Fuzzy Logic-Based Controller for Bipedal Robot

In this paper, the problem of controlling a human-like bipedal robot while walking is studied. The control method commonly applied when controlling robots in general and bipedal robots in particular, was based on a dynamical model. This led to the need to accurately define the dynamical model of the robot. The activities of bipedal robots to replace humans, serve humans, or interact with humans are diverse and ever-changing. Accurate determination of the dynamical model of the robot is difficult because it is difficult to fully and accurately determine the dynamical quantities in the differential equations of motion of the robot. Additionally, another difficulty is that because the robot’s operation is always changing, the dynamical quantities also change. There have been a number of works applying fuzzy logic-based controllers and neural networks to control bipedal robots. These methods can overcome to some extent the uncertainties mentioned above. However, it is a challenge to build appropriate rule systems that ensure the control quality as well as the controller’s ability to perform easily and flexibly. In this paper, a method for building a fuzzy rule system suitable for bipedal robot control is proposed. The design of the motion trajectory for the robot according to the human gait and the analysis of dynamical factors affecting the equilibrium condition and the tracking trajectory were performed to provide informational data as well as parameters. Based on that, a fuzzy rule system and fuzzy controller was proposed and built, allowing a determination of the control force/moment without relying on the dynamical model of the robot. For evaluation, an exact controller based on the assumption of an accurate dynamical model, which was a two-feedback loop controller based on integrated inverse dynamics with proportional integral derivative, is also proposed. To confirm the validity of the proposed fuzzy rule system and fuzzy controller, computation and numerical simulation were performed for both types of controllers. Comparison of numerical simulation results showed that the fuzzy rule system and the fuzzy controller worked well. The proposed fuzzy rule system is simple and easy to apply.