Learning control of bipedal dynamic walking robots with neural networks

Stability and robustness are two important performance requirements for a dynamic walking robot. Learning and adaptation can improve stability and robustness. This thesis explores such an adaptation capability through the use of neural networks. Three neural network models (BP, CMAC and RBF networks) are studied. The RBF network is chosen as best, despite its weakness at covering high dimensional input spaces. To overcome this problem, a self-organizing scheme of data clustering is explored. This system is applied successfully in a biped walking robot system with a supervised learning mode. Generalized Virtual Model Control (GVMC) is also proposed in this thesis, which is inspired by a bio-mechanical model of locomotion, and is an extension of ordinary Virtual Model Control. Instead of adding virtual impedance components to the biped skeletal system in virtual Cartesian space, GVMC uses adaptation to approximately reconstruct the dynamics of the biped. The effectiveness of these approaches is proved both theoretically and experimentally (in simulation).

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

1998

Author dc:creator

• Hu, Jianjuen, 1964-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Gill A. Pratt.

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

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/1721.1/47711

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/47711