Wanyu Ma

Wanyu Ma, Bin Zhang, Lijun Han et al.

In this paper, we propose a new action planning approach to automatically pack long linear elastic objects into common-size boxes with a bimanual robotic system. For that, we developed a hybrid geometric model to handle large-scale occlusions combining an online vision-based method and an offline reference template. Then, a reference point generator is introduced to automatically plan the reference poses for the predesigned action primitives. Finally, an action planner integrates these components enabling the execution of high-level behaviors and the accomplishment of packing manipulation tasks. To validate the proposed approach, we conducted a detailed experimental study with multiple types and lengths of objects and packing boxes.

Shengzeng Huo, Anqing Duan, Chengxi Li et al.

This paper addresses the problem of contact-based manipulation of deformable linear objects (DLOs) towards desired shapes with a dual-arm robotic system. To alleviate the burden of high-dimensional continuous state-action spaces, we model the DLO as a kinematic multibody system via our proposed keypoint detection network. This new perception network is trained on a synthetic labeled image dataset and transferred to real manipulation scenarios without conducting any manual annotations. Our goal-conditioned policy can efficiently learn to rearrange the configuration of the DLO based on the detected keypoints. The proposed hierarchical action framework tackles the manipulation problem in a coarse-to-fine manner (with high-level task planning and low-level motion control) by leveraging on two action primitives. The identification of deformation properties is avoided since the algorithm replans its motion after each bimanual execution. The conducted experimental results reveal that our method achieves high performance in state representation of the DLO, and is robust to uncertain environmental constraints.

Wanyu Ma, Jihong Zhu, David Navarro-Alarcon

This paper proposes a general approach to design automatic controls to manipulate elastic objects into desired shapes. The object's geometric model is defined as the shape feature based on the specific task to globally describe the deformation. Raw visual feedback data is processed using classic regression methods to identify parameters of data-driven geometric models in real-time. Our proposed method is able to analytically compute a pose-shape Jacobian matrix based on implicit functions. This model is then used to derive a shape servoing controller. To validate the proposed method, we report a detailed experimental study with robotic manipulators deforming an elastic rod.

Jiaming Qi, Guangtao Ran, Bohui Wang et al.

The robotic manipulation of deformable linear objects has shown great potential in a wide range of real-world applications. However, it presents many challenges due to the objects' complex nonlinearity and high-dimensional configuration. In this paper, we propose a new shape servoing framework to automatically manipulate elastic rods through visual feedback. Our new method uses parameterized regression features to compute a compact (low-dimensional) feature vector that quantifies the object's shape, thus, enabling to establish an explicit shape servo-loop. To automatically deform the rod into a desired shape, the proposed adaptive controller iteratively estimates the differential transformation between the robot's motion and the relative shape changes; This valuable capability allows to effectively manipulate objects with unknown mechanical models. An auto-tuning algorithm is introduced to adjust the robot's shaping motions in real-time based on optimal performance criteria. To validate the proposed framework, a detailed experimental study with vision-guided robotic manipulators is presented.