position of RCC, we can significantly reduce contact force during assembly tasks and surgical procedures.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.361-377
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• 2019

The stiffness of shape memory alloy (SMA) spring while in actuation is represented by an empirical model that is derived from the logistic differential equation. This model correlates the stiffness to the alloy temperature and the functionality of SMA spring as active variable stiffness actuator (VSA) is analyzed based on factors that are the input conditions (activation current, duty cycle and excitation frequency) and operating conditions (pre-stress and mechanical connection). The model parameters are estimated by adopting the nonlinear least square method, henceforth, the model is validated experimentally. The average correlation factor of 0.95 between the model response and experimental results validates the proposed model. In furtherance, the justification is augmented from the comparison with existing stiffness models (logistic curve model and polynomial model). The important distinction from several observations regarding the comparison of the model prediction with the experimental states that it is more superior, flexible and adaptable than the existing. The nature of stiffness variation in the SMA spring is assessed also from the Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA), which as well proves the proposal. This model advances the ability to use SMA integrated mechanism for enhanced variable stiffness actuation. The investigation proves that the stiffness of SMA spring may be altered under controlled conditions.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.1195-1200
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• 2013

In recent years, variable stiffness actuation has attracted much attention because interaction between a robot and the environment is increasingly required for various robot tasks. Several variable stiffness actuators (VSAs) have been developed; however, they find limited applications owing to their size and weight. For realizing their widespread use, we developed a compact and lightweight mini-VSA. The mini-VSA consists of a control module based on an adjustable moment arm mechanism and a drive module with two motors. By controlling the relative motion of cams in the control module, the position and stiffness can be simultaneously controlled. Experimental results are presented to show its ability to change stiffness.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.326-332
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• 2019

In the case of conventional soft robots, the basic stiffness is small due to the use of flexible materials. Therefore, there is a limitation that the load that can bear is limited. In order to overcome these limitations, a study on a variable stiffness method has been conducted. And it can be seen that the jamming mechanism is most effective in increasing the stiffness of the soft robot. However, the jamming mechanism as a method in which a large number of variable act together is not even theoretically analyzed, and there is no study on intrinsic principle. In this paper, a study was carried out to increase the stability of the force chain to increase the stiffness due to the jamming transition phenomenon. Particle size variables, backbone mechanisms were used to analyze the stability of the force chains. We choose a jamming mechanism as a variable stiffness method of a soft robot, and improve the effect of stiffness based on theoretical analysis, modeling FEM simulation, prototyping and experiment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.651-652
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• 2010

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1049-1054
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• 2015

Nowadays, there are many researches involving structural actuators, which have adjustable stiffness; they are also called variable stiffness actuators (VSA). The VSAs can adjust the characteristics of actuators for various functions and human-machine safety. This paper describes the design and analysis of two types of VSAs. To adjust stiffness, the actuators are controlled by a principle of lever ratio mechanism, by changing a pivot position or a spring position in the structure with springs. To make the principle workable, the designs are simplified by using a ball screw system with a motor. Each structure shows different static properties with variable rates of stiffness. We have also shown the experimental verification of the dynamic performance of the two types of VSAs. This research can be applied to various industrial fields, where humans work in conjunction with robots.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2006

Hydraulic actuators are important in modern industry due to high power, fast response, and high stiffness. In recent years, hybrid actuation system, which combines electric and hydraulic technology in a compact unit, can be adapted to a wide variety of force, speed and torque requirements. Moreover, the hybrid actuation system has dealt with the energy consumption and noise problem existed in the conventional hydraulic system. Therefore, hybrid actuator has a wide range of application fields such as plastic injection-molding and metal forming technology, where force or pressure control is the most important technology. In this paper, the solution for force control of hybrid system is presented. However, some limitations still exist such as deterioration of the performance of transient response due to the variable environment stiffness. Therefore, intelligent switching control using Learning Vector Quantization Neural Network (LVQNN) is newly proposed in this paper in order to overcome these limitations. Experiments are carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm with large variation of stiffness of external environment. In addition, it is understood that the new system has energy saving effect even though it has almost the same response as that of valve controlled system.