Coordinated Locomotion Control for a Quadruped Robot with Bionic Parallel Torso

This paper presents the design and control of a quadruped robot equipped with a six-degree-of-freedom (6-<i>DOF</i>) bionic active torso based on a parallel mechanism. Inspired by the compliant and flexible torsos of quadrupedal mammals, the proposed torso structure enhances locomotion p...

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Main Authors: Yaguang Zhu, Ao Cao, Zhimin He, Mengnan Zhou, Ruyue Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Biomimetics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/10/5/335
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author Yaguang Zhu
Ao Cao
Zhimin He
Mengnan Zhou
Ruyue Li
author_facet Yaguang Zhu
Ao Cao
Zhimin He
Mengnan Zhou
Ruyue Li
author_sort Yaguang Zhu
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents the design and control of a quadruped robot equipped with a six-degree-of-freedom (6-<i>DOF</i>) bionic active torso based on a parallel mechanism. Inspired by the compliant and flexible torsos of quadrupedal mammals, the proposed torso structure enhances locomotion performance by enabling coordinated motion between the torso and legs. A complete kinematic model of the bionic torso and the whole body of the quadruped robot is developed. To address the variation in inertial properties caused by torso motion, a model predictive control (<i>MPC</i>) strategy with a variable center of mass (<i>CoM</i>) is proposed for integrated whole-body motion control. Comparative simulations under trot gait are conducted between rigid-torso and active-torso configurations. Results show that the active torso significantly improves gait flexibility, postural stability, and locomotion efficiency. This study provides a new approach to enhancing biomimetic locomotion in quadruped robots through active torso-leg coordination.
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series Biomimetics
spelling doaj-art-e207fcd7f00c4746a9050c95ceb5ab222025-08-20T03:47:48ZengMDPI AGBiomimetics2313-76732025-05-0110533510.3390/biomimetics10050335Coordinated Locomotion Control for a Quadruped Robot with Bionic Parallel TorsoYaguang Zhu0Ao Cao1Zhimin He2Mengnan Zhou3Ruyue Li4Key Laboratory of Road Construction Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, ChinaKey Laboratory of Road Construction Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, ChinaKey Laboratory of Road Construction Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, ChinaKey Laboratory of Road Construction Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, ChinaKey Laboratory of Road Construction Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, ChinaThis paper presents the design and control of a quadruped robot equipped with a six-degree-of-freedom (6-<i>DOF</i>) bionic active torso based on a parallel mechanism. Inspired by the compliant and flexible torsos of quadrupedal mammals, the proposed torso structure enhances locomotion performance by enabling coordinated motion between the torso and legs. A complete kinematic model of the bionic torso and the whole body of the quadruped robot is developed. To address the variation in inertial properties caused by torso motion, a model predictive control (<i>MPC</i>) strategy with a variable center of mass (<i>CoM</i>) is proposed for integrated whole-body motion control. Comparative simulations under trot gait are conducted between rigid-torso and active-torso configurations. Results show that the active torso significantly improves gait flexibility, postural stability, and locomotion efficiency. This study provides a new approach to enhancing biomimetic locomotion in quadruped robots through active torso-leg coordination.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/10/5/335bionic torsocoordinated locomotionmodel predictive controlvariable mass center
spellingShingle Yaguang Zhu
Ao Cao
Zhimin He
Mengnan Zhou
Ruyue Li
Coordinated Locomotion Control for a Quadruped Robot with Bionic Parallel Torso
Biomimetics
bionic torso
coordinated locomotion
model predictive control
variable mass center
title Coordinated Locomotion Control for a Quadruped Robot with Bionic Parallel Torso
title_full Coordinated Locomotion Control for a Quadruped Robot with Bionic Parallel Torso
title_fullStr Coordinated Locomotion Control for a Quadruped Robot with Bionic Parallel Torso
title_full_unstemmed Coordinated Locomotion Control for a Quadruped Robot with Bionic Parallel Torso
title_short Coordinated Locomotion Control for a Quadruped Robot with Bionic Parallel Torso
title_sort coordinated locomotion control for a quadruped robot with bionic parallel torso
topic bionic torso
coordinated locomotion
model predictive control
variable mass center
url https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/10/5/335
work_keys_str_mv AT yaguangzhu coordinatedlocomotioncontrolforaquadrupedrobotwithbionicparalleltorso
AT aocao coordinatedlocomotioncontrolforaquadrupedrobotwithbionicparalleltorso
AT zhiminhe coordinatedlocomotioncontrolforaquadrupedrobotwithbionicparalleltorso
AT mengnanzhou coordinatedlocomotioncontrolforaquadrupedrobotwithbionicparalleltorso
AT ruyueli coordinatedlocomotioncontrolforaquadrupedrobotwithbionicparalleltorso