• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.709-717
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• 2013

This paper presents the development of a specialized underwater leg with a manipulator function(convertible-to-arm leg) for the seabed walking robot named CRABSTER200(CR200). The objective functions of the convertible-to-arm leg are to walk on the seabed and to work in underwater for precise seabed exploration and underwater tasks under coastal area with strong tidal current. In order to develop the leg, important design elements including the degree of freedom, dimensions, mass, motion range, joint structure/torque/angular-speed, pressure-resistance, watertight capability and cable protection are considered. The key elements of the convertible-to-arm leg are realized through concept/specific/mechanical design and implementation process with a suitable joint actuator/gear/controller selection procedure. In order to verify the performance of the manufactured convertible-to-arm leg, a 25bar pressure-resistant and watertight test using a high-pressure chamber and a joints operating test with posture control of the CR200 are performed. This paper describes the whole design, realization and verification process for implementation of the underwater convertible-to-arm leg.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.259-266
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• 2012

In these days, researches about underwater robots have been actively in progress for the purposes of ocean detection and resource exploration. Unlike general underwater robots such as ROV(Remotely Operated Vehicle) and AUV(Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) which have propellers, an articulated underwater robot which is called Crabster has been being developed in KORDI(Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute) with many cooperation organizations since 2010. The robot is expected to be able to walk and swim under the sea with its legs. Among many researching fields of this project, we are focusing on a swimming section. In order to find effective swimming locomotion for the robot, we approached this subject in terms of Biomimetics. As a model of optimized swimming organism in nature, diving beetles were chosen. In the paper, swimming motions of diving beetles were analyzed in viewpoint of robotics for applying them into the swimming motion of the robot. After modeling the kinematics of diving beetle through robotics engineering technique, we obtained swimming patterns of the one of living diving beetles, and then compared them with calculated optimal swimming patterns of a robot leg. As the first trial to compare the locomotion data of legs of the diving beetle with a robot leg, we have sorted two representative swimming patterns such as forwarding and turning. Experimental environment has been set up to get the motion data of diving beetles. The experimental equipment consists of a transparent aquarium and a high speed camera. Various swimming motions of diving beetles were recorded with the camera. After classifying swimming patterns of the diving beetle, we can get angular data of each joint on hind legs by image processing software, Image J. The data were applied to an optimized algorithm for swimming of a robot leg which was designed by robotics engineering technique. Through this procedure, simulated results which show trajectories of a robot leg were compared with trajectories of a leg of a diving beetle in desired directions. As a result, we confirmed considerable similarity in the result of trajectory and joint angles comparison.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2014

This paper describes the design concept of a bio-inspired legged underwater and estimating its performance by implementing simulations. Especially the leg structure of an underwater organism, diving beetles, is fully adopted to our designing to employ its efficiency for swimming. To make it possible for the robot to both walk and swim, the transformable kinematic model according to applications of the leg is proposed. To aid in the robot development and estimate swimming performance of the robot in advance, an underwater simulator has been constructed and an approximated model based on the developing robot was set up in the simulation. Furthermore, previous work that we have done, the swimming locomotion produced by a swimming patten generator based on the control parameters, is briefly mentioned in the paper and adopted to the simulation for extensive studies such as path planning and control techniques. Through the results, we established the strategy of leg joints which make the robot swim in the three dimensional space to reach effective controls.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.1244-1248
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• 2003

This paper describes visual tracking procedure of the underwater mobile robot for nuclear reactor vessel inspection, which is required to find the foreign objects such as loose parts. The yellowish underwater robot body tends to present a big contrast to boron solute cold water of nuclear reactor vessel, tinged with indigo by Cerenkov effect. In this paper, we have found and tracked the positions of underwater mobile robot using the two color information, yellow and indigo. The center coordinates extraction procedures are as follows. The first step is to segment the underwater robot body to cold water with indigo background. From the RGB color components of the entire monitoring image taken with the color CCD camera, we have selected the red color component. In the selected red image, we extracted the positions of the underwater mobile robot using the following process sequences; binarization, labelling, and centroid extraction techniques. In the experiment carried out at the Youngkwang unit 5 nuclear reactor vessel, we have tracked the center positions of the underwater robot submerged near the cold leg and the hot leg way, which is fathomed to 10m deep in depth.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2003.07e
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• pp.2259-2262
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• 2003

This paper describes visual tracking procedure of the underwater mobile robot for nuclear reactor vessel inspection, which is required to find the foreign objects such as loose parts. The yellowish underwater robot body tend to present a big contrast to boron solute cold water of nuclear reactor vessel, tinged with indigo by Cerenkov effect. In this paper, we have found and tracked the positions of underwater mobile robot using the two color informations, yellow and indigo. The center coordinates extraction procedures is as follows. The first step is to segment the underwater robot body to cold water with indigo background. From the RGB color components of the entire monitoring image taken with the color CCD camera, we have selected the red color component. In the selected red image, we extracted the positions of the underwater mobile robot using the following process sequences: binarization labelling, and centroid extraction techniques. In the experiment carried out at the Youngkwang unit 5 nuclear reactor vessel, we have tracked the center positions of the underwater robot submerged near the cold leg and the hot leg way, which is fathomed to 10m deep in depth.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2018

This paper describes a study on posture control of the multi-legged biomimetic underwater robot (CALEB10). Because the underwater environment has a feature that all degrees of freedom are coupled to each other, we designed the posture control algorithm by separating each degree of freedom. Not only should the research on posture control of underwater robots be a precedent study for position control, but it is also necessary to compensate disturbance in each direction. In the research on the yaw directional posture control, we made the drag force generated by the stroke of the left leg and the right leg occur asymmetrically, in order that a rotational moment is generated along the yaw direction. In the composite swimming controller in which the controllers in each direction are combined, we designed the algorithm to determine the control weights in each direction according to the error angle along the yaw direction. The performance of the proposed posture control method is verified by a dynamical simulator and underwater experiments.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2010

Purpose : The objective of this study is to effect of an aquatic rotation control and obstacle avoidance when conducted underwater on hemiplegia patient's balance ability and vestibular function. Methods : Twelve hemiplegia patients participated and were randomly assigned to a control group(I) with standard physical therapy and an aquatic group(II) with an aquatic rotation control, obstacle avoidance and standard physical therapy as well. The aquatic group trained using a Halliwick rotation control and obstacle avoidance through 3 times per week over 6 weeks. For all subjects, vestibular function, their balance, the change of electrooculogram (EOG), the change of accelerometer axis and torsiometer according to visual sense, vestibular sense with galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) or not during leg close stance were measured. Results : The EOG in the vertical and horizontal (p<0.05) were both significantly lowered. The change was significantly lower in the trajectory range of motion of trunk and spine with torsiometer when leg close stand (p<0.01) and leg close stand with GVS (p<0.01). The centre of gravity accelerated, there were reduced significantly difference X and Y axis of accelerometer during the closing of the leg without vision (p<0.05). There were reduced significantly difference X and Z axis of accelerometer during the closing of the leg with GVS (p<0.05). There were reduced significantly difference X and Z axis of accelerometer during the closing of the leg and close eyes with GVS (p<0.05). Conclusion : The balance ability, vestibular system and postural control is improved.

• 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.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.71-104
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• 2012

In this research, a typical tension-leg type of floating platform incorporated with an innovative concept of underwater tuned liquid column damper system (UWTLCD) is studied. The purpose of this study is to improve the structural safety by means of mitigating the wave induced vibrations and stresses on the offshore floating Tension Leg Platform (TLP) system. Based on some encouraging results from a previous study, where a Tuned Liquid Column Damper (TLCD) system was employed in a floating platform system to reduce the vibration of the main structure, in this study, the traditional TLCD system was modified and tested. Firstly, the orifice-tube was replaced with a smaller horizontal tube and secondly, the TLCD system was combined into the pontoon system under the platform. The modification creates a multipurpose pontoon system associated with vibration mitigation function. On the other hand, the UWTLCD that is installed underwater instead would not occupy any additional space on the platform and yet provide buoyancy to the system. Experimental tests were performed for the mitigation effect and parameters besides the wave conditions, such as pontoon draught and liquid-length in the TLCD were taken into account in the test. It is found that the accurately tuned UWTLCD system could effectively reduce the dynamic response of the offshore platform system in terms of both the vibration amplitude and tensile forces measured in the mooring tethers.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.11-21
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• 2007

The study was undertaken to present the quantitative materials available in underwater industries, underwater rehabilitation & physical training through comparison & analysis of effects contributing to propulsion of COG by types of fin-kick in underwater activities. For this 3D cinematography was performed for the skilled subjective and conclusions obtained on the basis of analysis of kinematic variables were as follows. In temporal variable the delay in the order of flutter>side>dolphin kick in elapsed time by total & phase resulted in longer sliding phase by larger fin kick of extension & flexion of both leg and thus more contributed in propulsion of COG. than those of the otherwise. In linear variable the contribution ratio to the result of propulsion of COG in both propulsive(mean $35.39{\pm}7.93cm$ in Y axis) and sliding phases(mean $66.36{\pm}11.01cm$ in Y axis)was shown to be order of flutter>dolphin>side fin kick. the maximum velocity of COG in Y direction was showed in both propulsive and sliding phases, and the contribution ratio to the propulsion of COG was in the order of flutter$\geq$dolphin>side fin kick. In angular variable the Significant difference in angle of leg joint by types of fin kick in both leg was showed but no routine order. The Significant difference in angular velocity of leg joint by types of fin kick in both leg was showed in the order of flutter>dolphin$\geq$side fin kick in propulsive but no in sliding phase. The Fluid resistance by tilting angle of trunk in both propulsive and sliding phase was decreased in the order of flutter>dolphin$\geq$side fin kick and tilting angle of trunk of the skilled was smaller than that of the unskilled in difference of maximum mean 7.97degree and minium mean 2.06degree. In summary of the above, It will desirable fin kick type because of more contribution to COG propulsion by the velocity & displacement in Y-axis and less fluid resistance by tilting angle of trunk and larger angular velocity in the case of more delayed in elapsed time of propulsive phase than that of the otherwise.