The solution of the inverse kinematics of mobile manipulators is a fundamental capability to solve problems such as path planning, visual-guided motion, object grasping, and so on. In this article, we present a metaheuristic approach to solve the inverse kinematic problem of mobile manipulators. In this approach, we represent the robot kinematics using the Denavit–Hartenberg model. The algorithm is able to solve the inverse kinematic problem taking into account the mobile platform. The proposed approach is able to avoid singularities configurations, since it does not require the inversion of a Jacobian matrix. Those are two of the main drawbacks to solve inverse kinematics through traditional approaches. Applicability of the proposed approach is illustrated using simulation results as well as experimental ones using an omnidirectional mobile manipulator.

In this paper, an adaptive single neuron Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID) controller based on the extended Kalman filter (EKF) training algorithm is proposed. The use of EKF training allows online training with faster learning and convergence speeds than backpropagation training method. Moreover, the propose adaptive PID approach includes a back-calculation anti-windup scheme to deal with windup effects, which is a common problem in PID controllers. The performance of the proposed approach is shown by presenting both simulation and experimental tests, giving results that are comparable to similar and more complex implementations. Tests are performed for a four wheeled omnidirectional mobile robot. Tests show the superiority of the proposed adaptive PID controller over the conventional PID and other adaptive neural PID approaches. Experimental tests are performed on a KUKA^® Youbot^® omnidirectional platform.

Due to the complexity of manipulator robots, the trajectory tracking task is very challenging. Most of the current algorithms depend on the robot structure or its number of degrees of freedom (DOF). Furthermore, the most popular methods use a Jacobian matrix that suffers from singularities. In this work, the authors propose a general method to solve the trajectory tracking of robot manipulators using metaheuristic optimization methods. The proposed method can be used to find the best joint configuration to minimize the end-effector position and orientation in 3D, for robots with any number of DOF.

This article presents an approach to solve the inverse kinematics of cooperative mobile manipulators for coordinate manipulation tasks. A self-adaptive differential evolution algorithm is used to solve the inverse kinematics as a global constrained optimization problem. A kinematics model of the cooperative mobile manipulators system is proposed, considering a system with two omnidirectional platform manipulators with n DOF. An objective function is formulated based on the forward kinematics equations. Consequently, the proposed approach does not suffer from singularities because it does not require the inversion of any Jacobian matrix. The design of the objective function also contains penalty functions to handle the joint limits constraints. Simulation experiments are performed to test the proposed approach for solving coordinate path tracking tasks. The solutions of the inverse kinematics show precise and accurate results. The experimental setup considers two mobile manipulators based on the KUKA Youbot system to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach.

Artificial intelligence techniques have been used in the industry to control complex systems; among these proposals, adaptive Proportional, Integrative, Derivative (PID) controllers are intelligent versions of the most used controller in the industry. This work presents an adaptive neuron PD controller and a multilayer neural PD controller for position tracking of a mobile manipulator. Both controllers are trained by an extended Kalman filter (EKF) algorithm. Neural networks trained with the EKF algorithm show faster learning speeds and convergence times than the training based on backpropagation. The integrative term in PID controllers eliminates the steady-state error, but it provokes oscillations and overshoot. Moreover, the cumulative error in the integral action may produce windup effects such as high settling time, poor performance, and instability. The proposed neural PD controllers adjust their gains dynamically, which eliminates the steady-state error. Then, the integrative term is not required, and oscillations and overshot are highly reduced. Removing the integral part also eliminates the need for anti-windup methodologies to deal with the windup effects. Mobile manipulators are popular due to their mobile capability combined with a dexterous manipulation capability, which gives them the potential for many industrial applications. Applicability of the proposed adaptive neural controllers is presented by simulating experimental results on a KUKA Youbot mobile manipulator, presenting different tests and comparisons with the conventional PID controller and an existing adaptive neuron PID controller.

Flying robots have gained great interest because of their numerous applications. For this reason, the control of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is one of the most important challenges in mobile robotics. These kinds of robots are commonly controlled with Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers; however, traditional linear controllers have limitations when controlling highly nonlinear and uncertain systems such as UAVs. In this paper, a control scheme for the pose of a quadrotor is presented. The scheme presented has the behavior of a PD controller and it is based on a Multilayer Perceptron trained with an Extended Kalman Filter. The Neural Network is trained online in order to ensure adaptation to changes in the presence of dynamics and uncertainties. The control scheme is tested in real time experiments in order to show its effectiveness.