Traditionally, robot manipulators have been a simple arrangement of a small number of serially connected links and actuated joints. Though these manipulators prove to be very effective for many tasks, they are not without their limitations, due mainly to their lack of maneuverability or total degrees of freedom. Continuum style (i.e., continuous "back-bone") robots, on the other hand, exhibit a wide range of maneuverability, and can have a large number of degrees of freedom. The motion of continuum style robots is generated through the bending of the robot over a given section; unlike traditional robots where the motion occurs in discrete locations, i.e., joints. The motion of continuum manipulators is often compared to that of biological manipulators such as trunks and tentacles. These continuum style robots can achieve motions that could only be obtainable by a conventionally designed robot with many more degrees of freedom. In this paper we present a detailed formulation and explanation of a novel kinematic model for continuum style robots. The design, construction, and implementation of our continuum style robot called the elephant trunk manipulator is presented. Experimental results are then provided to verify the legitimacy of our model when applied to our physical manipulator. We also provide a set of obstacle avoidance experiments that help to exhibit the practical implementation of both our manipulator and our kinematic model.

The area of tentacle and trunk type biological manipulation is not new, but there has been little progress in the development and application of a physical device to simulate these types of manipulation. Our research in this area is based on using an 'elephant trunk' robot. In this paper, we review the construction of the robot and how it compares to biological manipulators. We then apply our previously designed kinematic model to describe the kinematics of the robot. We finish by providing some examples of motion planning and intelligent manipulation using the robot.

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The idea of studying tentacle and trunk type biological manipulation is not new, but there has been little progress in the development and application of physical devices t o simulate these types of manipulation. Our research in this area is centered o n a novel 'elephant trunk' robot. In this paper, we review the construction of the robot and how it compares t o biological manipulators. W e then apply our previously designed kinematic model t o describe the kinematics of the robot. W e finish by providing some examples of intelligent manipulation using the robot.

This paper describes external camera-based shape estimation for continuum robots. Continuum robots have a continuous backbone made of sections which bend to produce changes of configuration. A major difficulty with continuum robots is the determination of the robot's shape, as there are no discrete joints. This paper presents a method for shape determination based on machine vision. Using an engineered environment and image processing from a high speed camera, shape determination of a continuum robot is achieved. Experimental results showing the effectiveness of the technique on our Elephant's Trunk Manipulator are presented.

This paper presents a solution to the global adaptive partial state feedback control problem for rigid-link, flexible-joint (RLFJ) robots. The proposed tracking controller adapts for parametric uncertainty throughout the entire mechanical system while only requiring link and actuator position measurements. A nonlinear filter is employed to eliminate the need for link velocity measurements while a set of linear filters is utilized to eliminate the need for actuator velocity measurements. A backstepping control strategy is utilized to illustrate global asymptotic link position tracking. An output feedback controller that adapts for parametric uncertainty in the link dynamics of the robot manipulator is presented as an extension. Experimental results are provided as verification of the proposed controller.

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