FIGAROH: a Python toolbox for dynamic identification and geometric calibration of robots and humans

Thanh D. V. Nguyen1,2, Vincent Bonnet1,3, Pierre Fernbach2, Thomas Flayols1, Florent Lamiraux1
1LAAS-CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, CNRS, Toulouse, France 2TOWARD S.A.S, Toulouse, France 3IPAL, CNRS-UMI, Singapore

Abstract

The accuracy of the geometric and dynamic models for robots and humans is crucial for simulation, control, and motion analysis. For example, joint torque, which is a function of geometric and dynamic parameters, is a critical variable that heavily impacts the performance of model-based control, or that can motivate a clinical decision after a biomechanical analysis. Fortunately, these models can be identified using extensive works from literature. However, for a non-expert, building an identification model and designing an experimentation plan, which should not require long hours and/or lead to poor results, is not a trivial task, especially for anthropometric structures such as humanoids or humans that need frequent update. In this work, we propose a unified framework for geometric calibration and dynamic identification in the form of a Python open-source toolbox. Besides identification model building and data processing, the toolbox can automatically generate exciting postures and motions to minimize the experimental burden from the robot, measurements, and environment description. The possibilities of this toolbox are exemplified with several datasets of human, humanoid, and serial robots.