Self-entrainment to optimal gaits of an underactuated biomimetic swimming robot using adaptive frequency oscillators.

Underactuated compliant swimming robots are characterized by a simple mechanical structure, capable to mimic the body undulation of many fish species. One of the design issue for these robots is the generation and control of best performing swimming gaits. In this paper we propose a new controller, based on AFO oscillators, to address this issue. After analyzing the effects of the motion on the robot natural frequencies, we show that the closed loop system is able to generate self-sustained oscillations, at a characteristic frequency, while maximizing swimming velocity.

Incremental learning control of the DLR-HIT-Hand II during interaction tasks.

In this paper a bio-inspired control architecture for a robotic hand is presented. It relies on the same mechanisms of learning inverse internal models studied in humans. The control is capable of developing an internal representation of the hand interacting with the environment and updating it by means of the interaction forces that arise during contact. The learning paradigm exploits LWPR networks, which allow efficient incremental online learning through the use of spatially localized linear regression models. Additionally this paradigm limits negative interference when learning multiple tasks. The architecture is validated on a simulated finger of the DLR-HIT-Hand II performing closing movements in presence of two different viscous force fields, perturbing its motion.