Cobot implementation of 3D virtual surfaces

Abstract

Cobots are devices for human/robot interaction, in which axes of motion are coupled to one another by computer-controlled continuously variable transmissions rather than individually driven by servomotors. We have recently built a 3R parallelogram cobot. Here we present a control method for the display of virtual surfaces and for free-mode in which the cobot endpoint moves as if it were unconstrained. We show experimental results on the performance of the cobot in these modes.