Biped robots have gained much attention for decades. A variety of researches has been conducted to make them able to assist or even substitute for humans in performing special tasks. In addition, studying biped robots is important in order to understand the human locomotion and to develop and improve control strategies for prosthetic and orthotic limbs. Some challenges encountered in the design of biped robots are: (1) biped robots have unstable structures due to the passive joint located at the unilateral foot-ground contact. (2) They have different configuration when switching from walking phase to another. During the singlesupport phase, the robot is under-actuated, while turning into an over-actuated system during the double-support phase. (3) Biped robots have many degrees of freedom (DOFs). (4) Biped robots interact with different unknown environments. Therefore, this work attempts to investigate and resolve different issues encountered in dynamics, walking pattern generators and control of biped robots; the details as follows: • Dynamics Two walking patterns have been modeled using two well-known formulations: Lagrangian and the modified recursive Newton-Euler (N-E) formulations. The first walking pattern moves with 6 DOFs during the single support phase (SSP) changing its configuration with 7 DOFs during the double support phase (DSP) (the stance foot will move directly during the DSP). Whereas the other walking pattern has 6 DOFs during all walking phases (the SSP and the two sub-phases of the DSP); the stance foot will be fixed during the first sub-phase of the DSP. These two walking pattern are different in configuration and number of phases during the DSP. To resolve the problem of over-actuation, a linear transition function is proposed to ensure smooth transition for the biped from the SSP to the DSP and vice versa. If we assume ideal dynamic response, this strategy can resolve the discontinuity in input control torque and ground reaction forces. • Walking pattern generators Two methods have been used to generate walking patterns of biped mechanism which are (1) optimal control theory and (2) center of gravity (COG)-based model. Computational optimal control has been performed to investigate the effects of some imposed constraints on biped locomotion, such as enforcing swing foot to move level to the ground, hip motion with constant height etc. finite difference approach has been used to transcribe infinite dimensional optimal control problem into finite dimensional suboptimal control problem. Then parameter optimization has been used to get suboptimal trajectory of the biped with the imposing different constraints. In general, any artificially imposed constraint to biped locomotion can lead to increase in value of input control torques. On the other hand, suboptimal trajectory of biped robot during complete gait cycle had been accomplished with different cases such that continuous dynamic response occurs. Enforcing the biped locomotion to move with linear transition of zero-moment point (ZMP) during the DSP can lead to more energy consumption. Using the simple COG-based model, a comparative study has been conducted to generate continuous motion for COG of the biped; all these methods depend on linear pendulum model. It has been shown all these methods are equivalent. On the other hand, the effect of foot configuration has been investigated. Foot rotation can improve biped configuration at heel strike by controlling foot angle. In addition, foot motion with impact can give some freedom and uniform biped configuration compared with motion without impact. To compensate for the deviation of ZMP trajectory due to approximate model of the COG, a novel strategy has been proposed to satisfy kinematic and dynamic constraints, as well as singularity condition. A stable motion has been obtained for the target walking patterns. • Low-level control Two control schemes have been proposed based on dynamics formulations which are conventional adaptive control based on local approximation technique and Lagrangian formulation, and virtual decomposition control (VDC) based on local approximation technique and recursive N-E formulation. In the first approach (conventional control), a new representation of dynamic matrices has been coined which is computationally efficient than other representation (sparse-base representation, Kronecker product etc.). Controller structures for the SSP and the DSP have been designed in details. Since adaptive control assumes no prior knowledge of estimated weighting matrices; therefore, zero input control torques could be result in at the beginning of each phase. Consequently, discontinuous dynamic response could result. The VDC is an efficient tool for complex robotic system such as biped robot. Therefore each subsystem (link, joint) has been controlled using adaptive approximation–based VDC. A novel optimization technique has been used to deal with continuous dynamic response; however, using zero initial weighting matrices for estimation dynamic matrices and vectors could result in zero input control at beginning of each walking phases.
Dialysis is a stressful process and follows various psychological and social problems, which can lead to psychological disturbances. Patients on dialysis experience psychological distress, and the reduction of stress in patients provides psychological resources to cope with their physical condition. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of deep-breathing exercise training on the level of stress among maintenance hemodialysis patients.
This study is a randomized
With the recent growth of global populations, main roads in cities have witnessed an evident increase in the number of vehicles. This has led to unprecedented challenges for authorities in managing the traffic of ambulance vehicles to provide medical services in emergency cases. Despite the high technologies associated with medical tracks and advanced traffic management systems, there is still a current delay in ambulances’ attendance in times of emergency to provide patients with vital aid. Therefore, it is indispensable to introduce a new emergency service system that enables the ambulance to reach the patient in the least congested and shortest paths. However, designing an effici
Abstract
Sovereign wealth funds are an important tool for achieving economic stability and avoiding the local economy from external shocks, including the shocks of international oil prices. The spread of these funds is the result of large current account surpluses in many Asian and oil-exporting economies. These surpluses are due to higher commodity prices Has led to a rapid accumulation of foreign assets in central banks. Many countries with rent economies face the problem of their dependence on non-renewable natural resources, especially the oil countries, including Iraq. Oil revenues are more than 97% of oil exports, so they suffer from structural imbal
... Show MoreThe aim of this research is to measure and analyze the gap between the actual reality and the requirements of the environmental management system in the middle refineries company/refinery cycle according to ISO14001: 2015, as well as to measure the availability of a clean production strategy and test the relationship and impact between the availability of the requirements of the standard and a clean production strategy for the actual reality in the company.
The research problem was determined by the extent to which the requirements of the environmental management system are applied according to ISO14001: 2015 in the middle refineries company? To what extent are the required clean production strategies ava
... Show MoreThis article uses coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian finite element algorithm to conduct a three-dimensional thermomechanical study to capture the shape and characteristics of defect type generated while achieving the dissimilar friction stir welding of aluminium alloys. The volume-of-fluid method is used to model the Eulerian region and predict the localised formation of process defects. Three different tool shapes are utilised to achieve the dissimilar friction stir welding joining between AA 2024-T3 on the advancing side and AA 6061-T6 on the retreating side. Process parameter effects such as rotational tool speed, traverse tool speed and tool tilt angle are also investigated. The finite element model results are validated by comparing with t
... Show MoreIn this study, the possible protective effects of daidzein on ifosfamide-induced neurotoxicity in male rats were examined by the determination of changes in selected oxidant–antioxidant markers of male rats’ brain tissue.
Twenty-eight (28) apparently-healthy Wistar male rats weighing (120-150gm) allocated into 4 groups (n=7) were used in this study. Rats orally-administered 1% tween 20 dissolved in distilled water/Control (Group I); rats were orally-administered daidzein suspension (100mg/kg) for 7 days (Group II); rats intraperitoneally-injected with a single dose of ifosfamide (500 mg/kg) (Group III); rats orally-administered for 7 days with the daidzein (100mg/
... Show MoreNumerical investigation has been carried out on heat transfer and friction factor characteristics of copper-water nanofluid flow in a constant heat-fluxed tube with the existence of new configuration of vortex generator using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation. Two types of swirl flow generator: Classical twisted tape (CTT) and Parabolic-cut twisted tape (PCT) with a different twist ratio (= 2.93, 3.91 and 4.89) and different cut depth (= 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 cm) with 2% and 4% volume concentration
... Show MoreIn this study, the possible protective effects of daidzein on ifosfamide-induced neurotoxicity in male rats were examined by the determination of changes in selected oxidant–antioxidant markers of male rats’ brain tissue. Twenty-eight (28) apparently-healthy Wistar male rats weighing (120-150gm) allocated into 4 groups (n=7) were used in this study. Rats orally-administered 1% tween 20 dissolved in distilled water/Control (Group I); rats were orally-administered daidzein suspension (100mg/kg) for 7 days (Group II); rats intraperitoneally-injected with a single dose of ifosfamide (500 mg/kg) (Group III); rats orally-administered for 7 days with the daidzein (100mg/kg) before a single intraperitoneal dose of ifosfamide (
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