[robocup-humanoid] Call for papers - Special issue IEEE-RAM: Adaptable Compliance / Variable stiffness for Robotic Applications

[Bram Vanderborght]

********CALL FOR PAPERS********

IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine
Special issue “Adaptable Compliance / Variable stiffness for Robotic Applications”

***Guest Editors***
Prof. Dr. Thomas Sugar
	Arizona State University, USA
	Department of Engineering
	Thomas.sugar at asu.edu
	http://robotics.eas.asu.edu

Dr. ir. Bram Vanderborght
	Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium / Italian Institute of Technology, Italy
	Bram.vanderborght at vub.ac.be
	http://mech.vub.ac.be/bram.htm

Prof. dr. ir. Dirk LEFEBER 
	Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
	Robotics & Multibody Mechanics Research Group
	dlefeber at vub.ac.be
	http://mech.vub.ac.be/multibody_mechanics.htm
	
Submission deadline: December 15, 2007

***Introduction***
For years, the assertion of most robotic designers concerning actuation was: “the stiffer the better”. This assertion holds true for standard industrial robotic applications which require accurate, reference-trajectory tracking. More and more applications however, such as robots in close human/robot proximity and legged autonomous robots, demand a different set of design specifications, for which the use of compliant actuators can be beneficial as compared to traditional stiff actuation schemes. Different designs and control techniques concerning compliant actuation have been proposed using a wide range of physics principles and a wide perspective of different ideas. A categorization can be made between active (feedback) implementation of compliance, using force/torque sensory information, and passive compliant actuators, incorporating a passive/elastic element. 

***Scope***
This special issue will focus on: Implementation of such actuators in real-world robotic applications: e.g. medical robotics, rehabilitation robotics, legged humanoids, and passive-dynamic walkers Control strategies: possible strategies are to make the robots safe during interaction closely with humans or to minimize energy consumption. 

More info can be found on http://www.ieee-ras.org/ram/special.php#acvs or contact the guest editors.



Kind regards,

Bram Vanderborght