Generating locomotion for biped robots based on the dynamic passivization of joint control

Abstract

A central pattern generator (CPG) and passive dynamic walking (PDW) have attracted much attention in the research field of bipedal locomotion. We describe a motion control method based on dynamic joint passivization for biped robot locomotion. CPG-based motion control is effective for walking on uneven terrain. However, it has serious problems with energy loss. In contrast, PDW saves energy because a robot can walk without any active control or energy input on a downhill slope. However, PDW robot can not walk on uneven terrian, but only on a downhill slope. We think that active walking needs to be mixed with PDW for robot walking. Our motion control method is based on a mixture of the CPG and PDW, that is, the dynamic passivization of joint control. Experiments using the motion control method based on dynamic passivization of joint control successfully generated energy efficient walking and enabled superior gaits.