华南理工大学学报(自然科学版)

• 机械工程 • 上一篇    下一篇

人形机器人腿部构型研究的历史、现状与展望

丁宏钰1,2  石照耀3  付春江4   

  1. 1. 广东海洋大学 机械与能源工程学院,广东 阳江 529500

    2. 广东海洋大学 深圳研究院,广东 深圳 518116

    3. 北京工业大学 北京市精密测控技术与仪器工程技术研究中心,北京 100124

    4. 深圳市优必选科技股份有限公司 人形机器人创新中心,广东 深圳 518052

  • 出版日期:2025-05-30 发布日期:2025-05-30

History, Present Situation and Prospect of Research on Leg Configuration of Humanoid Robot

DING Hongyu1,2  SHI Zhaoyao3  FU Chunjiang4   

  1. 1. School of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Guangdong Ocean University, Yangjiang 529500, Guangdong, China;

    2. Shenzhen Research Institute, Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518116, Guangdong, China;

    3. Beijing Engineering Research Center of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China;

    4. Humanoid innovation center, UBTECH Robotics, Inc., Shenzhen 518052, Guangdong, China

  • Online:2025-05-30 Published:2025-05-30

摘要:

人形机器人的运动性能还没有全面达到人类的水平,是影响其大规模产业化应用的因素之一,这不仅是由于控制算法的限制,也受到机械结构设计的制约,尤其是腿部构型在很大程度上决定了机器人的动态平衡性、负载能力和能源效率。研究了国内外人形机器人腿部构型的起源与发展历程,目前,人形机器人的腿部构型主要分为串联、并联和串并联三种形式,其结构特性直接影响运动表现。分析了串联、并联和串并联构型,并比较其性能特点:串联构型工作空间大、灵活性高,但由于关节传动链较长,刚度相对较低,影响承载能力;并联构型刚度高、动态响应快,但运动范围受限;串并联构型则结合了前两者的优势,具有较好的刚度和灵活性,近年来逐渐成为研究热点之一。讨论了腿部构型研究的技术难点、热点,指出了发展趋势:腿部从采用单一串联构型向使用并联和串并联构型方向发展;腿部驱动器由刚性驱动器向弹性和准直驱驱动器方向发展;腿部采用旋转驱动器向旋转和直线驱动器并用方向发展;由位置控制向力矩控制和力位混合控制方向发展。研究对于推动人形机器人的技术进步和产业落地具有重要意义。

关键词: 串并联, 腿部构型, 驱动器, 运动控制, 人形机器人

Abstract:

The motion performance of humanoid robots has not fully reached the level of human beings, which is one of the factors affecting its large-scale industrial application. Such performance gaps stem not only from control algorithm limitations but also from mechanical design constraints, where the leg configuration plays a decisive role in the robot's dynamic stability, payload capacity, and energy efficiency.The leg configuration has an important effect on the motion performance of humanoid robot. The origin, history and status of leg configurations of humanoid robots at home and abroad are studied. Currently, the leg configurations of humanoid robots are primarily categorized into three types: serial, parallel, and hybrid serial-parallel configurations, with their structural characteristics significantly influencing motion performance.The series, parallel and series-parallel configurations are analyzed and their performance characteristics are compared. The serial configuration offers a large workspace and high flexibility, but its relatively lower stiffness—due to the extended joint transmission chain—compromises load-bearing capacity. In contrast, the parallel configuration provides high stiffness and rapid dynamic response, albeit with limited motion range. The hybrid serial-parallel design combines the strengths of both, achieving balanced stiffness and flexibility, which has increasingly made it a key research focus in recent years. The technical difficulties and hot spots in the study of leg configuration are discussed. The development trend is pointed out: the leg is developing from single series configuration to parallel and series-parallel configuration. The leg actuator develops from rigid actuator to elastic actuator and quasi direct drive actuator. The legs only use the rotary actuator to develop in the direction of rotation and linear actuator. The control is developing from position control to torque control and hybrid control of force and position. The research is of great significance for promoting the technological progress and industrial landing of humanoid robots.

Key words: series-parallel, leg configuration, actuator, motion control, humanoid robot