Multiple-arm space free-flying robots for manipulating objects with force tracking restrictions

Multiple Impedance Control (MIC) is an algorithm that enforces designated impedance at various levels, i.e. on the manipulated object, all cooperating manipulators, and the moving platform of a robotic system. In this paper, a force tracking strategy inspired by a human control system is added to the MIC algorithm and the general formulation is revised to fulfill a desired force tracking strategy for object manipulation tasks. The stability analysis of the MIC algorithm based on the Liapunov Direct Method, besides error analysis, shows that a good tracking of cooperative manipulators and the manipulated object is guaranteed. Next, using MAPLE and MATLAB tools, a system of three manipulators mounted on a space free-flying robot is simulated. The task is moving an object based on given trajectories which come across an obstacle, to examine the performance of the developed control law. The results show that, even in the presence of both external disturbances and an impact due to collision with the obstacle, the response of the MIC algorithm is smooth. Moreover, based on the embedded force tracking strategy, the contact force is confined to follow a desired trajectory. Also, it is shown that decreasing the values of the controller mass matrix elements results in reducing both the object position and force tracking error.