Abstract
Humanoid robots are challenging mechatronics structures with several interesting features. Choosing a humanoid robot to develop applications or pursue research in a given direction might be difficult due to the strong interdependence of the technical aspects. This paper aims at giving a general description of this interdependence and highlight the lessons learned from the impressive works conducted in the past decade. The reader will find in the annex a table synthesizing the characteristics of the most relevant humanoid robots. Without focusing on a specific application we consider two main classes of humanoid robots: the ones dedicated to industrial application and the ones dedicated to human-robot interaction. The technical aspects are described in a way which illustrates the humanoid robots bridging the gap between these two classes. Finally this paper tries to make a synthesis on recent technological developments.
This contribution is a translation and a revision of [58].
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
- 1.
BSD: Berkeley Software Distribution License is a very permissive free license used quite a lot in software distribution.
References
Alfayad, S., Ouezdou, F.B., Namoun, F., Cheng, G.: High performance integrated electro-hydraulic actuator for hydraulics—Part I: principle, prototype design and first experiments. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical 169, 115–123 (2011)
Alirezaei, H., Nagakubo, A., Kuniyoshi, Y.: A highly stretchable tactile distribution sensor for smooth surfaced humanoids. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robotics (ICHR) (2007)
Ando, M., Kurihara, S., Biggs, G., Sakamoto, T., Nakamoto, H.: Software deployment infrastructure for component based RT-systems. J. Robot. Mechatron. 23(13), 350–359 (2011)
Argentieri, S., Portello, A., Bernard, M., Danés, P., Gas, B. : Binaural systems in robotics. In: The Technology of Binaural Listening. Springer, Berlin (2013)
Butterfass, J., Grebenstein, M., Liu, H., Hirzinger, G.: DLR-Hand II: next generation of a dextrous robot hand. In: IEEE/RAS International Confernce on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) (2001)
Cannata, G., Maggiali, M., Metta, G., Sandini, G.: An embedded artificial skin for humanoid robots. In: IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems (IROS), pp. 434–438 (2008)
Carloni, R., Visser, L.C., Stramigioli, S.: Variable stiffness actuators: a port-based power-flow analysis. IEEE Trans. Robot. 28(1), 1–11 (2012)
Carpentier, J., Tonneau, S., Naveau, M., Stasse, O., Mansard, N.: A versatile and efficient pattern generator for generalized legged locomotion. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), pp. 3555–3561 (2016)
Cheng, G., Moritomo, J., Hyon, S., Ude, A., Hale, J., Colvin, G., Scroggin, W., Jacobsen, S.: CB: a humanoid research platform for exploring neuroscience. Adv. Robot. 21(110), 1097–1114 (2007)
Dahiya, R., Metta, G., Valle, M., Sandini., G.: Tactile sensing-from humans to humanoids. IEEE Trans. Robot. 26(11), 1–20 (2010)
DARPA: The darpa robotics challenge
Deleforge, A., Horaud, R.: The cocktail party robot: Sound source separation and localisation with an active binaural head. In: ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), pp. 431–438 (2012)
Englsberger, J., Werner, A., Ott, C., Henze, B., Roa, M.A., Garofalo, G., Burger, R., Beyer, A., Eiberger, O., Schmid, K., Albu-Schffer, A.: Overview of the torque-controlled humanoid robot toro. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robotics (ICHR) (2014)
Mittendorfer, P., Cheng, G.: Integrating discrete force cells into multi-modal artificial skin. In IEEE/RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robotics (ICHR) (2012)
Fallon, M.F., Marion, P., Deits, R., Whelan, T., Antone, M., McDonald, J., Tedrake, R.: Continuous humanoid locomotion over uneven terrain using stereo fusion. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robotics (ICHR), pp. 881–888 (2015)
Filliat, D.: Cartographie et localisation simultanes en robotique mobile. In: Techniques de l’ingnieur (2014) (ref. S7785)
Fitzpatrick, P., Metta, G., Natale, L.: Towards long-lived robot genes. Robot. Auton. Syst. 56(11), 29–45 (2008)
Flacco, F.: Modeling and Control of Robots with Compliant Actuation. Ph.D. thesis, Universiá di Roma, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Informatica (2012)
Garrec, P.: Design of an anthropomorphic upper limb exoskeleton actuated by ball screws and cables. Univ. Polytechnique Bucarest Sci. Bull. 72(12), 23–34 (2010)
Horaud, R.: HUMAVIPS project: humanoids with auditory and visual abilities in populated spaces
Inaba, M., Kagami, S., Nishiwaki, K.: Robot Anatomy. Iwanami Shoten, Tokyo, p. 309 (2005)
Ince, G., Nakadai, K., Rodemann, T., Tsujino, H., Imura, J.: Multi-talker speech recognition under ego-motion noise using missing feature theory. In: IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems (IROS) (2010)
Jaentsch, M., Wittmeier, S., Dalamagkidis, K., Panos, A., Volkart, F., Knoll, A.: Anthrob—a printed anthropomimetic robot. In IEEE/RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robotics (ICHR) (2013)
Kaess, M., Johannsson, H., Roberts, R., Ila, V., Leonard, J., Dellaert, F.: iSAM2: Incremental smoothing and mapping using the bayes tree. Int. J. Robot. Res. 31(12) (2012)
Kagami, S., Nishiwaki, K., Kuffner, J., Thompson, S., Chestnutt, J., Stilman, M., Michel, P.: Humanoid HRP2-DHRC for Autonomous and Interactive Behavior, pp. 103–117. Springer, Berlin (2007)
Kajita, S., Asano, F., Morisawa, M., Miura, K., Kaneko, K., Kanehiro, F., Yokoi, K.: Vertical vibration suppression for a position controlled biped robot. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) (2013)
Kajita, S., Kaneko, K., Morisawa, M., Nakaoka, S., Hirukawa, H.: ZMP-based biped running enhanced by toe springs. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) (2007)
Kajita, S., Nagasaki, T., Kaneko, K., Yokoi, K., Tanie, K.: A running controller of humanoid biped HRP-2LR. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) (2005)
Kaminaga, H., Odanaka, K., Ando, Y., Otsuki, S., Nakamura, Y.: Evaluations on contribution of backdrivability and force measurement performance on force sensitivity of actuators. In: IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems (IROS) (2013)
Kaneko, K., Harada, K., Kanehiro, F.: Development of a multi-fingered hand for life-size humanoid robots. In:IEEE/RAS International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) (2007)
Kaneko, K., Harada, K., Kanehiro, F., Miyamori, G., Akachi, K.: Humanoid robot HRP-3. In: IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems (IROS) (2008)
Kaneko, K., Kanehiro, F., Morisawa, M., Akachi, K., Miyamori, G., Hayashi, A., Kanehira, N.: Humanoid robot HRP-4 - humanoid robotics platform with lightweight and slim body. In: IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems (IROS) (2011)
Kaneko, K., Kanehiro, F., Morisawa, M., Tsuji, T., Miura, K., Nakaoka, S., Kajita, S., Yokoi, K.: Hardware improvement of cybernetic human HRP-4C for entertainment use. In: IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems (IROS) (2011)
Kaneko, K., Morisawa, M., Kajita, S., Nakaoka, S., Sakaguchi, T., Cisneros, R., Kanehiro, F.: Humanoid robot HRP-2 Kai - improvement of HRP-2 towards disaster response tasks. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robotics (ICHR), pp. 132–139 (2015)
Kargov, A., Asfour, T., Pylatiuk, C., Oberle, R., Klosek, H., Schulz, S., Regenstein, K., Bretthauer, G., Dillmann, R.: Development of an anthropomorphic hand for a mobile assistive robot. In: International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics: Frontiers of the Human-Machine Interface (2005)
Karumanchi, S., Edelberg, K., Baldwin, I., Nash, J., Reid, J., Bergh, C., Leichty, J., Carpentier, K., Shekels, M., Gildner, M., Newill-Smith, D., Carlton, J., Koehler, J., Dobreva, T., Frost, M., Hebert, P., Borders, J., Ma, J., Douillard, B., Backes, P., Kennedy, B., Satzinger, B., Lau, C., Byl, K., Shankar, K., Burdick, J.: Team robosimian: semi-autonomous mobile manipulation at the 2015 DARPA robotics challenge finals. J. Field Robot. 34(2), 305–332 (2017)
Koenemann, J., Del Prete, A., Tassa, Y., Todorov, E., Stasse, O., Bennewitz, M., Mansard, N.: Whole-body model-predictive control applied to the HRP-2 humanoid. In: IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems (IROS), pp. 3346–3351 (2015)
Kozuki, T., Motegi, Y., Shirai, T., Asano, Y., Urata, J., Nakanishi, Y., Okada, K., Inaba, M.: Design of upper limb by adhesion of muscles and bones—detail human mimetic muscoloskeletal humanoid kenshiro . In: IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems (IROS) (2013)
Lapeyre, M., Rouanet, P., Oudeyer, P.-Y.: Poppy humanoid platform: experimental evaluation of the role of a bio-inspired thigh shape. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robotics (ICHR) (2013)
Lim, J., Lee, I., Shim, I., Jung, H., Joe, H.M., Bae, H., Sim, O., Oh, J., Jung, T., Shin, S., Joo, K., Kim, M., Lee, K., Bok, Y., Choi, D.G., Cho, B., Kim, S., Heo, J., Kim, I., Lee, J., Kwon, I.S., Oh, J.H.: Robot system of DRC-HUBO+ and control strategy of team KAIST in DARPA robotics challenge finals. J. Field Robot. 34(4), 802–829 (2017)
Lohmeier, S.: Design and Realization of a Humanoid Robot for Fast and Autonomous Bipedal Locomotion. Ph.D. thesis, Technische Universitat Munchen (2010)
Schmaler, C., Jaentsch, M., Wittmeier, S., Dalamagkidis, K., Knoll, A.: A scalable joint-space controller for musculoskeletal robots with spherical joints. In: ROBIO (2011)
Maier, D., Stachniss, C., Bennewitz, M.: Vision-based humanoid navigation using self-supervised obstacle detection. Int. J. Humanoid Robot. 10(12) (2013)
Nakamura, K., Gomez, R., Nakadai, K.: Real-time super-resolution three-dimensional sound source localization for robots. In: IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems (IROS), pp. 3949–3954 (2013)
Nakanishi, Y., Ohta, S., Shirai, T., Asano, Y., Kozuki, T., Kakehashi, Y., Mizoguchi, H., Kurotobi, T., Motegi, Y., Sasabuchi, K., Urata, J., Okada, K., Mizuuchi, I., Inaba, M.: Design approach of biologically-inspired musculoskeletal humanoids. Int. J. Adv. Rob. Syst. (2013)
Nakaoka, S., Hattori, S., Kanehiro, F., Kajita, S., Hirukawa, H.: Constraint-based dynamics simulator for humanoid robots with shock absorbing mechanisms. In: IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems (IROS) (2007)
Newcombe, R., Izadi, S., Hilliges, O., Molyneaux, D., Kim, D., Davison, A., Kohli, P., Shotton, J., Hodges, S., Fitzgibbon, A.: Kinectfusion: Real-time dense surface mapping and tracking. In: ISMAR (2011)
Niiyama, R., Nagakubo, A., Kuniyoshi, Y.: Mowgli: a bipedal jumping and landing robot with an artificial musculoskeletal system. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) (2007)
Nishiwaki, K., Murakami, Y., Kagami, S., Kuniyoshi, Y., Inaba, M., Inoue, H.: A six-axis force sensor with parallel support mechanism to measure the ground reaction force of humanoid robot. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) (2002)
Nori, F., Traversaro, S., Eljaik, J., Romano, F., Del Prete, A., Pucci, D.: iCub whole-body control through force regulation on rigid non-coplanar contacts. Front. Robot. AI 2, 6 (2015)
Ott, C., Roa, M., Hirzinger, G.: Posture and balance control for biped robots based on contact force optimization. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robotics (ICHR) (2011)
Pucci, D.: iCub performing highly dynamic tai chi while interacting with humans (2016)
Sardellitti, I., Medrano-Cedra, G., Tsagarakis, N., Jafari, A., Caldwell, D.: Gain scheduling control for a class of variable stiffness actuators based on lever mechanisms. ITRO 29(13), 791–798 (2013)
Saunders, J., Inman, V., Eberhart, H.: The major determinants in normal and pathological gait. J. Bone Joint Surg. A(135), 543–558 (1953)
Schmitz, A., Pattacini, U., Nori, F., Natale, L., Metta, G., Sandini, G.: Design, realization and sensorization of the dexterous iCub hand. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robotics (ICHR), pp. 186–191 (2010)
Sellaouti, R., Stasse, O., Kajita, S., Yokoi, K., Kheddar, A.: Faster and smoother walking of humanoid HRP-2 with passive toe joints. In: IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems (IROS) (2006)
Sentis, L., Khatib, O.: A whole-body control framework for humanoids operating in human environments. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) (2006)
Stasse, O.: Technologies des robots humanoïdes. In: Applications en robotique. Techniques de l’ingnieur (2014)
Stasse, O., Flayols, T., Budhiraja, R., Giraud-Esclasse, K., Carpentier, J., Del Prete, A., Souères, P., Mansard, N., Lamiraux, F., Laumond, J.-P., Marchionni, L., Tome, H., Ferro, F.: A new humanoid research platform targeted for industrial applications, TALOS (2017)
Stentz, A., Herman, H., Kelly, A., Meyhofer, E., Clark Haynes, G., Stager, D., Zajac, B., Bagnell, J.A., Brindza, J., Dellin, C., George, M., Gonzalez-Mora, J., Hyde, S., Jones, M., Laverne, M., Likhachev, M., Lister, L., Powers, M., Ramos, O., Ray, J., Rice, D., Scheifflee, J., Sidki, R., Srinivasa, S., Strabala, K., Tardif, J.-P., Valois, J.-S., Weghe, J.M.V.,Wagner, M., Wellington, C.: Chimp, the CMU highly intelligent mobile platform. J. Field Robot. 3(2), 209–228 (2015)
Takahashi, T., Nakadai, K., Komatani, K., Ogata, T., Okuno, H.G.: Improvement in listening capability for humanoid robot HRP-2. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), pp. 470–475 (2010)
Tondu, B.: Modelling of the mackibben artifical muscle: a review. J. Intell. Mater. Syst. Struct. 23(13), 225–253 (2012)
Tonietti, G., Schiavi, R., Bicchi, A.: Design and control of a variable stiffness actuator for safe and fast physical human/robot interaction. In: IEEE/RAS International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), pp. 526–531 (2005)
Tsagarakis, N., Sardellitti, I., Caldwell, D.: A new variable stiffness actuator (CompAct-VSA): design and modelling. In: IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems (IROS) (2011)
Tsagarakis, N., Morfey, S., Cerda, G., Li, Z., Caldwell, D.: Compliant humanoid COMAN: optimal joint stiffness tuning for modal frequency control (2013)
Urata, J., Nakanishi, Y., Okada, K., Inaba, M.: Design of high torque and high speed leg module for high power humanoid. In: IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems (IROS) (2010)
Vermeulen, J., Verrelst, B., Vanderborght, B., Lefeber, D., Guillaume, P.: Trajectory planning for the walking biped “lucy”. Int. J. Robot. Res. 25(19), 867–887 (2006)
Wensing, P.M., Wang, A., Seok, S., Otten, D., Lang, J., Kim, S.: Proprioceptive actuator design in the MIT cheetah: impact mitigation and high-bandwidth physical interaction for dynamic legged robots. IEEE Trans. Robot. 33(3), 509–522 (2017)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Stasse, O., Flayols, T. (2019). An Overview of Humanoid Robots Technologies. In: Venture, G., Laumond, JP., Watier, B. (eds) Biomechanics of Anthropomorphic Systems. Springer Tracts in Advanced Robotics, vol 124. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93870-7_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93870-7_13
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-93869-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-93870-7
eBook Packages: Intelligent Technologies and RoboticsIntelligent Technologies and Robotics (R0)