Abstract
A design concept of TOMMS, TOshiba Modular Manipulator system, has been already proposed to achieve a modular manipulator system which can be assembled into any desired configuration to provide adaptability to tasks, using as few kinds and types of modules as possible, without special handling such as modification of control software. To realize the concept, we developed a constitution and configuration recognition method of the assembled manipulator using electric resistance which is simple, practical and reliable. Moreover, to actualize the system which can offer the best suitable manipulator constitution and configuration for the desired task, we developed a workability judgment method considering the degeneracy of degreeds of freedom (d. o. f.) of the manipulator and the conditions of the desired. These methods were applied to the trial system TOMMS-1 and their efficiency and practicality were confirmed.
