Design, path planning improvement and test of a portable massage robot on human back

A massage robot that helps to improve the quality of human life has attracted more interests of researchers and consumers. A portable back massage robot that is compact and space-saving was designed to be used on human back instead of a traditional large-scale structure robot. To design the massage...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wendong Wang, Peng Zhang, Chaohong Liang, Yikai Shi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2018-07-01
Series:International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/1729881418786631
_version_ 1819022321868865536
author Wendong Wang
Peng Zhang
Chaohong Liang
Yikai Shi
author_facet Wendong Wang
Peng Zhang
Chaohong Liang
Yikai Shi
author_sort Wendong Wang
collection DOAJ
description A massage robot that helps to improve the quality of human life has attracted more interests of researchers and consumers. A portable back massage robot that is compact and space-saving was designed to be used on human back instead of a traditional large-scale structure robot. To design the massage robot, the models of electric circuit, magnetic circuit and mechanics were analyzed to achieve optimal massage force. Parameters of the massage actuator are determined based on the influence analysis of the coil current, the coil turns and the distance between the moving core and the yoke on the electromagnetic force. The massage coverage of human back, which is used to calculate the massage effect, could be improved by an excellent path planning algorithm. This article proposed an efficient full covered path planning algorithm for the designed massage robot, and the relevant algorithm models were established. Simulation results show that the coil current is much more sensitive to electromagnetic force of the moving core compared to the other two factors, and the presented path planning algorithm completes full coverage of the massage robot on the back area. The experimental platform of the massage robot was built, and the influence of the input signal duty cycle, the input signal voltage and the hardness of the massage object on the massage effect was discussed by testing the values of acceleration. The tested results show that the massage effect is best when the duty cycle is in the range of 1/8–1/2. Meanwhile, the hardness of massage parts affects the massage intensity. The consistency between the tested results of path planning and simulation verifies the feasibility of the simulation procedure and indicates that the massage robot can attain the desired massage performance and realize the planned paths.
first_indexed 2024-12-21T04:21:09Z
format Article
id doaj.art-78f05af89b9746c48fcf8afbfb8daee2
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1729-8814
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-21T04:21:09Z
publishDate 2018-07-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems
spelling doaj.art-78f05af89b9746c48fcf8afbfb8daee22022-12-21T19:16:10ZengSAGE PublishingInternational Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems1729-88142018-07-011510.1177/1729881418786631Design, path planning improvement and test of a portable massage robot on human backWendong WangPeng ZhangChaohong LiangYikai ShiA massage robot that helps to improve the quality of human life has attracted more interests of researchers and consumers. A portable back massage robot that is compact and space-saving was designed to be used on human back instead of a traditional large-scale structure robot. To design the massage robot, the models of electric circuit, magnetic circuit and mechanics were analyzed to achieve optimal massage force. Parameters of the massage actuator are determined based on the influence analysis of the coil current, the coil turns and the distance between the moving core and the yoke on the electromagnetic force. The massage coverage of human back, which is used to calculate the massage effect, could be improved by an excellent path planning algorithm. This article proposed an efficient full covered path planning algorithm for the designed massage robot, and the relevant algorithm models were established. Simulation results show that the coil current is much more sensitive to electromagnetic force of the moving core compared to the other two factors, and the presented path planning algorithm completes full coverage of the massage robot on the back area. The experimental platform of the massage robot was built, and the influence of the input signal duty cycle, the input signal voltage and the hardness of the massage object on the massage effect was discussed by testing the values of acceleration. The tested results show that the massage effect is best when the duty cycle is in the range of 1/8–1/2. Meanwhile, the hardness of massage parts affects the massage intensity. The consistency between the tested results of path planning and simulation verifies the feasibility of the simulation procedure and indicates that the massage robot can attain the desired massage performance and realize the planned paths.https://doi.org/10.1177/1729881418786631
spellingShingle Wendong Wang
Peng Zhang
Chaohong Liang
Yikai Shi
Design, path planning improvement and test of a portable massage robot on human back
International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems
title Design, path planning improvement and test of a portable massage robot on human back
title_full Design, path planning improvement and test of a portable massage robot on human back
title_fullStr Design, path planning improvement and test of a portable massage robot on human back
title_full_unstemmed Design, path planning improvement and test of a portable massage robot on human back
title_short Design, path planning improvement and test of a portable massage robot on human back
title_sort design path planning improvement and test of a portable massage robot on human back
url https://doi.org/10.1177/1729881418786631
work_keys_str_mv AT wendongwang designpathplanningimprovementandtestofaportablemassagerobotonhumanback
AT pengzhang designpathplanningimprovementandtestofaportablemassagerobotonhumanback
AT chaohongliang designpathplanningimprovementandtestofaportablemassagerobotonhumanback
AT yikaishi designpathplanningimprovementandtestofaportablemassagerobotonhumanback