Current Research Projects

                        HADE                                   

Hybrid Actuator Development

Supplying power to a high-speed legged machine using currently available actuation technology is a challenge. The cost of building a structure and actuation system capable of delivering the forces needed for dynamic locomotion of a mid to large sized machine is prohibitive. Novel technologies are being explored with the aim of improving actuator performance. However, research is still immature and though promising, the actuators still have not reached the level required for efficient operation. The idea behind this project is to combine novel and conventional technologies that are compatible to each other to hybridise in the form of new heterogeneous actuation systems which exploit the benefits of each of its component technologies so as to develop the adequate actuator for the envisaged application. The HADE project aims at creating a laboratory for the analysis and development of novel technologies and their mutually compatibility with conventional actuation systems, and a test facility to analyse the performance of the final hybrid actuation system. Two main goals are envisaged: First the creation of a laboratory of hybrid technologies to be used as a  tool for designing the adequate actuator for a given final application (assistive robots, prosthetics…). Second, the development and control of a medium-large sized quadruped vehicle for high-speed locomotion. More...

 

                           ATLAS                                

NEW ACTUATION AND CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES FOR EMPOWERING HUMANS AND ROBOTS (DPI2010-18702)

ATLAS builds up a new line of research aimed at designing energy efficient, large power-to-weight actuators and energy-efficient-locomotion control schemes for the new generation of legged robots. This project aims at establishing this new long-term research by reaching three main goals: The first goal is to research, design and develop novel actuators capable of delivering the large power to weight requirements of exoskeletons. The second goal of the project is to study how to achieve energy efficiency in the control of locomotion. The combination of passive dynamics (making use of elastic elements for storing energy along some phases of the gait cycle) with the use of controllable resistive actuators for achieving variable compliance along the gait cycle, should allow to provide active actuation only when it is needed to infer power to the system. This will be the means to optimize power consumption and enlarge the autonomy of the robot. To show the benefits of the research on new actuators and control schemes, the ultimate goal of the project is to design, develop and test an active orthosis for a quadriplegic child. The device will produce her motions in everyday-life activities (stand up, sit down, walk stably).  More...

                             Fortuna                              

Project of International cooperation between the Spanish National research Council (CSIC) and the Technological University of Panama (UTP) for the institutional strengthening of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Technological University of Panama by means of the establishment of a High-Tech Laboratory for Automation and Monitoring of Systems and Industrial Processes and training of technical personnel and researchers.More...

                             DYLEMA-S                          

Photovoltaic power supply of a demining walking robot – AECID PCI-Mediterraneo (A/016636/08)

Research project of international collaboration between the Spanish National Resarch Council (CSIC) and Oran University (RITE). The main goal is to provide photovoltaic power supply to the SILO6 demining robot. More...