Kalman filtering of IMU sensor for robot balance control

This study explores the use of Kalman filtering of measurements from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to provide information on the orientation of a robot for balance control. A test bed was created to characterize the random noise and errors inherent to orientation sensing in the MicroStrain 3DM-GX1 IMU for static cases as well as after experiencing an impact force. Balance simulations were performed to control the center of mass location of a robot modeled as an inverted pendulum. The controlled center of mass trajectories with state estimates generated from Kalman filtering were compared, where possible, to the CM trajectory based on unfiltered sensor measurements of the states. For the simple case of inverted pendulum control, it was determined that noise and error in the IMU are sufficiently small that Kalman filtering is not necessary when all states can be measured, but results in significant improvements in the RMS error of the actual and desired center of mass positions.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Angelosanto, Gina (Gina C.)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Wai K. Cheng and Andreas Hofmann.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45791

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/45791