This book presents the framework for the versatile specification of physical interaction tasks, as well as the problem of autonomous planning of these tasks. It details novel grasp-task sensor-based control methods using vision, tactile and force feedback.

Robot manipulation is a great challenge; it encompasses versatility -adaptation to different situations-, autonomy -independent robot operation-, and dependability -for success under modeling or sensing errors. A complete manipulation task involves, first, a suitable grasp or contact configuration, and the subsequent motion required by the task. This monograph presents a unified framework by introducing task-related aspects into the knowledge-based grasp concept, leading to task-oriented grasps.

Similarly, grasp-related issues are also considered during the execution of a task, leading to grasp-oriented tasks which is called framework for physical interaction (FPI). The book presents the theoretical framework for the versatile specification of physical interaction tasks, as well as the problem of autonomous planning of these tasks. A further focus is on sensor-based dependable execution combining three different types of sensors: force, vision and tactile.

The FPI approach allows to perform a wide range of robot manipulation tasks. All contributions are validated with several experiments using different real robots placed on household environments; for instance, a high-DoF humanoid robot can successfully operate unmodeled mechanisms with widely varying structure in a general way with natural motions.

This research was recipient of the European Georges Giralt Award and the Robotdalen Scientific Award Honorary Mention.

State-of-the-art versatility, autonomy and dependability of robotic manipulation Presents novel grasp-task sensor-based control methods using vision, tactile and force feedback, and exploiting joint and grasp redundancy Comprises the PhD thesis of Mario Prats, recently awarded with the 2011 Georges Giralt Award to the best PhD thesis about robotics in Europe

Inhalt
Part I.- Part -II.- Part- III.