Collision detection, localization & classification for industrial robots with joint torque sensors

Abstract

High dynamic capabilities of industrial robots make them dangerous for humans and environment. To reduce this factor and advance collaboration between human and manipulator fast and reliable collision detection algorithm is required. To overcome this problem, we present an approach allowing to detect collision, localize action point and classify collision nature. Internal joint torque and encoder measurements were used to determine potential collisions with the robot links. This work proposes two ways of solving this problem: using classical analytical approach and learning approach implemented with neural network. The suggested algorithms were examined on the industrial robotic arm Kuka iiwa LBR 14 R820, ground truth information on the contact nature and its location were obtained with 3D LIDAR and camera.