Robotics | MAAL

InvariantCloud: A globally invariant, uniquely indexed point cloud framework for robust 6-DoF tactile pose tracking

Thu, 31 Dec 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Ye, P., Ma, Y., Zhou, Y., Chen, W., Dong, W., Duan, M.*, 2026, “InvariantCloud: A globally invariant, uniquely indexed point cloud framework for robust 6-DoF tactile pose tracking,” IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Vienna, Austria.

Sensorless contact forces estimation for robotic manipulators using dual-stage temporal-residual neural network compensation

Thu, 31 Dec 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Zhou, Y., Cheung, Y.H., Liu, S., Law, F.C., Shi, Y., Han, L., Duan, M.*, 2026, “Sensorless contact forces estimation for robotic manipulators using dual-stage temporal-residual neural network compensation,” Control Engineering Practice, 176, 107140.

Computation-Efficient Path Planning Using Evolving Artificial Repulsive Force over Expanding Obstacles for Robotic Manipulator

Wed, 30 Dec 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Zhou, Y., Huang, B., Cheung, Y.H., Ye, P., Duan, M.*, 2026, “Computation-Efficient Path Planning Using Evolving Artificial Repulsive Force over Expanding Obstacles for Robotic Manipulator,” ISA Transactions.

Mobile Robot Inspection of Building Plenum Spaces via Vision-Based Multi-Sensor Fault Detection

Mon, 28 Dec 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Lou, G., Liu, S., Shen, Y., Wong, W.Y., Lu, Y., Duan, M.*, 2026, “Mobile Robot Inspection of Building Plenum Spaces via Vision-Based Multi-Sensor Fult Detection,” Automation in Construction, 187.

DS-LABRNav: Land-air bimodal robot navigation with traversable obstacles based on vision-language model

Fri, 25 Dec 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Li, Y., Yu, W., Duan, M., Zhang, B., Liu, Z., Li, Q.*, 2026, “DS-LABRNav: Land-air bimodal robot navigation with traversable obstacles based on vision-language model,” IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 11(7), 8471-8478.

Dynamic mode decomposition-based modeling and toolpath optimization of a robotic single point incremental forming process

Thu, 24 Dec 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Asghar, A., He, S., Hu, P., Duan, M.*, 2026, “Dynamic mode decomposition-based modeling and toolpath optimization of a robotic single point incremental forming process,” Journal of Manufacturing Processes, 167, pp. 507-531.

Sensorless contact wrench estimation for industrial robots

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Robots used for polishing, assembly, and manipulation need reliable contact-force feedback. A six-axis wrist force/torque sensor provides direct measurements, but adds cost, wiring, payload, and integration constraints. This project estimates the same six-dimensional contact wrench from signals already available on the robot: joint motion and motor current.

Dual-stage estimation

The estimator combines a physics-based robot model with two learned residual corrections:

Free-space dynamics compensation. An LSTM learns joint-torque errors caused by friction, backlash, hysteresis, parameter mismatch, and torque-conversion bias using contact-free trajectories.
Contact wrench compensation. A temporal encoder and residual network correct the remaining task-space error during contact and predict an input-dependent uncertainty for each wrench axis.

Separating these responsibilities keeps the estimate anchored to robot mechanics while allowing each learning stage to focus on a distinct error source.

Experimental validation

The method was evaluated on a six-axis industrial manipulator. A cable-and-pulley rig applied loads of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 kg from multiple directions. A wrist load cell sampled at 1 kHz supplied training labels and evaluation ground truth, but was not used as an input during sensorless inference.

Stage I reduced the Joint 1 residual-torque RMSE from 4.2649 to 0.8591 Nm and the Joint 2 RMSE from 3.1453 to 1.0069 Nm. Across the final six-axis wrench evaluation, the dual-stage method achieved the lowest reported RMSE, maximum error, and relative error on every force and moment axis.

Metric	Fx	Fy	Fz	Mx	My	Mz
RMSE	1.5959 N	0.7067 N	1.9678 N	0.1367 Nm	0.1141 Nm	0.0538 Nm
Maximum error	5.9546 N	4.4262 N	5.3414 N	0.7739 Nm	0.4898 Nm	0.4104 Nm
Relative error	13.8%	5.8%	13.4%	17.6%	22.2%	8.3%

Why it matters

The main contribution is not simply a deeper network, but a physically meaningful decomposition of the estimation problem. The intermediate output makes each correction inspectable, while the probabilistic second stage provides a condition-dependent confidence signal. This creates a practical path toward lower-cost force-aware robots and future closed-loop force control without a permanently installed wrist sensor.

Flexible industrial robot dynamics and control

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Industrial robots change stiffness and vibration behavior with their position and posture. This project establishes dynamic models that capture both joint and link flexibility without making the model too costly to use in control.

Approach

Represent geometrically nonlinear links with strain-based beam elements and modal coordinates.
Identify configuration-dependent vibration from experimental data.
Generate nonlinear filtered B-spline trajectories that suppress motion-induced vibration.
Validate compensation strategies on industrial robotic platforms.

Why it matters

More accurate dynamic models allow robots to move faster while maintaining precision. The same methods support robotic machining, additive manufacturing, and large-reach manipulation.

A computation-efficient path planning method for robotic manipulators using evolving artificial repulsive force over expanding obstacles

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Duan, M., Zhou, Y., and Cheung, Y.H., IP.PA.12873, “A computation-efficient path planning method for robotic manipulators using evolving artificial repulsive force over expanding obstacles,” US Provisional Application 64/041,762 (filed Apr 2026); CN Application (approved for filing).

Boom-lift-mounted robotic systems

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Mounting a robotic manipulator on a boom lift extends its workspace, but the flexible, extendable support introduces configuration-dependent vibration and positioning error.

This project models the coupled boom-and-robot system, identifies changing structural dynamics, and develops trajectory and active-compensation methods for accurate long-reach operations.

Applications include inspection, maintenance, construction, and manufacturing tasks where conventional fixed-base robots cannot reach.

Sensorless contact forces estimation method for robotic manipulators using dual-stage temporal-residual neural network compensation

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Duan, M., Zhou, Y., and Cheung, Y.H., IP.PA.12872, “Sensorless contact forces estimation method for robotic manipulators using dual-stage temporal-residual neural network compensation,” US Provisional Application 64/041,767 (filed Apr 2026); CN Application 202611125274.2 (filed Jul 2026).

Optimal Trajectory Generation and Feedback Tension Control of a Robotic Space Tether Launching System

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Liu, S., Wang, S., Duan, M.*, 2025, “Optimal Trajectory Generation and Feedback Tension Control of a Robotic Space Tether Launching System,” International Conference on Control Science and Systems Engineering (ICCSSE), Beijing.

Cable-driven parallel robot trajectory generation with optimized orientation considering disturbance rejection

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Liu, S., Duan, M.*, 2025, “Cable-driven parallel robot trajectory generation with optimized orientation considering disturbance rejection,” Mechanism and Machine Theory, 210, pp. 106016.

Dynamic robotic bricklaying force-position control considering mortar dynamics for enhanced consistency

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Zhou, Y., Huang, B., Dong, B., Wen, Y., Duan, M.*, 2025, “Dynamic robotic bricklaying force-position control considering mortar dynamics for enhanced consistency,” Automation in Construction, 174, pp. 106090.

An analytical approach for dealing with explicit physical constraints in excitation optimization problems of dynamic identification

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Huang, S., Li, F., Zhou, X., Duan, M.*, 2025, “An analytical approach for dealing with explicit physical constraints in excitation optimization problems of dynamic identification,” IEEE Transactions on Robotics, pp. 1 - 20.

A force-position control system for robot bricklaying considering mortar dynamics

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Duan, M., and Zhou, Y., IP.PA.12763, “A force-position control system for robot bricklaying considering mortar dynamics,” US Provisional Application 63/915,650 (filed Nov 2025); CN Application (approved for filing).

Optimal trajectory generation and feedback tension control of a robotic space tether launching system

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Duan, M., Liu, S., and Wang, S., IP.PA.12761, “Optimal trajectory generation and feedback tension control of a robotic space tether launching system,” US Provisional Application 63/911,507 (filed Nov 2025); US Application (approved for filing); CN Application (approved for filing).

Design, Manufacturing, and Control of a Cable-Driven Bionic Robotic Hand

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Lai, C., Liu, S., Duan, M.*, 2024, “Design, Manufacturing, and Control of a Cable-Driven Bionic Robotic Hand,” IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Biomimetics (ROBIO), Bangkok.

Vibration compensation of an Extendable Variable-Stiffness Boom-Lift-Mounted Robot

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Zhou, Y., Duan, M.*, 2024, “Vibration compensation of an Extendable Variable-Stiffness Boom-Lift-Mounted Robot,” IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 29, 4, pp. 2812-2820.

Design, manufacturing, modelling, and control of a cable-driven parallel robot for additive manufacturing

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Duan, M.*, Feng, J., Liu, S., 2023, “Design, manufacturing, modelling, and control of a cable-driven parallel robot for additive manufacturing,” IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (CASE), Auckland.

Extendable variable-stiffness boom-lift-mounted robot with vibration compensation

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Duan, M., and Zhou, Y., IP.PA.02024, “Extendable variable-stiffness boom-lift-mounted robot with vibration compensation,” US Provisional Application 63/615,786 (filed Dec 2023); US Patent 12,654,313 (issued Jun 2026); CN Application 202411946171.3 (filed Dec 2024, published); HK Application 42025111199.3 (filed Aug 2025, published).