Wheeled-tip Object Manipulation: Modeling and Motion Planning of Throwing an Object

In this paper we address the task of throwing an object on a plane using a wheeled-tip robot. Wheeled-tip robots constitute of one or more artificial fingers with an active wheel at the end of each finger that acts as its fingertip. This class of robots may be used for the task of transfer-throwing objects. In this task, the robot transfers the object for a while, giving it required velocity and then throws it toward a defined goal. The use of wheeled-tip robot in a transfer-throwing task has some advantages in practice and with respect to a typical robot. The wheel at the tip of the robot finger can move independently on the object and gives it the desired velocity at the time of throwing the object. Here we present an algorithm of a planner for throwing objects on a plane using a wheeled-tip robot. We show how using the ability of moving the wheel on the object leads to capability of overcoming joint velocity limits, making this class of robots proper for doing the task.