Reconfigurable Force-Balanced Aerial Manipulator for Variable Payload Tasks
M. Bianconi (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
S. Hamaza – Mentor (TU Delft - Control & Simulation)
EJJ Smeur – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Control & Simulation)
C. Varriale – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Flight Performance and Propulsion)
M.B.J. Brummelhuis – Mentor (TU Delft - Control & Simulation)
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Abstract
This research proposes a novel reconfigurable and force-balanced aerial manipulator design for fast variable payload tasks. Its force-balancing properties allow for fast end-effector movements while minimizing disturbances introduced to the aerial platform. The manipulator is composed of three pantograph legs connecting the end-effector to the drone base. Each pantograph is equipped with two moving counter-masses that provide the balancing properties to the manipulator. The counter masses are moved by fast linear actuators allowing the manipulator to be force-balanced for different payloads. Extensive testing, performing end-effector trajectory tracking tasks, was performed both on a floating base setup and in flight. The results indicate that the manipulator significantly decreased the reaction forces transmitted to the base. Specifically, it achieved a 45% reduction when comparing the unbalanced and balanced configurations, and a 17% reduction when these configurations included a 53 [g] payload. The drone's position-tracking error during flight also improved, with reductions of 19% and 34% for the same two configurations, respectively.