Robust continuous motion strategy against muscle rupture using online learning of redundant intersensory networks for musculoskeletal humanoids

• Published in: Robotics and autonomous systems 2022-06, Vol.152, p.104067, Article 104067
• Main Authors: Kawaharazuka, Kento, Nishiura, Manabu, Toshimitsu, Yasunori, Omura, Yusuke, Koga, Yuya, Asano, Yuki, Okada, Kei, Kawasaki, Koji, Inaba, Masayuki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Musculoskeletal humanoid; Neural networks; Redundancy
• ISSN: 0921-8890; 1872-793X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.robot.2022.104067

Musculoskeletal humanoids have various biomimetic advantages, of which redundant muscle arrangement is one of the most important features. This feature enables variable stiffness control and allows the robot to keep moving its joints even if one of the redundant muscles breaks, but this has been rarely explored. In this study, we construct a neural network that represents the relationship among sensors in the flexible and difficult-to-modelize body of the musculoskeletal humanoid, and by learning this neural network, accurate motions can be achieved. In order to take advantage of the redundancy of muscles, we discuss the use of this network for muscle rupture detection, online update of the intersensory relationship considering the muscle rupture, and body control and state estimation using the muscle rupture information. This study explains a method of constructing a musculoskeletal humanoid that continues to move and perform tasks robustly even when one muscle breaks. •Modularized hardware and learning software system design to take advantage of the muscle redundancy.•Online learning of the musculoskeletal intersensory network for control, state estimation, and anomaly detection.•Changes in online learning, control, and state estimation after the muscle rupture.•Robust motion experiments using the muscle redundancy of the musculoskeletal humanoid Musashi.