A reinforcement learning enhanced pseudo-inverse approach to self-collision avoidance of redundant robots

Introduction Redundant robots offer greater flexibility compared to non-redundant ones but are susceptible to increased collision risks when the end-effector approaches the robot's own links. Redundant degrees of freedom (DoFs) present an opportunity for collision avoidance; however, selecting an appropriate inverse kinematics (IK) solution remains challenging due to the infinite possible solutions. Methods This study proposes a reinforcement learning (RL) enhanced pseudo-inverse approach to address self-collision avoidance in redundant robots. The RL agent is integrated into the redundancy resolution process of a pseudo-inverse method to determine a suitable IK solution for avoiding self-collisions during task execution. Additionally, an improved replay buffer is implemented to enhance the performance of the RL algorithm. Results Simulations and experiments validate the effectiveness of the proposed method in reducing the risk of self-collision in redundant robots. Conclusion The RL enhanced pseudo-inverse approach presented in this study demonstrates promising results in mitigating self-collision risks in redundant robots, highlighting its potential for enhancing safety and performance in robotic systems.