Cosserat Rod-Based Dynamic Modeling of Tendon-Driven Continuum Robots: A Tutorial

This article provides a tutorial on the dynamic modeling of continuum robots. Continuum robots (CRs) have gained popularity in recent years due to their flexible backbone structure. Modeling and control of CRs motivate accurate and efficient dynamic models. Such models will enable simulation of dynamic behavior, improved structural design, and the development of dynamics-based control systems for CRs. As a unified underlying approach, the Cosserat rod-based modeling of tendon-driven CRs is used as the basis of the modeling techniques discussed in this paper. In addition to conventional continuum robot assemblies, new and emerging assemblies such as tendon-bent concentric tube and co-operative robots are also considered. The governing equations of motion for conventional CRs are first summarized and then extended for other tendon-driven CRs. This tutorial also contributes to developing a MATLAB code package for simulation of the dynamic response of these robots. The presented method and codes provide a useful and compact resource for readers and can be used for further development of tendon-driven continuum robots.