This book describes the development of an integrated approach for generating the path and gait of realistic hexapod robotic systems. It discusses in detail locomation with straight-ahead, crab and turning motion capabilities in varying terrains, like sloping surfaces, staircases, and various user-defined rough terrains. It also presents computer simulations and validation using Virtual Prototyping (VP) tools and real-world experiments. The book also explores improving solutions by applying the developed nonlinear, constrained inverse dynamics model of the system formulated as a coupled dynamical problem based on the Newton-Euler (NE) approach and taking into account realistic environmental conditions. The approach is developed on the basis of rigid multi-body modelling and the concept that there is no change in the configuration of the system in the short time span of collisions.

This book describes the development of an integrated approach for generating the path and gait of realistic hexapod robotic systems. It discusses in detail locomation with straight-ahead, crab and turning motion capabilities in varying terrains, like sloping surfaces, staircases, and various user-defined rough terrains. It also presents computer simulations and validation using Virtual Prototyping (VP) tools and real-world experiments. The book also explores improving solutions by applying the developed nonlinear, constrained inverse dynamics model of the system formulated as a coupled dynamical problem based on the Newton-Euler (NE) approach and taking into account realistic environmental conditions. The approach is developed on the basis of rigid multi-body modelling and the concept that there is no change in the configuration of the system in the short time span of collisions.

Over the last four decades, the legged robots had been widely investigated due to their better mobility and terrain adaptability characteristics, while moving on natural terrains. Kinematics, dynamics, stability and energy consumption analysis of different types of gaits are the key elements of study in the field of multi-legged robots' locomotion. In the present book, a systematic analytical model has been developed to study the kinematics and dynamics along with energy efficiency and stability of a realistic six-legged robot, negotiating straight-forward, crab and turning motions. Moreover, soft computing-based models, namely back-propagation algorithm-tuned multiple adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems; genetic algorithm-tuned multiple adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems; genetic algorithm-tuned coactive neuro-fuzzy inference systems and genetic algorithm-tuned back-propagation neural networks, have been developed to predict specific energy consumption and normalized energy stability margin in straight, crab and turning motions of the said robot. This book could be useful to researchers and technologists working in the field of mobile robots.