Related papers: Simultaneous Trajectory Optimization and Contact S…
We present DisCo, a distributed algorithm for contact-rich, multi-robot tasks. DisCo is a distributed contact-implicit trajectory optimization algorithm, which allows a group of robots to optimize a time sequence of forces to objects and to…
Object manipulation has been extensively studied in the context of fixed base and mobile manipulators. However, the overactuated locomotion modality employed by snake robots allows for a unique blend of object manipulation through…
Mobile manipulation planning commonly adopts a decoupled approach that performs planning separately on the base and the manipulator. While this approach is fast, it can generate sub-optimal paths. Another direction is a coupled approach…
Non-prehensile manipulation such as pushing is typically subject to uncertain, non-smooth dynamics. However, modeling the uncertainty of the dynamics typically results in intractable belief dynamics, making data-efficient planning under…
Object manipulation has been extensively studied in the context of fixed base and mobile manipulators. However, the overactuated locomotion modality employed by snake robots allows for a unique blend of object manipulation through…
We present for the first time a general 6DoF trajectory planning method that can be used in real-time image guided radiation therapy procedures for robotic stabilization of dynamically moving tumor targets. As the radiation beam is always…
Efficient tabletop rearrangement remains challenging due to collisions and the need for temporary buffering when target poses are obstructed. Prehensile pick-and-place provides precise control but often requires extra moves, whereas…
We propose enhancing trajectory optimization methods through the incorporation of two key ideas: variable-grasp pose sampling and trajectory commitment. Our iterative approach samples multiple grasp poses, increasing the likelihood of…
This paper presents a trajectory optimization and control approach for the guidance of an orbital four-arm robot in extravehicular activities. The robot operates near the target spacecraft, enabling its arm's end-effectors to reach the…
We present a framework for deformable object manipulation that interleaves planning and control, enabling complex manipulation tasks without relying on high-fidelity modeling or simulation. The key question we address is when should we use…
The objective function used in trajectory optimization is often non-convex and can have an infinite set of local optima. In such cases, there are diverse solutions to perform a given task. Although there are a few methods to find multiple…
Humanoid robots dynamically navigate an environment by interacting with it via contact wrenches exerted at intermittent contact poses. Therefore, it is important to consider dynamics when planning a contact sequence. Traditional contact…
In order to safely and efficiently collaborate with humans, industrial robots need the ability to alter their motions quickly to react to sudden changes in the environment, such as an obstacle appearing across a planned trajectory. In…
Planning for legged-wheeled machines is typically done using trajectory optimization because of many degrees of freedom, thus rendering legged-wheeled planners prone to falling prey to bad local minima. We present a combined sampling and…
Hybrid driving-stepping locomotion is an effective approach for navigating in a variety of environments. Long, sufficiently even distances can be quickly covered by driving while obstacles can be overcome by stepping. Our quadruped robot…
In this paper, we propose a novel trajectory optimization algorithm for mobile manipulators under end-effector path, collision avoidance and various kinematic constraints. Our key contribution lies in showing how this highly non-linear and…
Learning dexterous manipulation skills is a long-standing challenge in computer graphics and robotics, especially when the task involves complex and delicate interactions between the hands, tools and objects. In this paper, we focus on…
Learning-based motion planning can quickly generate near-optimal trajectories. However, it often requires either large training datasets or costly collection of human demonstrations. This work proposes an alternative approach that quickly…
Motion planning is still an open problem for many disciplines, e.g., robotics, autonomous driving, due to their need for high computational resources that hinder real-time, efficient decision-making. A class of methods striving to provide…
Navigating mobile robots through environments shared with humans is challenging. From the perspective of the robot, humans are dynamic obstacles that must be avoided. These obstacles make the collision-free space nonconvex, which leads to…