Design of an Assistive Controller for Physical Human–Robot Interaction Based on Cooperative Game Theory and Human Intention Estimation

This article aims to design an assistive controller for physical Human-Robot Interaction (pHRI) based on Dynamic Cooperative Game Theory (DCGT). In particular, a distributed Model Predictive Control (dMPC) is formulated based on the DCGT principles (GT-dMPC). For proper implementation, one crucial piece of information regards human intention, which is defined as the desired trajectory that a human wants to follow over a finite rolling prediction horizon. To predict the desired human trajectory, a learning model is composed of cascaded Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) and Fully Connected (FC) layers (RNN
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FC). Iterative training and Transfer Learning (TL) techniques are proposed to adapt the model to different users. The behavior of the proposed GT-dMPC framework is thoroughly analyzed with simulations to understand its applicability and the tuning of its parameters for a pHRI assistive controller. Moreover, real-world experiments were carried out on a UR5 robotic arm equipped with a force sensor was installed. First, a brief validation of the RNN
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FC model integrated with the GT-dMPC is proposed for the iterative procedure and the TL. Finally, an application scenario is proposed for co-manipulating two objects and comparing the obtained results with other controllers typically used in the pHRI. Results show that the proposed controller reduces the required force of the human in completing tasks, even in the presence of unknown and different loads and inertia. Moreover, the proposed controller allows for precise reaching of the target point and does not introduce any undesirable oscillations. Finally, a subjective questionnaire shows that the proposed controller is, in general, preferred by different users.
Note to Practitioners
—This work presents a method to design an assistive controller to help a human perform physically coupled shared tasks with a robot. The target applications of this work are co-handling tasks of large or heavy objects. Such tasks require two agents to be performed easily, and the proposed work aims to make the robot a companion for the human partner. The proposed approach also quickly adapts to new users or tasks, making it feasible for real production systems or daily scenarios. Another possible target application is the co-manipulating large flexible components such as carbon fiber plies. This application would require small modifications, particularly in how the force is exchanged. Some additional/different sensors should be used, such as vision to map object deformations with virtual forces. The present work does not directly consider these kinds of applications. Indeed, this work strictly relies on force measurements that are not reliable when dealing with flexible materials, at least in a compression state. Such an issue will be investigated in future works by using vision systems to measure a virtual force that allows this method to be applicable even in the case of flexible components.