Design of Tactile Fixtures for Robotics and Manufacturing

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical framework for the design of tactile sensing fixtures for robotics and manufacturing. The framework presented uses group theory to analyze the symmetry of contact conditions on a fixture to evaluate a fixture design for referencing the sensor frame with respect to the fixture frame. Mechanical fixtures consisting of planar, spherical, and cylindrical surfaces are studied for their usefulness as part of referencing fixtures. The theory developed is used in guiding the design of a simple yet novel touch sensing fixture for part referencing and calibration in manufacturing and robotics.