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Development of 3-DOF Force Feedback System Using Spherical Arm Mechanism and MR Brakes

Hung Q. Nguyen 1, Thang D. Le 1, Diep N. Nguyen 2, Tuan D. Le 2, Thang V. Lang 2, and Thang V. Ngo 2
1. Faculty of Engineering, Vietnamese German University, Binh Duong, Vietnam
2. Mechanical Department, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Abstract—In this research, a new 3-DOF force feedback system featuring a spherical arm mechanism and three MR brakes is proposed. One rotary MR brake is integrated in the waist joint to reflect the horizontal tangent force, another rotary MR brake integrated in the shoulder joint to reflect the elevation tangent force while a linear MR brake is integrated in the sliding joint of the arm to reflect the radial force (approach force). With this configuration, a 3-DOF desired force acting on the operator at the end-effector of the arm can be archived by independently controlling the current applied to the coils of the MR brakes. After the introduction, configuration of the proposed force feedback system is presented. After that, design and simulation of the MR brakes for the systems are conducted. A prototype of the force feedback system is then manufactured for experiment and some experimental results are obtained and presented with discussion. 

 
Index Terms—MR fluid, spherical arm, force feedback system, haptic system, rotary MR brake, linear MR brake

Cite: Hung Q. Nguyen, Thang D. Le, Diep N. Nguyen, Tuan D. Le, Thang V. Lang, and Thang V. Ngo, "Development of 3-DOF Force Feedback System Using Spherical Arm Mechanism and MR Brakes" International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 170-176, February 2020. DOI: 10.18178/ijmerr.9.2.170-176

Copyright © 2020 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the article is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.