Computed-torque control of a simulated bipedal robot with locomotion by reinforcement learning

Abstract

This dissertation presents the development of a hybrid control for an Atlas humanoid robot moving forward in a static locomotion regime. The Gazebo simulation environment used in the experiments allows a precise modeling of the robot. The developed system consists of the robot mechanics modeling, including dynamical equations that allow the control of joints by computed-torque and the determination of positions the joints should take. This is accomplished by agents that make use of the approximate Q-Learning reinforcement learning algorithm to plan the robot's locomotion. The definition of the state space that makes up each agent differs from the traditional cartesian one and is based on the concept of cardinal points to establish the directions to be followed to the goal and avoid obstacles. This allows the use of a reduced simulated environment for training, providing the agents with prior knowledge to the application in a real environment and facilitating, as a result, convergence to a so-called optimal action in few iterations. Three agents are used: one to control the center of mass displacement when the two legs are poised on the floor and other two for keeping the center of mass within a tolerance range of each of the legs when only one foot is on the ground. In order to reduce the chance of the robot falling down while walking the hybrid control employs a number of constraints, both in the reinforcement learning part and in the robot kinematics model. The proposed approach allows an effective training in few iterations, achieves good results and ensures the integrity of the robot.