Experimental realization of dynamic walking for a human-riding biped robot, HUBO FX-1

Abstract This paper describes a control strategy of the stable walking for the human-riding biped robot, HUBO FX-1. HUBO FX-1 largely consists of two legs with 12 DOF (Degree of freedom), a pelvis and a cockpit. A normal adult can easily ride on HUBO FX-1 by means of a foothold and can change the walking direction and speed continuously through the use of a joystick. Principally, this kind of robot must be able to carry a payload of at least 100 kg in order to carry a person easily. A sufficient payload can be accomplished by two ways. The first is through the choice of a high efficient actuator. The second is through the weight reduction of the robot body frames. As an efficient actuator, a high-power AC servo motor and a backlash-free harmonic drive reduction gear were utilized. Furthermore, the thickness and the size of the aluminum body frames were sufficiently reduced so that the weight of HUBO FX-1 can be light enough. The disadvantage of the weight reduction is that HUBO FX-1 was not able to walk stably due to structural vibrations, as the body structures become more flexible due to this procedure. This problem was solved through the use of a simple theoretical model and a vibration reduction controller based on sensory feedback. In order to endow the robot with a stable biped walking capability, a standard walking pattern and online controllers which are based on the real-time sensory feedback were designed. Finally, the performance of the real-time balance control strategy was experimentally verified and the stable dynamic walking of the human-riding biped robot, HUBO FX-1, carrying one passenger was realized.