Actuation Methods For Human-Centered Robotics and Associated Control Challenges

In recent years, many successful robotic manipulator designs have been introduced. However, there remains the challenge of designing a manipulator that possesses the inherent safety characteristics necessary for human-centered robotics. In this paper, we describe recent developments in low impedance actuation that have allowed for improvements in the safety characteristics of human-centered manipulators. In addition, the control challenges unique to the use of low impedance actuation are discussed along with possible control strategies for their successful implementation.