The Regional Center of Robotics Technology is one of the leader in robotics technolgy and manufacturing research center in Thailand. This center was established in 1993 by Dr.Viboon Sangveraphunsiri as a part of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University. This organization consists of three main laboratories, including, Advanced Manufacturing Lab, Control Automation and Robotics Lab, and The center of High Precision. Most of the devices and projects have been sponsored by Chulalongkorn University, as well as previous sponsor such as MTEC (National Metal and Materials Technology Center, Thailand).

The research directions cover the research of the control of mechanical system, including the industrial robots, field serveying device, manufacturing, automation, and CAD/CAM/CAE technology. All of the projects have been implemented and transfered to the real industry and associated fields in the domestic as well as the international. Besides basic research in advanced control of dynamic systems, the center prefers long range fundamental and applied research in Advanced Manufacturing systems as well as robotic systems. Moreover, this organization provide the advanced manufacturing services, such as, rapid prototyping, precision measurement, reverse engineering, finite element analysis, and CNC machining. In addition, it is the goal of the center to facilitate technology transfer of its research results to real world problems for a wide range of application domains. The center is also meaned to be the center for appling our own research works, especially the ones related to the Product Design and Manufacturing, to support local industries

Furthermore, all of the projects and services have been researched and powered by the Ph.D. and master degree students whom are under adviced delicately by Dr.Viboon.

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The Office of the National Research Council of Thailand had organized an event “The 2nd International Inventor’s Day” during February 2-5, 2009 at Hall 9, Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani. The event included Exhibition and Technical seminar. At the last day of the event, February 5, awards were presented to the best inventors in various categories. Our research center presented “The Automatic Faceting Machine” in the exhibition. The Automatic Faceting machine has been developed by our own technology. It is meant to strengthen Thai capabilities in Jewelry and Ornament industry. And we received the Best Innovation Award in Engineering and Manufacturing category.

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Upper-Limb Exoskeleton Robot for Strok Rehabilitation

A 4-DOF upper-limb power-assist exoskeleton for stroke rehabilitation is developed at the Regional Center of Robotics Technology, Chulalongkorn University. Its configuration consists of three degrees of freedom, two of them are adjustable to suit patient arm, at the shoulder joint and one degree of freedom at the elbow joint added to form a 4-DOF exoskeleton arm. The mechanical system is designed based on low friction, no backlash, low inertia, large dynamic range, and back-drivable. Kinematics, link-configuration, and control strategies are detailed here. Left hand and right hand are interchangeable. Two control strategies: assistive-resistive mode, based on impedance force control, for a patient who has some difficulty in moving his hand or physically weak persons. An impedance model, based on the concept of virtual wall, has been purposed in the torque control scheme. The resistive mode for a patient who want to improve his hand motion or after finishing the assistive-resistive operation training program. Each jointed of the exoskeleton arm is actuated by brushless DC servomotor. To simplify torque measurement, each joint torques in the feedback loop are obtained by measuring the input current of the motor drivers multiply by the motors torque constant. Otherwise, sophisticate procedure needed, if we measure current in the armature coil. Both operation modes have been tested with patients, the feedback from patients and medical doctors are very positive.

Fixed base system

Movable system

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