Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Manufacturing, Control, and Performance Evaluation of a Gecko-Inspired Soft Robot
Published on: June 10, 2020
Control of articulated snake robot under dynamic active constraints
Ka-Wai Kwok1, Valentina Vitiello, Guang-Zhong Yang
1The Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. k.kwok07@imperial.ac.uk
This study introduces a snake robot control system for precise surgical movements on deforming tissues. The system ensures accurate visual target tracking and smooth motion, crucial for endoscopic surgery.
Area of Science:
- Robotics
- Surgical Technology
- Control Systems Engineering
Background:
- Flexible, ergonomically enhanced surgical robots are vital for transluminal endoscopic surgery.
- Path-following and dynamic shape conformance are critical requirements for these robots.
- Accurate motion stabilization under dynamic constraints is essential for safe and effective procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the kinematic control of a snake robot for motion stabilization under dynamic active constraints.
- To enable accurate and steady visual target tracking on deforming tissue.
- To ensure the robot conforms to pre-defined anatomical constraints during surgery.
Main Methods:
- Kinematic control of a snake robot.
- Development of a control mechanism considering system frequency response and input-output delay.
- Integration of visual-motor synchronization for smooth pursuit movements.
- Augmentation of motion tracking with manual control capabilities.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated accurate and steady tracking of visual targets on deforming tissue.
- Showcased the robot's ability to conform to anatomical constraints.
- Highlighted the importance of visual-motor synchronization for smooth pursuit movements, accounting for system delays.
- Validated the practical utility of the proposed control mechanism through user experiments.
Conclusions:
- The proposed kinematic control mechanism is effective for motion stabilization in snake robots for endoscopic surgery.
- Visual-motor synchronization is crucial for achieving accurate and smooth movements, especially when system delays are present.
- The control strategy enables robots to perform precise tasks on dynamic biological tissues while adhering to anatomical limitations.
Related Concept Videos
One-Degree-of-Freedom System
A one-degree-of-freedom system is defined by an independent variable that determines its state and behavior. One example of a one-degree-of-freedom system is a simple harmonic oscillator, such as a...
Three-Dimensional Force System:Problem Solving
To solve a three-dimensional force system, first resolve each force into its respective scalar components. Do this using...
Open and closed-loop control systems
An open-loop control system operates without feedback from the output. It consists of two primary elements: the controller and the controlled process. The controller receives an input signal and...
Constraints and Statical Determinacy
Virtual Work for a System of Connected Rigid Bodies
Next,...
Muscle Coordination and Action
Agonists
Agonist muscles, often called prime movers, are the primary muscles responsible for producing a specific movement.
