A 2-axis optical force-torque fingertip sensor for dexterous grasping using linear polarizers

Ramon Sargeant, Lakmal D. Seneviratne, Kaspar Althoefer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper presents a two-axis force/torque sensor (one force and one torque) that uses light-intensity modulation techniques to measure the contact force and torque between a robotic finger and an object. The sensor has a diameter of 9 ×10-3m and a height of 10 × 10 -3m. The sensor incorporates linearly aligned fiber-optic cables, linear polarizers, and nitinol wire strips into a rigid structure made of plastic. The nitinol wire strips allow certain parts of the structure to deform under applied forces. A model of the sensor is presented, and calibration experiments were conducted, validating the model. The sensor was also incorporated into the fingertip of a Barrett Hand, and experiments were conducted on three objects, i.e., a power adapter, a partially filled plastic bottle, and a curved paper punch to identify the sensor's response to different surface profiles. The sensor's data are also compared with data from a Nano17 force and torque sensor, and the results from the two sensors are discussed.

Original languageBritish English
Article number6304923
Pages (from-to)3363-3377
Number of pages15
JournalIEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement
Volume61
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012

Keywords

  • Fiber optics
  • fingertip force/torque sensors
  • grasping
  • linear polarizers

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