Torque

Related papers: 20

About

Torque is a rotational force — the tendency of a force to cause angular motion about an axis — and it is a foundational physical quantity in robotics and AI-driven mechanical systems. In robotic manipulators, legged robots, and aerial vehicles, torque is what actuators produce at joints to generate movement, bear loads, and interact with the environment. Control systems use torque information to implement sophisticated strategies such as hybrid force/position control, impedance control, and model-predictive control, enabling robots to move efficiently, adapt to unknown loads, and maintain stability during dynamic locomotion. Torque sensing and control are especially critical for safe human-robot interaction, where lightweight torque-controlled arms must respond compliantly to unexpected contact. Accurate torque modeling also underpins trajectory optimization, allowing planners to compute time-optimal paths while respecting actuator limits. As robots move into unstructured environments — performing surgery, rehabilitation, or legged locomotion over rough terrain — precise torque regulation becomes the bridge between high-level motion planning and the physical forces that ultimately move the machine.

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