Biologically Inspired Reflex Based Stabilization Control of a Humanoid Robot with Artificial SMA Muscles

Suddenly occurring collisions or unintentional motions represent a high safety risk in robotics and must be prevented. Especially for humanoid robots, the influence of disturbances that occur unexpectedly during bipedal locomotion are difficult to compensate. A model based online control approach for stabilization of a humanoid robot with many degrees of freedom may require too much time for computing and implementing an adequate compensating motion. In addition, such a control approach usually requires accurate sensor information about the type and magnitude of the disturbance. The goal of the present paper is a reflex based online stabilization control of a humanoid robot actuator based on artificial SMA muscles. The design of a humanoid robot actuated with SMA muscles allows a lightweight robot design and simplifies the direct implementation of reflexes. The reflex that is integrated into the robot depends on an evaluation of the pressure distribution of the feet. An instable position of the center of mass of the robot leads to a known specific pressure disturbance that should be avoided. The experiments show that the implementation of a reflex for the actuators in the calf leads to a stabilization of the entire robot. Additional reflexes are required when the strength or speed of disturbances are increased, such as in the upper leg or arms.