A Design and Control Environment for Internet-Based Telerobotics

TLDR

Computer networks introduce time delays best modeled as time‑varying random processes. The paper aims to provide an environment for designing, simulating, and controlling Internet‑based force‑reflecting telerobotic systems, enabling iterative testing where conventional time‑delay control methods fail. The software architecture models network delay, designs stable controllers, simulates performance, and tests algorithms with a force‑reflecting input device, using measured Internet delay parameters and a quasi‑optimal estimator to compensate data loss, and demonstrates the design‑and‑test cycle via simulations and emulations with a planar master and virtual slave. The environment yields data supporting the integration of Internet links into broader telerobotic control architectures.

Abstract

This paper describes an environment for the design, simulation, and control of Internet-based force-reflecting telerobotic systems. We define these systems as using a segment of the computer network to connect the master to the slave. Computer networks introduce a time delay that is best described by a time-varying random process. Thus, known techniques for controlling time-delay telerobots are not directly applicable, and an environment for iterative designing and testing is necessary. The underlying software architecture sup ports tools for modeling the delay of the computer network, design ing a stable controller, simulating the performance of a telerobotic system, and testing the control algorithms using a force-reflecting input device. Furthermore, this setup provides data about including the Internet into more general telerobotic control architectures. To demonstrate the features of this environment, the complete proce dure for the design of a telerobotic controller is discussed. First, the delay parameters of an Internet segment are identified by prob ing the network. Then, these parameters are used in the design of a controller that includes a quasi-optimal estimator to compensate small data losses. Finally, simulations of the complete telerobotic system and emulations using a planar force-reflecting master and a virtual slave exemplify a typical design-and-test sequence.