Urban traffic congestion, obstacle avoidance, and driving efficiency are significant challenges for driverless-vehicle path planning in urban environments. The traditional artificial potential field (APF) algorithm is inadequate for meeting efficiency and safety requirements in path planning. This paper proposes a new AS-IAPF path-planning algorithm by introducing stability criteria to enhance target accessibility for autonomous vehicles under dynamic and complex traffic conditions.

In order to better imitate the enveloping–grasping function of human fingers and control the grasping morphology of the fingers, a modular gripper is proposed to be controlled using a combined differential control of wires and shape-memory alloy (SMA) springs, and the gripper can actively adjust the grasping morphology of the fingers according to the characteristics of the shape and contour of the objects to be grasped so as to achieve stable and reliable grasping.

Our research team designed a robotic mechanism inspired by the masticatory system of human beings. It is to be deployed in the food industry, reproducing the chewing behaviors of human beings. Thus, the properties of the newly developed foods can be evaluated in a human-like manner. To facilitate the model-based motion control in real time, a newly developed methodology from the literature is used. Then, the inertia coupling in the joint space control is analyzed.

A prediction model for surface roughness classification of computer numerical control drills based on fusion of local time–frequency features and global time–frequency features of the Mobilenet_v3_small model is proposed. Correct rates of the training set, validation set, and test set are 85.2%, 84%, and 85.4%. Compared with industrial lightweight network models, this model improved the correctness rates on the training set, validation set, and test set by about 10%, 9%, and 13%, respectively.

This paper presents an optimization approach to improving the performance of lattice structures subjected to thermal and mechanical loads. The proposed method is demonstrated through examples of battery packs, L-brackets, and machine tool headstocks. The results of numerical verification show that the proposed method enhances the performance of designed structures greatly compared with traditional solid-design and temperature constraints.

This paper designs a linkage-type self-adaptive deformable tracked mechanism module in accordance with the multi-loop mechanism. The mechanism has two modes of forward movement and reverse movement, including deformable tracked-type and rocker arm-type, respectively.  This kind of mechanism has very good terrain adaptability and can deform through passive self-adaptive obstacles, which has certain application prospects in special terrains.

This paper proposes a path-planning method for 3D information collection on the space station surface via a hyper-redundant space robot (HSR). Based on the active information collection method, the collision-free viewpoint trajectory of the space station surface can be planned. The path planning of the space station surface information collection can then be realized by importing the space station model data and performing weight initialization, stochastic search, and continuous optimization. 

This paper proposes a synthesis method for compliant bistable mechanism based on pole similarity transformation. The rigid components in the synthesis results can self-maintain at two specified positions assigned by the motion task, which are the two stable states of the mechanism. Even if the mechanism deviates from these positions under external forces, it can rely on its own internal forces to return to the stable-state positions.

In order to effectively improve the running stability of the three-axis emergency aid vehicle and reduce the risk of rollover, a rollover dynamic model with 11 degrees of freedom is established in this paper. A three-axle anti-rollover control strategy based on the cooperation of differential braking and active suspension is proposed. The anti-rollover capability of the vehicle is verified by a mathematical simulation.

In this paper, a variable structure detection robot for underground rescue is designed for the rescue environment of a 225 mm diameter borehole, combined with the leading arm and the deformable tracks.  A stability criterion based on the contact force between the robot and the road surface (contact force stability criterion, CFSC) is proposed, and an adaptive stability control system of the robot is established in combination with a neural network.

In this paper, the design principle of the symmetrical spherical parallel mechanism (SPM) is obtained by analyzing the conditions for symmetrical motion of the mechanism. A series of symmetrical SPMs is designed based on the constraint force provided by the branches. The SPM can realize continuous rotation around any line on the mid-plane that passes through the rotation center of the spherical mechanism. This feature has great potential for application in fields such as rehabilitation robotics.

This study explores the actual demand of wide-frequency vibration isolation and low-frequency shock resistance of a vibration isolation system for complex external excitation of the aircraft turboprop engine. The performance of a type of turbo-propeller engine vibration isolation system at a 1.5–2000 Hz vibration frequency is investigated by combining simulation and experimental research.  It provides the test basis and idea for the optimization of the aero-engine vibration isolation system.

Vibration measurement technology based on binocular vision and kinematic decoupling is a new method which can effectively extract vertical vibration signal. The proposed method has the advantages of real-time measurement and low cost and overcomes the limitations of traditional measurement methods in error accumulation.