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The ability for robots to mimic humans is one of science's most talked about issues. The rewards for reproducing human movement and actions go far beyond engineering, having applications and ramifications for medical treatment, computer technology, defence, exploration and much more.
A project using MapleSim physical modelling software, at the University of Manchester, is helping to perfect the process of humanoid walking in robots. The new centre at Manchester, the Centre for Interdisciplinary Computational and Dynamic Analysis (CICADA), has been working with Professor Darwin Caldwell at the Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, who has been developing a novel compliant humanoid robot (CCub) based on the previously developed humanoid robot iCub at IIT.
Part of CICADA's work looks at walking characteristics and other locomotive actions using a hybrid model. The model uses spring/dampers to simulate ground reaction force, actuator dynamics and compliant elements to capture the robot’s full dynamic response.
One of the challenges facing the Manchester team, lead by Dr Martin Brown and Dr Gustavo Medrano-Cerda, is visualising experiments quickly and effectively, to avoid slowing down the process and to ensure that experimentation is valid and relevant. “The ability to visualise in MapleSim, without having to write our own programs, has been invaluable,” says PhD student Houman Dallali. “What's more, we can directly generate C++ code to interface with the hardware and speed up the controller implementation/debugging process.”
With a comprehensive and advanced library of models online – in one place – Mr Dallali has been able to construct complex simulations easily using the 'drag and drop' modeling environment, and then edit existing models with little effort due to MapleSim's intuitive interface. The inclusion of linearisation techniques in the MapleSim offering is also important for robotic modelling. “We are building models faster and completing experiments with better data thanks to MapleSim's accuracy and kinematics capabilities,” Mr Dallali continues, “whilst the ever-present support from the team at Adept ensures seamless transition from one stage to the next.”
The speed and success of the MapleSim-aided research means that the CICADA team will quickly move on to projects for dynamic walking with full body control and extended range of gaits. Dr Martin Brown and his PhD student Onder Tutsoy are working on 'reinforcement learning' for humanoid robots as well as ‘iterative learning' techniques. “In the future, we will be adding logic and learning approaches to our code and looking to develop applications from the research, such as better prosthetics and walking aids” says Mr Dallali.
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In this webinar series, Dr. Robert Lopez, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technolgoy and Maple Fellow, presents six webinars covering fundamental branches of undergraduate mathematics, including Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, Multivariate Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, and Vector Calculus.
Now Available:
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This unique Webinar series
presents practical concepts and techniques for developing high-fidelity
physical models for complex dynamic systems. Whether your goal is to
increase the performance of plant models for HIL simulations, or you
need to get greater insight into system behaviour, the contents of
these sessions will provide useful tips and case studies to make
MapleSim projects more productive. If you are a design and
research engineer in automotive, aerospace, robotics, and precision
machinery segments, or an engineering educator, you would benefit from
attending this webinar series.
Webinar 1: High fidelity plant modeling for control design and HIL testing using MapleSim
In this recording, you’ll learn how MapleSim’s intuitive multi-domain modeling environment supports the rapid development of complex, high-fidelity plant models. The symbolic techniques that lie at the heart of MapleSim automatically produce efficient, high-fidelity model equations and optimized code for fast real-time execution, including hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) applications.
To watch this recording, please click here.
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Webinar 2: Automotive Applications of MapleSim. Part 1 - Powertrain and Driveline
July 29, 2011 from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EST
In this webinar, Paul Goosens, VP of Applications Engineering at Maplesoft will present a MapleSim library of components, transmission sub-assemblies, and complete powertrain examples that show the use of these components in driveline applications. Built with guidance from several transmission manufacturers, this MapleSim library allows you to mix the best of physical models and empirical data to maximize model fidelity, optimize your designs, and improve overall vehicle fuel-efficiency.
To register for this webinar, please click here.
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Webinar 3: Automotive applications of MapleSim. Part 2 - Vehicle Dynamics
August 31, 2011 from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST.
Engineers are using Maple and MapleSim extensively for modeling complex kinematic and dynamic behavior in vehicle chassis systems, such as suspensions, steering and brakes. These products are used to combine multibody mechanisms with compliant components, such as bushings, to determine the overall dynamic behavior of the vehicle, particularly for stability control design. In this webinar, Paul Goossens, VP of Applications Engineering at Maplesoft, will present practical concepts and techniques for developing high-fidelity physical models for complex dynamic systems in automotive applications.
If you are a design and research engineer in the automotive industry you would benefit from attending this webinar.
To register for this webinar, please click here.
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Classroom Tips and Techniques:
Steepest Ascent Curves
Author: Dr. Robert Lopez
Steepest-ascent curves are obtained for surfaces defined analytically and digitally. |
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| See the Maplesoft website for more Tips & Techniques. |
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A Presidential Election Game: 2012 Edition
Author: Dr. Joseph Kolacinski, Nick Mercier and Ashley Culpepper
This application is an educational activity modeling the current system of U. S. Presidential Elections. It is set up in the form of a game in which each player manages a candidate from one of the United States' two major parties. |
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U.S Presidential Calculator
Author: Dr. Joseph Kolacinski, Nick Mercier and Ashley Culpepper
This application takes state-by-state polling data entered by the user and simulates multiple national elections comprised of 51 individual elections, one for each state and the District of Columbia based on that data. |
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Physical Constants and Discrete-Time Dynamic Systems
Author: Peter Aleksandrov
The results of examining the interaction of two electric charges regarded as a dissipative discrete - time dynamic system are proposed; in particular, a formula is given which expresses the fine structur constant through Feigenbaum's constant. |
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For further details or to enroll in a webinar, click here.
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Maplesoft Releases MapleSim 5
Desktop Engineering's Pick of the Week, June 29, 2011
Maplesoft (Waterloo, Canada) has released MapleSim 5, the latest version of its physical modeling and simulation software. MapleSim 5 is said to have a broader application scope, a streamlined modeling environment, and the ability to efficiently simulate even more systems.
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Physical Modeling and Simulation Software
SAE Automotive Engineers International, June 28, 2011
"With MapleSim 5's more than 150 new components including new libraries for magnetics and thermal fluids, the power of MapleSim can be applied to even more modeling projects. Customers can use the new release to quickly develop a wider range of applications such as fuel-injection systems, saturating motors and transformers, and heat exchangers for machine cooling systems."
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MapleSim 5 Expands Model Development Use
Design News, June 27, 2011
What industry isn’t facing challenges around compressed time-to-market schedules? Not to mention complexities related to collaborating far earlier in the design process across the key mechanical, electrical, and software engineering disciplines. It’s a scenario that is framing the evolution of a host of different design applications, the latest being Maplesoft’s new version of its MapleSim physical modeling and simulation software.
In addition to these articles, check out the Media Center for all the latest coverage on Maplesoft. |
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NI Week 2011
August 2 - 4 , 2011
Austin, Texas |
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MathFest
August 4 - 6 , 2011
Lexington, Kentucky |
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CASC 2011
September 5 - 9, 2011
Kassel, Germany |
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Internationales Forum Mechatronik (IFM) 2011
September 21 - 22, 2011
Cham, Germany |
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| For further details about these events click here. |
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www.maplesoft.com
1-800-267-6583 (US & Canada) | 1-519-747-2373
(Outside US & Canada) |
© 2011 Maplesoft, a division of Waterloo Maple, Inc.,
615 Kumpf Drive, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2V1K8. Maplesoft, Maple,
MapleSim, Maple T.A., MapleNet, and MaplePrimes, are trademarks of
Waterloo Maple Inc. All other trademarks are property of their
respective owners. MATHEMATICA is a trademark of Wolfram.
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