Local Autonomy-Based Haptic Robot Interaction with Dual Proxy Model

A method for controlling a robot via a haptic interface, comprising:

• (a) having a robot controlled by a local, independent robot controller, wherein the robot interacts with an environment, and wherein the robot controller distinguishes a unified force and motion controller, parametrized autonomously;
• (b) having a haptic device controlled by a local, independent haptic controller, wherein the haptic controller distinguishes a unified force and motion controller, parametrized autonomously;
• (c) having an environment estimator near or within the robot controller estimating single or multi-dimensional geometric constraints from the robot interactions with the environment, wherein the geometric constraints are defined in orientation and position;
• and
• (d) having a dual proxy model separated connecting the robot controller and the haptic controller, wherein the dual proxy model calculates outputs defined as (i) a parametrization for the robot and haptic unified controllers, (ii) a force command and a motion command for the robot unified force and motion controller, (iii) a force feedback command and a motion command for the unified force and motion haptic controller, wherein the outputs are calculated by the dual proxy model receiving inputs defined as (j) position information from the haptic device, (jj) the geometric constraints from the environment estimator, and (jjj) position information from the robot, and wherein the calculated outputs are consistent with the robot and haptic device capabilities, and with a safe haptic-robot interaction.